1. Shut off the water at the mains
The single most important step. Find the toby — usually in a small box at the front boundary of your property, near the footpath. Lift the lid and turn the tap clockwise until it's hard against the stop. If you can't find the toby, shut every isolation valve you can see (under sinks, behind the hot water cylinder, at the washing machine).
If the burst is on the hot side, also shut the valve at the cold-water inlet of the hot water cylinder so the cylinder stops refilling against the leak.
2. Turn off the power to affected rooms
If water is anywhere near switchboards, lights, or power points, flip the main switch at the meter board. Don't touch wet switches with bare hands. If anything has been actively submerged, leave the power off until an EWRB-registered electrician has checked it.
3. Move possessions and furniture clear
Lift anything off the floor that can be lifted. Pull rugs out of the wet area. Get electronics and chargers up onto benches. Anything that will absorb water and rot — books, paper, soft furnishings — should be the first to move.
4. Start removing water and ventilating
Mop, bucket, towels, wet-vac if you have one. Open windows and run any extraction fans. Standing water on timber flooring and gib walls will cause secondary damage within hours, so the faster you can dry the area the less repair work the contractor has to do.
5. Call a 24/7 emergency plumber
Search the emergency tradie directory for a plumber in your region who takes after-hours callouts. Have ready:
- Your address
- A photo of the burst (helps them quote)
- Whether the water is still running, or you've successfully shut it off
- Whether power has been isolated
Most callouts in major NZ centres get a plumber on site within 60–90 minutes after hours. Call your home insurance provider next — most policies cover sudden burst-pipe damage, and the plumber's invoice + photos are enough for a claim.