NZ Web Accessibility Standard
The New Zealand Government Web Accessibility Standard requires specified government bodies to meet WCAG 2.2 Level AA.
In full
The New Zealand Government Web Accessibility Standard 1.2, effective 17 March 2025, requires conformance with WCAG 2.2 Level AA, which places New Zealand ahead of jurisdictions still referencing WCAG 2.1. A companion Web Usability Standard 1.4 took effect the same day, covering matters such as contact details, response times, and privacy statements. The mandate is narrower than commonly assumed: it applies to Public Service departments, New Zealand Police, the Defence Force, the Parliamentary Counsel Office, and the Security Intelligence Service. Crown entities, state-owned enterprises, councils, schools, and universities are not mandated by it.
Why it matters
Private businesses are not bound by the standard, and whether the Human Rights Act 1993 extends to private websites has not been tested in a New Zealand court. The concrete commercial driver is procurement: suppliers bidding for government work are contractually held to WCAG 2.2 AA regardless.