Our work across the Pacific

As a member of the Pacific Area Standards Congress (PASC) and the Pacific Islands Standards Committee (PISC), Standards New Zealand has a focus on supporting specific development initiatives for the benefit of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Pacific neighbours. 

PISC was recently endorsed by the Pacific Islands Forum leaders (the Prime Ministers of each of the 18 member countries) as a regional Standards Development Organisation. Through PISC, the Pacific region is currently nearing completion of the first Pacific Regional Standard on quick frozen cassava.

The Pacific Islands Forum(external link)

Support for Pacific nations

In 2024 Standards New Zealand, in partnership with and commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, undertook a multi-year programme of work to build standards capability in the Pacific Islands. 

This supports our role as a member country within PISC and wider inter-agency commitments to contribute to the development of capability within standardisation in the Pacific region. Improving capability for our Pacific neighbours can bring prosperity across the wider Pacific region.

The goal of this programme is for Pacific countries to:

• receive access to standards and conformance systems, processes and expertise to develop their capability
• receive knowledge, skills and capability-building support
• help achieve quality, resilient and inclusive infrastructure.

Key activities and outputs

Pacific Standards Learning Journey eLearning modules

The Pacific Standards Learning Journey is a suite of free-to-access, interactive e-learning modules tailored specifically for Pacific Island professionals and communities. It is designed to support professional development and strengthen understanding of standards and standardisation in the Pacific region.

The Pacific Standards Learning Journey modules are designed to help:

• understand what standards are
• learn how standards support safer infrastructure, better trade, and healthier communities
• build practical skills in developing, adopting, and implementing standards
• contribute confidently to national and regional standards work
• access learning anytime, anywhere even with limited internet.

The Pacific Standards Learning Journey includes 5 short, practical modules covering:

• what standards are and how they support safety and quality
• how standards committees work and the consensus process
• drafting standards that fit your local context
• principles for adopting standards nationally
• engaging stakeholders and supporting trade through international standards.

Anyone can access the free eLearning modules on the Building Performance website:

Pacific Standards Learning Journey(external link) — Building Performance website

Access to online library

Part of this programme includes free access for selected Pacific government regulators and public organisations (including power utilities, water utilities and education providers) to over 230 NZS and AS/NZS building-related standards through the Standards New Zealand Online Library platform. This allows immediate access to trans-Tasman good practice that can be applied and adapted locally as needed.

The Online Library subscription service provides convenient, easy access to a bespoke collection of building-related standards. The service includes:

• 24/7 access to the latest up-to-date editions of standards that can be accessed via smartphone, tablet or PC
• automatic updates for subscribed standards so that these always provide access to the latest version
• downloadable and printable standards for personal use when users are on site or out of signal
• quick search functionality and simple search results for quick access.

To find out if you are eligible and set up an account for your organisation, please get in touch with us at onlinelibrary@standards.govt.nz.

Pacific Islands Standards Week 2024

This week-long series of presentations and workshops in August 2024 brought together 40 representatives across 18 PISC member-nations for professional development. These events saw support from 20 New Zealand and Australian experts from diverse industries. Learn more and get access to presentations here:

Pacific Islands Standards Week 2024

Building for the Pacific Workshop 2025

This week-long series of in-person presentations and capability-building workshops in October 2025 expanded on learnings from the 2024 Pacific Islands Standards Week.

Content explored the New Zealand building regulatory framework, standardised contracts for construction, needs and testing for natural hazards resilience, and the development of soft skills for influencing and engaging stakeholders. 

Attendees came from across government and industry roles in Fiji, Tokelau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Samoa and Kiribati.

Weeklong workshop helps build bridges across the Pacific with safer standards