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Our compliance programme

Radio Spectrum Management (RSM) is responsible for ensuring that licensing compliance requirements are met.

How we achieve compliance

We work to achieve compliance with the licensing requirements by:

encouraging intending radio users to work with approved radio engineers (AREs) and certifiers (ARCs) from the radio industry to plan and obtain suitable licences for their desired service
conducting audits of radio transmitters to ensure that the transmissions are in accordance with the terms and conditions of a licence
following up non-compliance by issuing Warning Notices and Infringements Notices, or prosecution proceedings as appropriate.

Our compliance programme is based on:

Radiocommunication Act 1989(external link)

Radiocommunications Regulations 2001(external link)

Radiocommunications Notices and Codes of Practice prescribed in the New Zealand Gazette(external link)

The Regulations provide for infringement notices (with infringement fees) to be issued for offences, or for prosecution action to be taken through the Courts.

Our auditing programme

The RRF provides the necessary information to enable the planning and creation of licences. Our auditing programme includes checking samples of new and existing radio services to ensure that correct details are maintained in the RRF.

Transmitter checks

A condition of licences is that authorised RSM staff be provided access to radio transmitters to make such checks.

Suppliers of transmitting equipment are licensed by RSM and are also audited to ensure that the radio equipment meets all compliance requirements, such as licences and standards, before being supplied.

See Supplier audits for more information about these.

Suppliers and licensees each have responsibility for ensuring that transmitters comply with licence conditions, such as frequency and power.