Updates and articles from your national standards organisation
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In this issue:
- National Manager Malcolm MacMillan's message
Newly revised earth building standards help marry future solutions with traditional techniques
Manage risk and maximise opportunity with first of its kind AI system management standard ISO/IEC 42001
Ash Charles on the IEC Young Professionals programme
- Applications now open for IEC Young Professionals programme
- Contributors urgently sought for gloves, textiles and electrical installations projects
- Can you help shape standards for electrical safety?
- Project digest - updates on New Zealand standards under development
Tēnā koutou,
This is our first issue of 2025 and it’s already proving to be a busy year ahead for us here at Standards New Zealand.
As we have acknowledged in an article in November's Touchstone, 'Who pays for standards used in New Zealand', operating a full user-pays funding model for standardisation in New Zealand continues to be a challenge. At the direction of the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, MBIE is exploring options to improve the sustainability of New Zealand’s standards system, and best deliver to the needs of New Zealand in the future. While we don’t have an answer yet, we continue to appreciate all of the investment both industry and government agencies put into the current system. Both financial investment through commissioning standards development or purchasing standards, and the incredible time, effort, energy and expertise subject matter experts, largely volunteers, put into standards development committee work, without which we do not have a standards system in New Zealand. We remain incredibly grateful for this support and contribution.
Recognising the value of joint trans-Tasman standards and broader trans-Tasman adopted international ISO and IEC standards is the subject of some information and education collateral we are developing to encourage industry and government regulators to consider integrating more standards within their public policy and regulatory practice work. Curious to know which trans-Tasman and international standards exist to help your industry? The first step is a search of our collection which boasts over 135,000 standards. There really is no point in reinventing the wheel and bearing the subsequent costs when solutions can and often do exist elsewhere in the world to help address your needs – start off with a simple search on our site.
Other work keeping the team busy includes our ongoing Pacific programme commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade that builds upon the Pacific Islands Standards Week we hosted last July and access to thousands of standards for our Pacific neighbours through our online library. The next steps include developing e-learning modules for those across the Pacific Islands to help build their standards and conformance capability and further understand and implement standards relevant to their economies and market needs.
We’re pleased to welcome new team members who will help maintain our business systems. We will profile them and their work in future issues. I’m proud of the team here at Standards New Zealand who continue to achieve remarkable things, under the current economic climate and operating environment. I’m also pleased to see some incredible calibre of committee members giving of their time and expertise to work on some exciting standards projects including AI, cloud computing, cyber security, biometrics, and geospatial systems standards.
We are also looking for volunteers and funders for a range of joint standards projects with Australia, including in the areas listed above, and water microbiology, product and consumer safety, building and construction, fire safety, geotechnical engineering, electrical safety, ICT, and many more. Please do get in touch if you think you can help and would like to be an important part of New Zealand’s standards system. Committee participation is a brilliant way to learn, contribute and build enduring networks. Further information here: Help make standards :: Standards New Zealand
International engagement continues to be an important part of Standards NZ’s business, as we help represent New Zealand’s interests on the global stage. International standards can support key government priorities such as trade, market access, New Zealand’s business settings to support international investment and broader economic growth both here in New Zealand and the Pacific region. Over the next few months events include a Pacific Quality Infrastructure standards, conformance and metrology workshop, the Pacific Area Standards Congress meeting, and ISO Asia Pacific Forum.
Noho ora mai,
Malcolm MacMillan
National Manager Standards New Zealand
Newly revised earth building standards help marry future solutions with traditional techniques
Building with clay bearing subsoil has been practiced across the world for thousands of years. Newly updated world-leading New Zealand earth building standards are paving the way for designers, builders and engineers to further advance this sustainable practice for tomorrow’s built environment.
The set of three newly published standards have been sponsored for free access by MBIE Building System Performance, the building regulator. Learn more from chair of the committee, architect, former Chair of EBANZ, and dedicated eco-designer Graeme North who explains more about the standards.
Manage risk and maximise opportunity with first of its kind AI system management standard ISO/IEC 42001
With AI rapidly integrating into daily life, a new international standard – ISO/IEC 42001:2023 – has been developed to guide its safe, ethical, and responsible use. This milestone comes as artificial intelligence shapes various digital interactions, from e-commerce chatbots and smart home devices to speech recognition, navigation, healthcare, and streaming services. AI is no longer a future concept; it is already embedded in the fabric of everyday life.
Craig Pattison, Chief Operating Officer of the Capability Collective and agricultural stream lead for the AI Blueprint for Aotearoa 2024, highlights its importance.
Ash Charles on the IEC Young Professionals programme
Engineer Ash Charles introduces us to the IEC Young Professionals programme that provides an opportunity to be immersed in the world of the International Electrotechnical Commission and get involved in standards development.
Ash says, 'We take standards for granted and all the hours of voluntary technical knowledge that’s gone into them. So, the programme helps develop standards champions and it’s given me a real interest in getting involved in making standards that I probably didn’t have before. Sometimes you look at standards and question why things are done a particular way, so you realise that getting involved allows you to share your perspective and provide input that matters on a global scale.’
Applications now open for IEC Young Professionals programme
Each year the International Electrotechnical Commission – the world’s leading developer of global standards for electronics – runs a programme dedicated to encouraging the next generation of standards makers. We support our National Committee to find young Kiwis ready to take that step.
- Are you in your early 20s to mid-30s with a career in electrical or electronic engineering?
