Workplace first aid requirements
First Aid & CPR New Zealand
If you run or manage a workplace in New Zealand — an office, shop, construction site or factory — the law requires you to have enough trained first-aiders on your staff, ready to help a colleague in an emergency.
An employer duty — to rescue a colleague
Workplace first aid is not a job qualification: it is the employer's duty to appoint and train enough first-aiders, scaled to headcount and risk level, so someone can act immediately if a colleague is injured. The exact number and rules depend on the regulations that apply in New Zealand.
What the law requires in New Zealand
How many designated first-aiders?
No fixed statutory ratio: the PCBU (employer) must assess risk and provide enough trained first aiders based on the nature of the work, hazards, number of workers, work patterns and access to emergency medical help. Cover must be maintained for all working hours (breaks, shifts, leave). Higher-risk or remote workplaces require additional first aiders.
New Zealand governs occupational health and safety through national legislation that requires employers to provide first aid in the workplace.
Workplace first aid training (NZQA unit standards 6401/6402) includes an in-person practical assessment (CPR, AED); theory can be completed online in a blended format. The certificate is generally valid for 2 years, with a CPR refresher expected at least every 2 years (ANZCOR recommends annual CPR refresher).
Region specifics
- The approach is risk-assessment based rather than numeric thresholds: WorkSafe NZ imposes no minimum number but expects a documented justification of first aid arrangements.
Why it matters
A workplace emergency can happen at any time. When it does, the difference between a positive outcome and a tragedy often comes down to whether someone nearby is trained to respond. Having certified first aiders on staff isn't just a legal requirement — it's an investment in your team's safety.
Is this really what you're looking for?
Our first-aid and CPR courses are 100% online, lead to a recognized certification, and exceed the required standards; a hybrid option is also available and fits most needs. Choose the course that fits your situation:
The course
Our course, built to the CSA Z1210-17 standard, 100% online and leading to a certification, meets and exceeds this requirement.
CSA Z1210-17First Aid – Healthcare Professional (16h) - Compliant with CSA Z1210-17
This 16-hour first aid training, compliant with the CSA Z1210-17 standard, is specifically designed for healthcare professionals. Upon completion, the candidate will receive a certification valid for two years, meeting the requirements of 'Intermediate First Aid Training' as defined in the CSA Z1210-17 standard. Skills will be updated annually, and the training must be renewed every two years to maintain active certification. Tailored for nurses, it strengthens the safety of residents in long-term care facilities and other healthcare settings.
CSA Z1210-17First Aid – Intermediate Level (16h) – CSA Z1210-17 Compliant
Upon successful completion of this 16-hour IN-PERSON intermediate-level first aid training, the candidate will receive a valid certification that meets the requirements of 'Intermediate First Aid Training' as defined in the CSA Z1210-17 standard.
Specifically need the "Workplace first aid" certificate?
That specific regulatory certificate must be completed in full with the legislating body: WorkSafe New Zealand (Mahi Haumaru Aotearoa), the national health and safety at work regulator.
Expected recognition: the Act (HSWA) is risk-assessment based and does not name a provider, but WorkSafe NZ strongly recommends an NZQA-approved provider and only such organisations can award the recognised 6401/6402 unit standards. Our online training is not an NZQA-approved provider: it CANNOT award the recognised unit standards, only prepare/complement the theory ahead of the practical assessment with an approved provider.