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Weights and Measures Act 1987

Use of weights and measures for trade

10: Obligation to use metric system in advertising goods for sale

You could also call this:

“You must use metric units when selling things in New Zealand”

When you sell things in New Zealand, you must use the metric system to show weights and measures. This means when you advertise, display, or show goods for sale, you have to use metric units. This rule applies to packages, price tags, price lists, and any other kind of advertisement. It’s against the law to use any other system of weights or measures for these purposes. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, which are explained in section 11 of the Act. If you don’t follow this rule when you’re selling things, you’re breaking the law.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM102555.

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Business > Industry rules Business > Fair trading Money and consumer rights > Consumer protection
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9: Exceptions to obligations to use metric system of weights and measures, or

"When you can use different ways of measuring things instead of the metric system"

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11: Exceptions to obligation to use metric weights and measures in advertising goods for sale, or

"When you don't need to use metric measurements in ads for selling things"

Part 2 Use of weights and measures for trade

10Obligation to use metric system in advertising goods for sale

  1. Subject to section 11, every person commits an offence who, in the course of, or for the purposes of, any trade or business, uses, whether on any package or price ticket, or in any price list or advertisement or otherwise howsoever, any unit of a weight or measure other than a weight or measure of the metric system in advertising, displaying, or exposing goods for sale.

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  • 1976 No 162 s 4