Auckland, New Zealand – 24 October 2025 –Trading Standards New Zealand of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), has successfully concluded a two-week attachment training for legal metrology inspectors from the Pacific Islands Forum Member Countries. The programme took place from 13 to 24 October 2025 at the MBIE Trading Standards Laboratory in Auckland and was co-funded by the EU-PIFS SPIRIT Project through the Pacific Quality Infrastructure (PQI) Initiative of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
The hands-on training was designed to strengthen the practical skills of legal metrology officers of Forum member countries and to enhance the accuracy and reliability of measurements that underpin fair trade across the Blue Pacific region. Over the course of two weeks, participants gained hands-on experience in testing measurement equipment, checking weighing and packaging accuracy, inspecting fuel pumps, and learning safe inspection practices.
“This training marks another important step in strengthening Pacific Quality Infrastructure and building the technical expertise that supports consumer protection and trade facilitation in our region”, said Secretary General Baron Waqa. “Our continued collaboration with Trading Standards New Zealand demonstrates the value of partnerships that deliver tangible, practical outcomes for our member countries, especially in supporting concerted collective efforts to promote and sustain environmental and social wellbeing, and economic development.”
The training was delivered by MBIE’s Trading Standards New Zealand specialists, who guided participants through both laboratory-based and field inspection activities.
Welcoming the participants, Trading Standards New Zealand Manager for Compliance and Enforcement, Phil Sorrell said, “We were delighted to host our Pacific colleagues as part of the metrology workstream under the PQI Initiative. Their enthusiasm and professionalism reaffirm our shared commitment to building trusted systems that support accuracy and fairness in trade measurement across the Pacific.”
Participants included Siteri Raisuni, Assistant Inspector from the Department of National Trade Measurement & Standards of the Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives, Small and Medium Enterprises of Fiji, and Humphrey Tautai, Senior Inspector – Trade Measurement & Standards of the Consumer Affairs and Price Control Division of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration of Solomon. Both participants were selected based on their technical expertise and commitment to advancing metrology in their respective home institutions.
"The training provided a valuable opportunity to deepen my understanding of the legal metrology framework and its significant role in supporting trade integrity and consumer protection, not only in Fiji but across the Pacific region,” reflected Siteri Raisuni. “Collaborating directly with experienced New Zealand inspectors offered an enriching, hands-on learning experience that broadened my technical knowledge and practical skills insights I look forward to sharing and applying within our team in Fiji.”
“Seeing how inspection procedures are applied in practice and how quality systems are maintained daily has been invaluable. I look forward to applying these lessons to strengthen our own national systems,” added Humphrey Tautai.
The PQI Initiative, coordinated by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, aims to enhance quality infrastructure systems in Forum Island Countries, covering metrology, standards, testing, and accreditation.
[ENDS]
