News from the team and updates on standards published, out for consultation, and on the horizon.
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In this issue:
- National Manager Malcolm MacMillan's update.
- Shaping global AI standards with Craig Pattison.
- Revision of NZS 4121:2001 – Design for access and mobility.
- Meet Ramola Duncan – Senior Advisor, International Engagement.
- Building for seismic resilience with TS 1170.5 Structural design actions.
- Revision of NZS 4303:1990 Ventilation for acceptable indoor air quality.
- Aged standards under review.
- SAB farewells Peter Gilbert.
- Standards in development update.
Kia ora,
As we close out 2025, I want to take a moment to reflect on what has been an extraordinary year for Standards New Zealand. Despite significant challenges, including the current economic and sector conditions, we have delivered outcomes that strengthen New Zealand’s standards system, support industry, and uphold our international reputation.
Key achievements, to name only a few, include:
In energy and energy safety
- Led trans-Tasman adoption of 56 international appliance safety standards.
- Adopted 11 hydrogen-related standards to support a low-carbon economy.
- Published a publicly available specification on solar PV and battery systems.
For trans-Tasman alignment
- Managed 155 joint trans-Tasman standards development projects and rejoined 24 previously disjointed standards, improving trans-Tasman alignment in plumbing, water microbiology, safety, and consumer protection.
- Prevented NZ opting out of 33 joint trans-Tasman standards projects; adopted 57 international standards in AI, cybersecurity, biometrics, GIS, and cloud computing.
Regional engagement and global impact
- Added 74 new Kiwi experts; supported 391 existing ones on 74 international committees; including casting 1,545 ISO/IEC country votes.
- Represented NZ at ISO Annual General Meeting (Rwanda), IEC Annual General Meeting (New Delhi), Pacific Area Standards Congress (Tokyo), Pacific Islands Forum standards and conformance workshop (Fiji), ASEAN digital standards workshop (Australia), and hosted IEC Executive in Wellington.
- Continued supporting the Pacific Islands in their standardisation through standards access, e-learning, professional development workshops and policy development.
- Hosted various industry workshops on ventilation, accessibility, timber standards, and thermal resistance.
Delivered quality service
- Published 378 standards (inc. 292 international adoptions) and sold 330,403 publications.
- Refreshed our website, produced several explainer videos, and secured a new web-shop service vendor.
- Updated our quality management system and had it independently certified to ISO 9001 by Telarc.
- Developed a Māori capability strategy and three action plans.
- Responded to 2,824 complex customer enquiry emails, 1,100 phone calls, and 890,433 active website users served.
Challenges and resilience
We navigated new resourcing changes and levels, operating model changes, price adjustments, and economic and sector pressures. Despite this, we also delivered thousands of hours of expertise and support to our MBIE policy colleagues, supporting their work on New Zealand’s standards system, maintained a catalogue of 164,549 standards for New Zealand, and kept NZ’s standards system running.
Looking ahead
Standards drive safety, quality, innovation, productivity, and global market access. In 2026, we’ll keep strengthening NZ’s standards system, supporting industry prosperity, protecting consumers, and ensuring Aotearoa’s voice is influential globally.
Thank you for your continued support. Together, through trusted standards, we are building a safer, smarter, more productive and connected New Zealand.
From the Standards New Zealand team and I, we wish you safe, healthy and happy holidays.
Noho ora mai,
Malcolm MacMillan
National Manager, Standards New Zealand
Shaping global AI standards with Craig Pattison
Craig Pattison, New Zealand’s head of delegation to ISO/IEC JTC 1 SC 42 shares insights from an international AI standards meeting hosted by Standards Australia. The event brought together experts from over 50 countries to advance global frameworks for artificial intelligence.
Revision of NZS 4121:2001 – Design for access and mobility
4121:2001 Design for access and mobility – buildings and associated facilities, has been the subject of a scoping exercise to determine its ongoing suitability and need for modernisation as a key compliance element for accessible public spaces.
Learn more about the scoping exercise and environmental scan findings.
Building for seismic resilience with TS 1170.5 Structural design actions
Technical specification SNZ TS 1170.5:2025 Structural design actions Part 5: Earthquake actions – New Zealand has been developed to guide engineers, architects, and builders to create structures that are safer, more resilient, and better prepared for New Zealand’s seismic realities, while introducing two decades of learnings into practice.
