To demonstrate compliance with the New Zealand Drinking-Water Standards, water suppliers need to monitor the quality of their drinking-water by taking water samples and having them analysed. The Ministry of Health requires all such testing to be performed by laboratories that have appropriate skills and quality assurance procedures and to be registered.
The Register provides easily accessible information about the laboratories that have been assessed by IANZ and found to comply with either ISO 17025 or the Ministry of Health Level 2 Criteria analytical laboratories.
Section 69ZY required the Director General of Health to maintain a register of Recognised Laboratories and what information the register should contain. The register includes information such as the name of the laboratory, its contact details as well as certified methods for determinants the laboratory can test for.
The Register of Recognised Laboratories for New Zealand is prepared annually by ESR for the Ministry of Health.