Updates and articles from your national standards organisation
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In this issue:
- National Manager Malcolm MacMillan's message.
Watch our two new videos on international and joint trans-Tasman standards.
Learn how standards support Government priorities and open doors to international trade and economic prosperity.
Discover more about our international work across the Pacific.
Read about our recent events hosting IEC and industry guests and committee convenors.
Learn more about joint trans-Tasman standards and opportunities to get involved.
Standards and copyright.
Updates on NZ standards under development through the project digest.
Tēnā koutou,
This must possibly be the busiest period I have seen in Standards New Zealand within the three years I have been here. Despite a team of less than 25, we are currently working across 187 different standards, thanks of course to the army of volunteer committee members that help make standards happen - particularly pertinent considering National Volunteer Week earlier this month - and passionately dedicated team of Standards New Zealand staff.
The building and construction sector remains core to our current project line up, but we’re also seeing new projects in new areas including access for peoples with disabilities, natural hazard risk management and renewable energies. This is a good reminder that standards might be able to provide the solutions you need – there may even be international solutions already in place that we can help you source or where something bespoke is needed for the New Zealand market or specific needs, we can help you create them. See the project digest for an update on all New Zealand standards under way.
There is a distinct engagement flavour to this issue that reflects how busy we’ve been in attendance at key events with international and national organisations with whom standards play a critical role and represent New Zealand’s interests. By their very nature standards are born out of collaboration and that cannot happen without engagement.
Behind the scenes, we are busy on several projects including writing our annual report, implementing our Māori engagement action plans to better enable our Te Tiriti obligations, and continuing the work sponsored by MFAT to improve standardisation for our Pacific neighbours. As a follow up to last year’s Pacific Islands Standards Week event, we’re working on plans for a ‘Building for the Pacific Workshop’ later this year and developing eLearning modules which will support applied learning to help integrate standards into policy and practice for the Pacific Island nations.
We have also undertaken a little initiative recently to support industry to tell their standards value proposition story, seeking testimonial feedback on how both international and trans-Tasman standards are supporting their businesses and adding value to NZ’s economy. See links further below in this issue to hear how they have used standards.
Finally, I’d like to thank the Standards Approval Board. Their work largely sits behind the scenes and yet they are an integral part of our system that ensures independent oversight, balanced representation and checks are in place so that standards work for all those who use them and are impacted by them. They give their time, expertise and experience to the role and there have been many out of cycle meetings this year due to the sheer volume of work, which keeps the standards engine running.
Noho ora mai,
Malcolm MacMillan
National Manager Standards New Zealand
How international standards are helping New Zealand businesses
Hear from some New Zealand businesses putting international standards at the core of their operations and strategy. There are thousands of international ISO and IEC standards that can help businesses large or small, to gain competitive advantage, tap into global markets, work more efficiently and resiliently or provide customer and supply chain confidence.
How trans-Tasman standards are helping New Zealand businesses
Hear from some New Zealand businesses putting trans-Tasman standards at the core of their operations and strategy. Standards labelled 'AS/NZS' exist to help businesses large or small, to gain competitive advantage, tap into trans-Tasman markets, work more efficiently and resiliently or provide customer and supply chain confidence. AS/NZS standards include adoptions of popular international ISO and IEC standards that have been tested and approved by regional experts, so you have confidence that they are fit for purpose for both Australian and New Zealand businesses and regulators.
Standards support Government priorities and open doors to international trade and economic prosperity
Standards play a critical role in achieving both private and public objectives, including supporting the Government’s ‘Going for Growth’ agenda and commitments made in the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum. Clare Francis, Principal Advisor for Standards New Zealand, explains how.
The Pacific Regional Quality Policy workshop – setting a roadmap to lift standards for industries across the Pacific Islands
The Government of Fiji hosted the Pacific Regional Quality Policy (PRQP) workshop in May, bringing together leaders, experts, and policymakers from across the Pacific to set a roadmap for regional quality infrastructure to improve trade, safety, and life for over 10 million Pacific Islanders.
Discover the priorities for the Pacific Islands and where standards are helping.
PASC AGM 2025: strengthening international rules-based systems
The 47th Pacific Area Standards Congress (PASC) Annual General Meeting was held in May in Tokyo, Japan. This brought together key players in international standardisation from the Asia Pacific, Pacific Rim and Indo Pacific regions.
