Radio NZ broke the story of cheap steel used in the $2billion Waikato Expressway Project failing strength tests.
Construction giant McConnell Dowell, which is building the new Kawarau Falls bridge, said each steel order was tested to New Zealand standards in China before fabrication and tested again by an independent tester in New Zealand.
McConnell Dowell's engineering manager Daniel Patten said, "The steel for Kawarau Falls bridge is currently undergoing testing as per this standard NZ Transport Agency process.''
Eastbridge is the New Zealand-based steel fabricator.
"This supplier, which holds the highest accreditation possible, acts as our agent to procure steel from one of two major mills in China,'' Mr Patten said.
Kawarau Falls bridge's weathering steel is supplied from NISCO Steel Mill in China.
"This is a significantly large mill with a very solid track record.''
Eastbridge had bought 500tonnes of steel plate in the past three months, all of which passed "mechanical, chemical and ductility'' testing, Mr Patten said.
International steel trader Ian Jacob, of Mill-Pro Hong Kong, said sourcing steel from China could be a minefield.
There were thousands of mills and suppliers, some good, some bad.
NISCO, or Nanjing Steel, was one of the "big boys'', he said.
In general, there was only one way to be sure, by taking random samples from the goods once they had been delivered, then testing them in a New Zealand laboratory, he said.
