Measurement in New Zealand

Trading Standards administers and enforces the weights and measures legislation in New Zealand. This includes a broad range of activities, from advising consumers to inspecting businesses and approving new weighing and measuring equipment.

What we do

For New Zealand businesses and consumers, we do the following:

• Accredit private sector companies and individuals (known as ‘Accredited Persons’) to test and confirm the accuracy of weighing and measuring equipment.
• Encourage businesses to comply with legislation when weighing and measuring goods. We do this through market surveillance, compliance inspection and enforcement.
• Approve all weighing and measuring equipment before it's used by traders, to make sure the equipment produces accurate results.
• Investigate and respond to complaints and enquiries from consumers and businesses.
• Advise businesses and industry about weighing and measuring processes and techniques that make sure measurement is accurate.
• Provide International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ)-accredited metrology laboratory services to make sure physical standards used by trade and industry to test weighing and measuring equipment are accurate. These laboratories are accredited to ISO 17025 and their work provides a direct link to international standards.

Our place in New Zealand's standards and conformance infrastructure

New Zealand's standards and conformance infrastructure consists of a number of autonomous organisations with specific and separate responsibilities, all co-operating to ensure a coherent system.

Trading Standards

We're responsible for trade measurement in New Zealand, and have enforcement powers under the Weights and Measures Act and Regulations. We source our measurement traceability from the Measurement Standards Laboratory of New Zealand (MSL), and operate calibration laboratories accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 by International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ).

Measurement Standards Laboratory of New Zealand (MSL)

MSL has primary responsibility to provide measurement standards in accordance with the International System of units (SI). Their calibration services are also accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 by (IANZ).

International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ)

IANZ is the national authority for the accreditation of testing and calibration laboratories. MSL has a memorandum of understanding with IANZ to advise on all matters related to measurement traceability.

Standards New Zealand (SNZ)

Standards New Zealand is the national standards body, and also operates the Technical Barriers to Trade Enquiry Point on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ)

JAS-ANZ provides accreditation for conformity assessment bodies in the fields of certification and inspection.

Our international connections

As part of our work to maintain standards and facilitate international trade, we maintain strong connections with the:

• National Measurement Institute of Australia — National Measurement Institute website (external link)
• International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML) — OIML website (external link)
• Asia-Pacific Legal Metrology Forum (APLMF) — APLMF website (external link)