IEC guest from Geneva meets standards users
We welcomed Katherine Fraga Pearson, Director of Membership, Affiliates & Capacity Building with International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and 20 professionals from across metrology, energy efficiency, electrical engineering, health data, policy, and health and safety sectors.
Guests joined a round table discussion on how standards could benefit their work and learned of the IEC's priority areas of focus. Peter Berry, President of the IEC National Committee of New Zealand, emphasized the importance of topics being addressed with standards under development: climate change, resilience, asset renewal, smart technologies, and artificial intelligence. “Every country is facing the same challenges,” he said. “The IEC gives us a platform to learn from others and contextualize those solutions for New Zealand.”
Convene the Convenors 2025: Advancing participation through collaboration
The 2nd Convene the Convenors event brought together 28 ISO and IEC technical committee leaders from across the motu for connection, insight-sharing, and learning. It showed the strength of New Zealand’s standards community and its growing role in shaping both national and international standards.
Building confidence: Standards and innovation at the BOINZ Conference
The recent Building Officials Institute NZ (BOINZ) conference in Te Pae, Christchurch, brought together building officials, regulators, and industry leaders to explore the evolving landscape of building compliance, innovation, and standards in New Zealand. Standards New Zealand, through Principal Project Manager Gleb Speranski and Senior Advisor Business Development and Client Relations Vashna Sahay were there to fly the flag for standards.
Hydrogen and solar standards project update
Steady progress has continued throughout the quarter on key projects sponsored by EECA and WorkSafe New Zealand-Energy Safety, relating to New Zealand’s transition to more renewable and sustainable energy-sources, with a particular focus on hydrogen and solar energy. Update by Chris Forsman, Principal Project Manager.
Learn more about projects helping New Zealand's energy transition
Coordinating trans-Tasman collaboration with Shaayal Sukul
Senior Advisor Joint Standards Shaayal Sukul has been leading New Zealand’s involvement in thousands of joints standards over the years. Learn about her crucial work, the importance of trans-Tasman standards and how you can play a part in supporting New Zealand’s involvement in future projects.
Learn about Shaayal and her work coordinating trans-Tasman standards
Joint standards development committee opportunities – can you help?
We have eight joint Australian New Zealand Standards (AS/NZS) committees that urgently need representatives to get involved. They cover diverse subjects, and we’d love to hear from anyone who might be interested – you can help shape the standards that impact New Zealanders every day. These include standards for:
- Prams and strollers
- Medical and surgical instruments
- Information and documentation, information technology - Learning, education, training and research
- Bitumen and related products (for roadmaking)
- Gas cylinders
- Power transformers
- Assistive technology
- Dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers.
Copying standards content? You need to know about copyright
Purchasing a Standards New Zealand document does not entitle you to make copies of, or reproduce, any content from that document without our permission. All standards documents we publish and sell through the webshop, including joint and international standards, are protected by copyright, and this applies whether the document is an electronic file or a printed hard copy.
A massive 37 electrical equipment joint standards are now available for public comment
We are consulting on 37 Australian/New Zealand adoptions of IEC standards and amendments and one revision of an existing joint AS/NZS standard. The proposed AS/NZS standards were prepared by Joint Technical Committee EL-002 Safety of household and similar electrical appliances and small power transformers and power supplies.
- Australia and New Zealand have input via EL-002 throughout the development process of the relevant ‘parent standards’ at IEC level. This ensures the health and safety of citizens in both countries.
- Maintaining pace with the latest international best practices and requirements will reduce the risks to the public and workers using electrical appliances.
- The proposed adoptions of relevant IEC publications for electrical appliances are either identical adoptions or modified adoptions which include Australian and New Zealand national variations.
- For the revision of AS/NZS 3160:2009, we are seeking public comments on whether this standard is still required for equipment not covered by AS/NZS 62841 series. If the standard is no longer needed, the new edition of AS/NZS 3160 will not be published.
You can contribute to public consultation on 38 of these on our consultation hub until 28 July. The 39th, AS/NZS 62841.2.22:202X is open until 6 August:
Standards New Zealand Consultation Hub
EL-002 - the joint committee responsible for revisions of electrical appliance safety standards - have also contributed to the publishing of 18 standards which are either an identical or a modified adoption of IEC standards, for a diverse range of electrical appliances including cooking appliances, clocks, bells and chimes, handlamps, transformers and power supply units, and construction, woodworking and joinery equipment.
