Fujitsu heat pumps in New Zealand now sell under a new name: General Airstage. Same units underneath, same service team on the phone, same warranty behind them. If you bought a Fujitsu a few years back, nothing about your ownership changes. If you’re buying now, you might see either badge on the box.
Why is Fujitsu now called General Airstage?
Fujitsu General Limited was bought by Paloma Rheem Holdings in August 2025. From 1 January 2026, the New Zealand business has traded as GENERAL New Zealand, formerly Fujitsu General New Zealand. Day to day operations carried on as before.
Three things matter for an owner:
- Your warranty still stands. It’s honoured by the same New Zealand business under its new name.
- Both badges are still around. Products sell under the Fujitsu and General Airstage brands for now, with Fujitsu being phased out over time. A new unit may carry either name.
- The service team has a new name too. Fujitsu General Assist is now General Assist, on the same number: 04 568 8761, 8:30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
What Fujitsu and General models can you get in New Zealand?
Single-room wall units come in two families, both using R32 refrigerant:
- Lifestyle: sizes from 2.0 to 9.5 kW. It adds a human sensor that detects people in the room, a 10°C heat setting that stops an empty room going cold, and the apple-catechin filter.
- Comfort: sizes from 2.0 to 9.5 kW, with the temperature set in 0.5°C steps from the remote.
Both have a blue fin treatment on the outdoor coil to resist corrosion, which counts for something in coastal towns like New Plymouth or Napier.
Beyond wall units there are floor consoles (a compact floor console and a dual floor or ceiling console), a compact ceiling cassette and a bulkhead ducted unit. For several rooms, the Multi Systems R32 range runs two to five indoor units off one outdoor unit, mixing wall, cassette, bulkhead and floor styles. Whole-home ducted systems come in mid-static slimline and high-static models for homes up to six bedrooms. Our guides on ducted vs high-wall and single-room vs multi-room cover which layout suits which home.
→ Related: Daikin vs Fujitsu heat pumps compared
How to read a Fujitsu or General model number
The model and serial number of the outdoor unit are on a label on its side or front. A serial number starts with E, R or T and is followed by six digits.
Indoor wall units start with AS (for example ASTG or ASTH) and outdoor units start with AO (AOTG, AOTH). The catch is that the number in the model isn’t the kW. On the energy rating register, an ASTG09 wall unit is 2.5 kW and an ASTG24 is 7.1 kW of cooling. So don’t assume a “24” is a 24 kW monster or that a “09” is tiny. Look up the exact model, or check the energy label, before you compare it with a quote for another brand.
You’ll need the model number to download the right manual, book a repair and make a warranty claim.
Is the warranty five years or six?
The length depends on who installed the unit:
- Six years parts and labour on residential single-room, multi-room and ducted systems fitted by a General Airstage (or Fujitsu) Accredited Installer. That includes the anywAiR wi-fi adaptor and the ducted controller.
- Five years parts and labour otherwise.
So when you’re getting quotes, ask whether the installer is accredited. It’s an extra year of cover. Faults caused by a unit that wasn’t installed to the installation manual aren’t covered.
To make a claim, ring General Assist with the outdoor and indoor model numbers, who supplied the unit, who installed it, the supply and install dates, and your name, address and phone number.
→ Related: How to choose a heat pump installer
Can you control one from your phone?
General’s wi-fi add-on is the anywAiR Wi-Fi Adaptor II, run from the myanywAiR Next app. With it you can turn the unit on before you get home, set schedules for each day, switch modes and fan speed, and share access with the rest of the household. It can also turn the heat pump on or off when your phone comes near home.
It works with models that have a UART port. On the Lifestyle range the adaptor plugs straight in. On other ranges it needs a licensed installer and an extra cable, so ask about it at quote time. A paid PLUS subscription adds things like usage history, a failsafe off timer and limits for guest users. More on what wi-fi control is worth in our guide to smart heat pumps.
What do the flashing lights mean?
A General Airstage wall unit has three indicator lights: Operation (green), Timer (orange) and Economy (green). In normal use one or more will be on. When all three blink together in a pattern, the unit is reporting a fault. If you have a wired wall controller, the error code shows on its screen instead.
Turn the unit off at the isolation switch for at least five minutes, then back on. If the lights keep blinking, note the pattern and the model number. Under warranty, contact General’s service team. Out of warranty, use a technician who knows General Airstage units, since reading the fault codes takes product knowledge. Our heat pump problems guide covers the checks that apply to every brand.
Who services or repairs a Fujitsu or General heat pump?
General has its own trained technicians in Auckland and Christchurch, and a network of service agents across the rest of the country, including Wellington and Hamilton. The Find a Service Agent search works by postcode or suburb, and you can lodge a service request online.
A professional service every one to two years, depending on how hard the unit works, keeps it in good shape. Filter cleaning and outdoor unit care are in our servicing guide.
It’s also an easy brand to find help for. Of the 1,020 installer websites we looked at, 191 mention Fujitsu or General. That’s close to Panasonic’s 184, and behind only Mitsubishi and Daikin. A local installer who fits the brand will usually service it too.
→ Related: Best heat pump brands in New Zealand
Find a Fujitsu or General installer near you
Browse installers who offer heat pump servicing or repairs, or start from your town and look for installers who name Fujitsu or General in their listing. If you’re buying new, get a quote from a local installer.