Membership of NZART is voluntary; it is estimated that approximately 35% of New Zealand's licensed amateur radio operators belong.
[citation needed] Members are represented by Councillors to the NZART Council, the executive body tasked with the business management of the association.
Both are tasked with the day-to-day business operations of the association, including manning their office, and providing administrative duties to AREC, located in Upper Hutt, near Wellington.
[citation needed] The NZART has performed an advocacy function, commenting on policy and planning initiatives proposed by the New Zealand government in the areas of radio licences,[1] spectrum allocations for broadband wireless,[2] and the future of digital communication.
[4] In 2006, the Ministry of Economic Development's Radio Spectrum Management division was assisted by NZART and the local Coastguard Boating Education Service in the creation of an update to the Spectrum Management and Registration Technology (SMART) which allowed people to search online for radio operator information including callsigns.
[6] The official journal of the NZART is ''Break-In'',[7] a bi-monthly publication containing articles of interest to the amateur radio community.
[citation needed] In addition, each issue contains a number of columns from various authors covering activities from AREC, Contests, Digitalmodes, DX, Satellites, SOTA, Youth Report and more.
As a magazine it has a wealth of information with many members having copies going back to the very first issue produced in January 1928[citation needed].
This eighty page stapled publication is included free with membership of NZART, bundled with the November–December issue of Break-In.
[citation needed] Branches of NZART are generally radio clubs and related organisations, and are found across the country.
In 1929 NZART became a more powerful organisation, joining the International Amateur Radio Union and successfully lobbying the New Zealand Government for a reduction in the compulsory licensing fees.