Project digest
Our project managers and coordinators work across a number of New Zealand specific projects at any given time.
3404 Steel Structures - a consolidated draft is nearing completion, and the committee will review this before it is provided for public consultation. Date to be confirmed.
3404.3 Durability requirements for steel structures – revision of TS to a full standard - Committee recruitment has now been completed, and revision work should commence in late July.
3604 – revision of timber framed buildings standard - the final technical revisions currently underway will be included in a consultation draft for committee review before the standard is released for public consultation. Date to be confirmed.
TS 1170.5 Structural design actions - balloting completed. Next stage is final draft editing from July.
NZD 3916/3917 Conditions of contracts - Balloting now closed. Next stage is final draft editing from July.
PAS 4509 Firefighting water supplies - the second committee meeting was held in June. Development phase underway. Public consultation planned for October.
Change in prices and fees
From 1 August 2025, Standards New Zealand will increase the prices of its products and services. This change supports the continued development and accessibility of standards, both nationally and internationally. It follows a comprehensive review and reflects only the second price increase in over a decade. Learn more on our website.
Online library – create your own collection
Our subscription service allows you to tailor a standards subscription to meet your individual or organisation's needs. Benefits include:
- Flexible subscriptions based on the number of standards and users
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- Available 24/7
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We’ve made it easier with curated collections of commonly referenced or sector-relevant standards, creating specialised content collections across different industries. You can purchase these as a foundation and add others or build your own collection from scratch with your favourite standards. With an online library annual subscription, you pay for just those that you need and add to your collection.
And no longer do you need to dust off your old paper copy, or worry you left it in the office when you’re out and about – just log in via our website and download a PDF for viewing on your laptop, desktop PC, tablet or smart phone. You can even save a copy to your device for viewing when out of internet range.
Sponsored access to standards related to building, energy efficiency and health
Remember, we have over 130 standards for the building and construction sector that you can access for free to meet the building code, thanks to sponsorship from the building regulator at Building System Performance MBIE. Plus, there are standards to promote energy efficiency sponsored by EECA for those installing commercial heat pumps, EV chargers, smart home technology. Those in the health sector have sponsored access to Ngā Paerewa the new health standard. We are one of the few countries in the world that provides free access to standards to help consumers to do the right thing.
Get standards your way
What works for you or your organisation will depend on your needs. Find our comparison guide, start your search or sign up for an online library subscription on our website:
Learn more with our short introduction videos
You can find additional videos on our YouTube channel that introduce Standards New Zealand, explain the benefits of using standards for businesses and why you should think about joining a standards development committee...
An introduction to Standards New Zealand
Standards for Kiwi businesses
Participate on a standards development committee
Standards for policy and regulation
Is it your time to shine on a standards development committee?
Standards don’t just happen by accident – they are the result of committees of industry users coming together to agree on what is good practice. And those committees need people like you.
Standards development committee members come from all walks of life, representing large, or small to medium businesses, or self-employed contractors. They are central to creating new standards, reviewing and revising existing standards, and adopting and modifying international standards.
Standards are written by committees of volunteers who dedicate their time and knowledge to the job leaving industry peers with a lasting legacy.
"I believe committees need a good balance of younger and older, more experienced people and not just those involved in policy writing, but creatives, innovators and pragmatists." Alison Holt, IT specialist and committee chair
Learn more and apply
Standards New Zealand – who manage the development of and access to standards – have created a new video introducing you to the benefits of being on a committee: building great professional networks, being at the forefront of shaping the standards you use, learning from others in your sector and being part of a team.
Watch: Help make standards and shape the future of your industry — Standards New Zealand YouTube channel
There are hundreds of opportunities across ISO - International Organization for Standardization and IEC - International Electrotechnical Commission standards committees. You can also get involved in joint Australian/New Zealand standards developed with Standards Australia or those used just for New Zealand industries.
Learn more and take the next step with an expression of interest.
You use standards, so let's chat
We love to showcase how businesses and organisations use standards in the many diverse industries across Aotearoa. Standards are more than documents, they enable safety, reliability and quality assurance in services and products used by millions of New Zealanders every day. If you are interested in featuring in an article and telling us your story about the standards you use or that are important to your work, please get in touch for an informal chat: editor@standards.govt.nz