- Want to be part of the world’s leading global community for electrical engineering standards?
- Keen to explore an opportunity to join the IEC conference in New Delhi, India September 2025?
- Or perhaps you mentor or manage a young engineer and want to help them grow...
Then read on...
Contributors needed for gloves, textiles and electrical installations projects
Single use gloves, textile labels and electrical installations are the subject of four standards development projects that are urgently seeking funders and/or committee members. Work in a related industry? These standards could impact the work you do.
We regularly reach out to industry and agencies to support the ongoing development of standards used by those industries. Through our cost-recovery model, funding and committee participation needs are met by industry-related organisations and agencies to ensure New Zealand remains up to speed with the rest of the world and our Trans-Tasman trade partners. Funding is welcomed in whole or shared in part and means your organisation, as a nominating organisation endorsing committee members, gets to shape the very standards you use. These projects are in desperate need of further support through funding and participation.
Read more about these projects' needs.
Can you help shape standards for electrical safety?
Standards development relies on volunteers to discuss, review, draft, edit and agree on final content of standards used by industries. We are looking for New Zealand experts to represent New Zealand interests on a long-standing committee of New Zealand and Australian experts with a particular focus on electrical appliances - EL-002 Safety of household and similar electrical appliances and small power transformers and power supplies.
You will be:
- Working in a field relevant to the use of electrical appliances – that might include electrical testing, laboratory and certification, manufacturing, repair or design, procurement, distribution or retail, electrical safety or installation.
- Experienced and familiar with the range of standards covered by EL-002
Discover more about this opportunity to shape New Zealand's most important electrical safety standards.
Project digest
NZS 3604 Timber-framed buildings revision
The committee met in late February to review progress on the revision and identify work that needs completing before the revised standard can progress to public consultation later this year. The committee is due to meet again in March to make in-principal decision on final technical content to allow creation of a Public Consultation draft.
We also want to thank Peter Jackson for his mahi as chair, Peter has recently stepped down from this role and we are working through the process to appoint his successor. More information will follow once the Standards Approval Board have confirmed the appointment.
As well as working on the content of the revision, the committee are also working to understand how best to structure the standard so it meets the needs of end users and provides some degree of future proofing, ability to present the standard in different formats including improved accessibility, and greater device agnosticism.
The committee were on board with the mahi required and are working to progress the revision with leadership from Standards New Zealand. We want to acknowledge the committee members and the support of their nominating organisations for their continuing involvement and support to complete the revision of this important standard.
SNZ TS 1170.5 Structural design actions Part 5: Earthquake actions
The committee are currently completing final actions resulting from the large amount of comments received during the Public Consultation phase in 2024. This work is due to be completed beginning of March before balloting on the final content of the Technical Specification begins. We will then take the document through the publication process with the aim to publish this document in the middle of this year, June 2025.
NZS 3916 & 3917 Conditions of contract for building and civil engineering
The Public Consultation phase was extended by two weeks to 2 March after a number of requests by the public for additional time to submit comments. Now the consultation period has closed, the committee will meet to review the public submissions, before moving to ballot on the final draft next month, with the intention to move this through to publication by June.
Technical Coordination groups
Standards New Zealand have recently been commissioned by Building System Performance to establish two Technical Coordination Groups looking at timber and wood-based structures and products, and foundations and geotechnical investigations.
These TCGs are testing the concept of operating as an expert group, providing input into potential future work-programmes, identifying key standards for review or revision, and providing guidance on likely scope of the suggested work including whether revision or adoption of comparable standards is the most efficient way forward.
NZS 3404 Steel Structures Parts 1 & 2
The committee met in February to progress the development of the revision of this standard, with most of the initial draft content now complete and being edited in preparation for Public Consultation in the middle of the year.
The committee have worked hard to get the content developed to this stage, with Standards New Zealand providing editing resource as content has been developed to speed up the progress where possible. Standards New Zealand want to thank the committee for their ongoing mahi in revising this standard.
Residential solar photovoltaics (PV) and home battery storage PAS on the horizon
SNZ PAS 6014:2025 Residential solar photovoltaics (PV) and battery storage systems guideline will support EECA’s focus on increasing the uptake of connected or ‘smart’ appliances in New Zealand households to reduce peak demand on the electricity grid, reduce consumer costs and help keep downward pressure on electricity prices by deferring or avoiding unnecessary network overinvestment. This guideline will focus on solar powered energy systems, specifically grid-tied systems, hybrid battery systems and off-grid systems.
Expanding on the publicly available specification (PAS) on smart homes published in 2022 and at a technology-specific level, unbiased good practice guidance is required for homeowner consumers and installers on the functionality, performance, and installation of solar photovoltaics (solar PV) and home battery systems. This helps consumers understand why they should consider investing in the high-spec technology and how it relates to the demand flexibility capability of a smart home.
A PAS development process follows our robust methodology using a committee of experts, multi-stakeholder process and public consultation – this stage is expected to open over the month ahead and is an opportunity for industry and consumers to understand the draft and provide comment or perspective for consideration in the final iteration expected in the middle of this year.
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
- Automatic updates to the latest standards
- Available 24/7
- Multi-user access with support
- Protected PDF download and printing available.
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.
Funded access to standards related to building, energy efficiency and health
Remember, we have over 134 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:
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
Learn more - explainer videos for small businesses and committee participation
You can find additional videos on our YouTube channel that explain the benefits of using standards for small businesses and why you should think about joining a standards development committee...
