diff --git a/tempest/api/messaging/base.py b/tempest/api/messaging/base.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0e062c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tempest/api/messaging/base.py
@@ -0,0 +1,170 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2014 Rackspace, Inc.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or
+# implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+from tempest.common.utils import data_utils
+from tempest import config
+from tempest.openstack.common import log as logging
+from tempest import test
+
+CONF = config.CONF
+
+LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+class BaseMessagingTest(test.BaseTestCase):
+
+    """
+    Base class for the Messaging tests that use the Tempest Zaqar REST client
+
+    It is assumed that the following option is defined in the
+    [service_available] section of etc/tempest.conf
+
+        messaging as True
+    """
+
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(BaseMessagingTest, cls).setUpClass()
+        if not CONF.service_available.zaqar:
+            raise cls.skipException("Zaqar support is required")
+        os = cls.get_client_manager()
+        cls.messaging_cfg = CONF.messaging
+        cls.client = os.messaging_client
+
+    @classmethod
+    def create_queue(cls, queue_name):
+        """Wrapper utility that returns a test queue."""
+        resp, body = cls.client.create_queue(queue_name)
+        return resp, body
+
+    @classmethod
+    def delete_queue(cls, queue_name):
+        """Wrapper utility that deletes a test queue."""
+        resp, body = cls.client.delete_queue(queue_name)
+        return resp, body
+
+    @classmethod
+    def check_queue_exists(cls, queue_name):
+        """Wrapper utility that checks the existence of a test queue."""
+        resp, body = cls.client.get_queue(queue_name)
+        return resp, body
+
+    @classmethod
+    def check_queue_exists_head(cls, queue_name):
+        """Wrapper utility checks the head of a queue via http HEAD."""
+        resp, body = cls.client.head_queue(queue_name)
+        return resp, body
+
+    @classmethod
+    def list_queues(cls):
+        """Wrapper utility that lists queues."""
+        resp, body = cls.client.list_queues()
+        return resp, body
+
+    @classmethod
+    def get_queue_stats(cls, queue_name):
+        """Wrapper utility that returns the queue stats."""
+        resp, body = cls.client.get_queue_stats(queue_name)
+        return resp, body
+
+    @classmethod
+    def get_queue_metadata(cls, queue_name):
+        """Wrapper utility that gets a queue metadata."""
+        resp, body = cls.client.get_queue_metadata(queue_name)
+        return resp, body
+
+    @classmethod
+    def set_queue_metadata(cls, queue_name, rbody):
+        """Wrapper utility that sets the metadata of a queue."""
+        resp, body = cls.client.set_queue_metadata(queue_name, rbody)
+        return resp, body
+
+    @classmethod
+    def post_messages(cls, queue_name, rbody):
+        """Wrapper utility that posts messages to a queue."""
+        resp, body = cls.client.post_messages(queue_name, rbody)
+
+        return resp, body
+
+    @classmethod
+    def list_messages(cls, queue_name):
+        """Wrapper utility that lists the messages in a queue."""
+        resp, body = cls.client.list_messages(queue_name)
+
+        return resp, body
+
+    @classmethod
+    def get_single_message(cls, message_uri):
+        """Wrapper utility that gets a single message."""
+        resp, body = cls.client.get_single_message(message_uri)
+
+        return resp, body
+
+    @classmethod
+    def get_multiple_messages(cls, message_uri):
+        """Wrapper utility that gets multiple messages."""
+        resp, body = cls.client.get_multiple_messages(message_uri)
+
+        return resp, body
+
+    @classmethod
+    def delete_messages(cls, message_uri):
+        """Wrapper utility that deletes messages."""
+        resp, body = cls.client.delete_messages(message_uri)
+
+        return resp, body
+
+    @classmethod
+    def post_claims(cls, queue_name, rbody, url_params=False):
+        """Wrapper utility that claims messages."""
+        resp, body = cls.client.post_claims(
+            queue_name, rbody, url_params=False)
+
+        return resp, body
+
+    @classmethod
+    def query_claim(cls, claim_uri):
+        """Wrapper utility that gets a claim."""
+        resp, body = cls.client.query_claim(claim_uri)
+
+        return resp, body
+
+    @classmethod
+    def update_claim(cls, claim_uri, rbody):
+        """Wrapper utility that updates a claim."""
+        resp, body = cls.client.update_claim(claim_uri, rbody)
+
+        return resp, body
+
+    @classmethod
+    def release_claim(cls, claim_uri):
+        """Wrapper utility that deletes a claim."""
+        resp, body = cls.client.release_claim(claim_uri)
+
+        return resp, body
+
+    @classmethod
+    def generate_message_body(cls, repeat=1):
+        """Wrapper utility that sets the metadata of a queue."""
+        message_ttl = data_utils.\
+            rand_int_id(start=60, end=CONF.messaging.max_message_ttl)
+
+        key = data_utils.arbitrary_string(size=20, base_text='MessagingKey')
+        value = data_utils.arbitrary_string(size=20,
+                                            base_text='MessagingValue')
+        message_body = {key: value}
+
+        rbody = ([{'body': message_body, 'ttl': message_ttl}] * repeat)
+        return rbody