The Master Plumbers association says it supports a review into whether portable gas heaters should be outlawed from rental properties - but goes a step further and says they should be banned in all residential properties.
As part of work on the new Healthy Homes Guarantee Act 2017, passed in December, Housing Minister Phil Twyford will be looking at the issue of whether the landlords should be banned from providing the devices to tenants in order to meet their heating obligations under the new Act.
The Act sets minimum standards for landlords' rental properties in terms of heating, ventilation, drainage, moisture, insulation and draught resistance.
The Act does not mean tenants can't buy their own heaters, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment says, and landlords would also be able to write clauses into tenancy agreements banning the heaters.
Master Plumbers issued a statement today strongly condemning the use of gas heaters in homes, saying the legislation does not go far enough and portable gas heaters should be banned from sale.
CEO Greg Wallace said the heaters are already banned in Canada, some parts of the USA and some parts of Australia, and New Zealand should follow suit.
"The Ministry of Health warns that portable unflued gas heaters release polluting gases directly into a room, which can harm your health," Mr Wallace said.
"It's not safe to use portable gas heaters in sleeping rooms or small rooms, such as bathrooms or hallways.
"However, as they can easily be moved to any room in the home, it's easy for you to put yourself or your family at risk by using them in these areas."
Mr Wallace said the heaters are also a source of condensation, and that studies have shown children with asthma had lessened symptoms when their heat source was changed to something cleaner.
"Whilst these relatively cheap heaters may appear to be cost-effective heating solutions, you have to weigh this up against the risk to the public," Mr Wallace said.
"Surely the health and safety risks are too great to continue their use."
Environment Commissioner Dr Jan Wright released a report in 2015 also recommending that portable gas heaters be banned due to the noxious gases they create.
The Ministry of Health has numerous guidelines and warnings around their use, saying they could have negative health effects, and at the very worst cause death.
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