The New Zealand Dam Safety Guidelines 2024 have been prepared by NZSOLD from the technical bulletins published by ICOLD and other internationally recognised references on dam engineering, and outline appropriate practices that should be considered during the investigation, design, construction, commissioning, assessment, rehabilitation and operation of dams in New Zealand.  The use of practices and criteria other than those indicated by these Guidelines may be appropriate to accommodate conditions arising at some projects. Advances in knowledge and improved techniques continue world-wide and these Guidelines should be interpreted and applied accordingly.

The Guidelines are published as a set of seven individual modules and a parent module covering objectives, principles and a glossary. Links are provided below to a combined document, and to the eight individual modules.

New Zealand Dam Safety Guidelines all modules – 2024
Objectives and Principles with Glossary – 2024
Module 1: Legal Requirements – 2024
Module 2: Assessment of Dam Failure Consequences and Potential Impact Classification – 2024
Module 3: Investigation, Design and Analysis – 2024
Module 4: Construction and Commissioning – 2024
Module 5: Dam Safety Management – 2024
Module 6: Emergency Preparedness – 2024
Module 7: Life Cycle Management – 2024

Superseded versions of NZSOLD guidelines
NZSOLD Dam Safety Guidelines December 2023
NZSOLD Dam Safety Guidelines May 2015
The New Zealand Dam Safety Guidelines – 2000 
The New Zealand Dam Safety Guidelines Appendices – 2000