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Weights and Measures Act 1987

System of weights and measures and standards - Standards of weights and measures

6: Reference standards

You could also call this:

“Rules for keeping and marking official weights and measures”

The Secretary must choose one or more Inspectors, and can choose one or more accredited people, to keep reference standards for weights and measures. These reference standards can be copies of the departmental standards or standards that are just as accurate or more accurate.

You need to check these reference standards at least every 5 years against the departmental standards or other approved standards.

When possible, a reference standard should have special marks on it. These marks include a Crown and the letters NZ, numbers showing the unit of weight or measure and its value, and any other marks required by the rules.

If it’s possible, these marks should be put on the reference standard in a specific way. The Crown and NZ letters should be close together. Any other required marks should be placed as the rules say.

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This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM102542.

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5: Departmental standards, or

"The government keeps special measuring tools to make sure weights and measures are correct"

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7: Inspectors' working standards, or

"Inspectors get special measuring tools to check if things are the right size or weight"

Part 1 System of weights and measures and standards
Standards of weights and measures

6Reference standards

  1. The Secretary must nominate 1 or more Inspectors, and may nominate 1 or more accredited persons, to maintain, as reference standards for the purposes of this Act,—

  2. copies of the departmental standards; or
    1. standards that are of the same or greater accuracy as the departmental standards.

      1. Reference standards must be verified from time to time, at intervals not exceeding 5 years, by reference to—

      2. the departmental standards; or
        1. the standards referred to in section 5(3)(a) or (b).

          1. Unless it is impracticable to do so, a reference standard must be marked with all of the following:

          2. a Crown and the letters NZ:
            1. figures indicating the unit of the weight or measure and the numerical value of that unit:
              1. any other symbols, letters, or figures prescribed by regulations made under section 41(ab).

                1. The marks must, where practicable, appear on the reference standard,—

                2. in the case of the marks described in subsection (3)(a), in close proximity to each other; and
                  1. in the case of the marks described in subsection (3)(c), in the form and manner (if any) prescribed by regulations made under section 41(ac).

                    Notes
                    • Section 6: replaced, on , by section 7 of the Weights and Measures Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 145).