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International Relationships

New Zealand benefits from being well informed about international developments in measurement, particularly where they impact on trade.

MSL enables New Zealand exports to be accepted internationally in over 100 markets through a mutual recognition arrangement. Economic analysis commissioned by IANZ estimates the value of accreditation, of which MSL is a key component, contributes $2.4 billion in premiums to New Zealand exports and 0.6 % to GDP.

Being an effective participant in international forums makes it possible to influence international decisions and to maintain the reputation of New Zealand’s measurement system as being world-class.

The continuing development of the International System of Units (SI) is a major international research collaboration. Individual metrologists in MSL contribute widely as members of international professional organisations, conference committees, and as research collaborators.

Metre Convention

New Zealand is a member state of the Metre Convention(external link), the intergovernmental treaty that is the basis of international agreement on units of measurement. MSL is a member of four of the ten scientific Consultative Committees that advise on the development of the SI. MSL is a signatory to an arrangement for the international mutual recognition of calibration certificates issued by national metrology institutes, known as the CIPM MRA(external link) (Comité International des Poids et Mesures Mutual Recognition Arrangement).

APMP

MSL is a founding member of the Asia-Pacific Metrology Programme(external link) (APMP) that brings together all the national metrology institutes in the region. APMP offers many opportunities for collaboration and training and is also responsible for implementing many of the CIPM MRA processes. MSL participates in international comparisons of standards to confirm our capabilities and ensure our services remain world-class.

NCSL International

NCSL International(external link) promotes cooperative efforts for solving the common problems faced by measurement laboratories. It has over 1500 member organisations from academic, scientific, industrial, commercial and government facilities around the world. MSL is a member to better understand how New Zealand industry might benefit from NCSL International.

International Commission on Illumination

MSL represents New Zealand’s national committee on the International Commission on Illumination(external link) (CIE), a worldwide cooperation for the exchange of information on all matters relating to the science and art of light and lighting, colour and vision, and image technology.