National Manager’s foreword

Standards New Zealand is operating in a challenging economic environment and a fiscally constrained sector, while also watching an uncertain international landscape. Long-established rules-based multilateral systems, trade settings, and political and economic settings are being disrupted and recast globally. Now more than ever, global standardisation and New Zealand’s participation and influence in that system are important. At the same time, sustained domestic economic pressures have had a noticeable impact on the ability of both industry and public sector organisations to support and participate in New Zealand’s standards system

In response, our 2026 Business Strategy is deliberately focused on operating as lean and efficient a business as possible. We are consolidating our activities and priorities around our core statutory functions while we navigate the current economic and sector conditions. Our focus is on quality over quantity – delivering high-quality services and concentrating our effort in areas where we can provide the greatest value for money and the most effective contribution to growing New Zealand’s economy and helping protect our society and citizens.

You will see three key priorities in this strategy. These priorities are aligned to the Government’s economic growth objectives which we believe will remain important and enduring. In a constrained economic environment, clarity of purpose and a strong focus on impact and value matter more than ever.

We remain clear about the importance of our trans-Tasman standards partnership with Australia. This is a vital economic relationship that supports industries and markets on both sides of the Tasman, including through the interoperability of our products, services and labour markets. An aligned trans-Tasman standards system underpins and supports our single economic market objectives with Australia and important agreements such as the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Agreement (TTMRA) and Closer Economic Relations (CER) free trade agreement. Trans-Tasman standards are also widely used in the Pacific Islands and, in doing so, support our Pacific Island nation neighbours’ economic growth. By drawing on the complementary expertise and capability in both Australia and New Zealand, and by working closely together, Standards Australia, Standards New Zealand, and our respective economies are stronger.

A further priority for us is increasing the adoption and use of international standards in New Zealand. We see a significant and largely still untapped opportunity for businesses and government agencies to better recognise the value that international standards offer, whether they export goods and undertake international trade, regulate sectors, or operate solely in New Zealand. Greater use of international standards helps make New Zealand more globally connected, more competitive, more innovative, safer, and ultimately more prosperous. This strategy reflects our commitment to delivering that value in practical, targeted and enduring ways.

Malcolm MacMillan
National Manager, Standards New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment