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Although we have tried to use plain English content on the site, you may come across specialist terms and acronyms. Find out what they mean in our glossary of terms.
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The Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement (TTMRA) entered into force in 1998. Under the TTMRA, most goods able to be legally sold in one country can be legally sold in the other without having to meet further sales-related requirements. Similarly, people registered to practice an occupation in one country are entitled to register to practice the equivalent occupation in the other country without the need to undergo further testing or examination.
The Arrangement is implemented in New Zealand by way of overarching legislation, the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997 (the Act), which means that all laws are subject to the Act unless specifically excluded or exempted .
The TTMRA provides for five-yearly general reviews of its operation to be undertaken by the Australian Productivity Commission. The most recent of these reviews was completed in February 2009. See below for more on this subject.
The Ministry of Economic Development is the principal government department responsible for policy under, and the administration of, the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997 (which implements the TTMRA into New Zealand legislation). The Ministry does not have a role in terms of the actual recognition of qualifications or administration of the registration of occupations.
The New Zealand Qualifications Authority is responsible for the assessment of qualifications, and the relevant registration bodies are responsible for the occupational registration process.
For further information on the operation of the TTMRA please refer to the User’s Guide to the TTMRA at the Ministry of Economic Development [external link] or contact the Ministry of Economic Development’s TTMRA Helpdesk: TTMRA@med.govt.nz.
