New Zealanders who are interested in ergonomics have been represented by ergonomics societies for more than 25 years. In 1966, the Ergonomics Society of Australia and New Zealand (ESANZ) was established. This followed on from the interest initially generated in 1964 when 90 people from Australia and New Zealand met in Adelaide at the first Australasian ergonomics conference.

During 1985, local interest in setting up an independent society developed to the point that, in February 1986, the New Zealand Ergonomics Society (NZES) was formed. This change occurred in consultation with ESANZ which has now changed its name to the Ergonomics Society of Australia (ESA). In 1991, the New Zealand Ergonomics Society became a federated member of the International Ergonomics Association (IEA).