This paper resents a developed measuring device of resistive leakage current and a fundamental discussion of deterioration diagnosis for Zinc Oxide(ZnO) arrester blocks. We have developed the leakage current detection device for ageing test and durability evaluation for ZnO arrester blocks. The resistive leakage current can be used as an indicator to discriminate whether the ZnO arrester blocks is in good state or in bad. The resistive leakage current measuring system with the compensation circuit was designed and fabricated. The sauce tests for ZnO arrester blocks were investigated by observing the resistive leakage current together with fast Fourier transform analysis. The proposed monitoring systems for the resistive leakage current can effectively be used to investigate the electrophysical properties of ZnO arrester blocks in laboratory and to develop the techniques of forecasting the deterioration of ZnO arresters in electric power systems.