New Zealand’s Radio Spectrum Management (RSM) has released a new set of national radio standards, signalling a major regulatory upgrade. The Radiocommunications Regulations (Radio Standards) Notice 2025, which became effective on 1 September 2025, replaces the previous 2023 notice and reshapes how radio-transmitting products must comply before being supplied in the country.
What the 2025 Notice Introduces
Instead of simply revising older rules, the new notice restructures the compliance landscape. Among the most notable changes:
Short Range Devices operating between 9 kHz and 40 GHz are now governed by updated technical criteria.
Automotive radar, telematics platforms, Wi-Fi products, and broadband wireless systems are covered under new or expanded requirements.
Several categories of equipment that previously had no regulatory oversight now fall within the compliance mandate.
Any device that already met the 2023 requirements at the time the new notice took effect is automatically recognized as compliant, avoiding immediate re-testing or redesign.
The new framework also brings New Zealand closer to ACMA, ETSI, and AS/NZS approaches, improving regional and global alignment.
Why These Changes Matter
The broader scope means many suppliers may now discover that products previously outside regulation must comply with the 2025 rules. For local and international manufacturers, this creates a more predictable regulatory environment — one that mirrors Australian and international standards, reducing duplicated compliance efforts.
The transition provisions offer breathing room, but companies still need to prepare for the full impact of the expanded rules.
Practical Steps for Businesses
To stay compliant, suppliers and manufacturers should:
Review their entire portfolio of radio-transmitting devices.
Check whether any product now falls under a newly regulated category.
Evaluate whether next-generation technologies meet the updated requirements.
Our Regulatory Intelligence Service can help clarify how New Zealand’s framework interacts with Australia’s rules, while our Global Regulatory Updates Service keeps teams ahead of future changes affecting market access.
