The New Zealand Association of Optometrists is an incorporated society whose objects include a commitment to high quality eye health care for all New Zealanders. The NZAO membership includes around 94% of the practising Optometrists in this country thus represents nearly all the primary providers of eye health services for New Zealand.
 

Optometrists who are members of the NZ Association of Optometrists are bound by professional ethics and clinical guidelines to provide the highest standards of eye health and vision care

Founded in 1930, membership of the NZAO is voluntary and is open to all registered optometrists.
The NZ Association of Optometrists serves the following functions:

• provides continuing education for its members to ensure the highest clinical standards of care
• liases with the government concerning regulation of optometrists
• works with government departments, industry, and other stakeholders on standards related to eye health and vision, and vision standards,
• provides professional indemnity insurance for members to protect the public
• promotes the profession of optometry to raise public awareness of eye disease and preventable blindness
• provides an independent panel to investigate complaints against member optometrists...find out more
• supports the education of future members of the profession through partnership with the Department of Optometry and Vision Science at The University of Auckland.
• actively supports Voluntary Ophthalmic Services Overseas (VOSO), which provides eye care to Pacific Island countries
• Full member of the World Council of Optometry and the Asia Pacific Optometric Council