Aged standards under review for speech equipment, flooring and furniture, waste water and electrical installations
What do handheld speech equipment, flooring, upholstery and furniture, waste water and electrical installations all have in common?
They are all subject to relevant aged joint standards under review and awaiting your feedback. Check out the list and have your say telling us:
- should these be withdrawn, reconfirmed, or revised?
- are they still fit for purpose?
- do you use alternatives to meet your compliance needs?
Even if you work in relevant industries but DON'T use these standards, your feedback on why can help inform decision making.
See the range of standards that need your feedback to shape their future.
Meet Ramola Duncan – Senior Advisor, International Engagement
Ramola joins Standards New Zealand as Senior Advisor – International Engagement, bringing a career shaped by diplomacy, education, and community partnerships. Her work has always centred on connection and creating spaces where people feel heard, aligning diverse voices, and building relationships that move sectors forward.
With experience across government, tertiary education, and international engagement networks, Ramola now supports New Zealand’s participation in ISO and IEC committees, deepens engagement with technical experts, and contributes to Pacific regional standardisation efforts. She brings a strong background in strategic communication, stakeholder engagement, and cross-sector facilitation, grounded in a genuine commitment to work that has purpose and impact.
What drew her to MBIE and Standards New Zealand was the opportunity to work at the intersection of global engagement and national good - ensuring Aotearoa’s perspectives and expertise are reflected in the international standards shaping our future.
Ramola says, 'I believe good standards begin with good relationships. When we bring people together with clarity, purpose, and trust, we create pathways for Aotearoa’s expertise to influence the world and for global insights to strengthen our communities at home.'
Revision of NZS 4303:1990 Ventilation for acceptable indoor air quality
Published in 1990, NZS 4303 has served as the benchmark for ventilation design and operation for 35 years. However, the standard is now overdue for a comprehensive update to reflect modern building practices, address emerging health and environmental challenges, and align with international good practice.
Learn more about what changes are in scope for the revision.
SAB farewells Peter Gilbert
December saw the final Standards Approval Board meeting for Peter Gilbert. Peter was the last inaugural member of the Standards Approval Board, originally appointed in 2016 by then Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Paul Goldsmith. He has given almost a decade towards ensuring checks and balances are in place for the thousands of appointments to standards development committees and subsequent publications.
With over 40 years' experience in the natural gas and LPG industries, he has been Executive Director of the LPG Association of New Zealand and Executive Officer of the Gas Association of New Zealand while also a member of various Australian/New Zealand standards committees. He has brought considerable experience in the regulatory system and the use and development of standards in the energy sector. Thank you Peter for your role in keeping our standards system robust, fair and effective.
Standards in development
Visit our Standards in development webpage to check each project’s stage and see what’s been done and what’s coming up next. Download the 'in-flight standards' spreadsheet and use the tabs for New Zealand only standards (NZS), Australia-led AS/NZS or rejointing projects under the 'Trans Tansman Standards Alignment Project'.
Standards in development - check out all projects underway
DZ 3604 Timber-framed buildings revision progress
We would like to acknowledge the hard work of the committee this year, who have spent the last four months reviewing the draft standard and resolving technical issues. They have met four times in the last six weeks to close out this work. At their last meeting of the year on Friday 12 December, the committee made final technical decisions on revised content. Final technical drafting by committee members will be completed by 19 December. Our technical writer will include final content and revised images into a public consultation draft during January and a final edited copy will be available for committee review during February. Assuming the final consultation draft only requires minor final edits, public consultation should commence in March 2026.
DZ 3404 Steel structures revision progress
We acknowledge the hard work of the committee this year. After multiple meetings to review the working draft and close out technical feedback, the production of a consultation draft is now well underway. An edited draft containing all the revised technical content and new images should be available for committee review in February with public consultation planned for late March or early April.
DZ 3404.3 Durability requirements for steel structures and components revision progress
This project kicked off in July 2025. The project was established to review the Technical Specification 3404 with a view to reviewing and incorporating the information into a full standard which will become part three of NZS 3404. Final technical content from the committee will be completed by 19 December with editing being completed in January. The committee will determine if public consultation takes place independently from or alongside DZ 3404 in 2026.
Visit standards.govt.nz for more
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- Latest publications - Standards New Zealand - newly published NZS, AS/NZS, IEC and ISO standards
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
