Celebrating the experts behind our standards
World Standards Day – 14 October – is a moment to celebrate the people who make standards possible.
Across Aotearoa New Zealand, around 1,000 volunteer subject matter experts are helping shape the standards that underpin our daily lives. These individuals generously give their time and expertise to develop standards that support safer products, smoother trade, better services, and stronger protections for people and the environment.
Whether working on national, joint Australia–New Zealand, or international ISO and IEC committees, these volunteers are the backbone of the standards system. Their work often happens behind the scenes- reading, reviewing, analysing, drafting, debating, and deciding - but its impact is far-reaching. Without standards, systems falter, safety is compromised, quality drops, and innovation struggles to scale.
As we face new challenges and opportunities - from AI and energy innovation to smarter technologies - the need for robust, trusted standards continues to grow. Thanks to our committee members, New Zealand is better equipped to meet these changes with confidence.
Some of our experts have been involved for decades, others are just beginning their journey. All deserve recognition. Their mahi is helping improve industries, enable trade, enhance quality of life, and shape a more progressive and productive future for Aotearoa.
This World Standards Day, we say thank you. Standards simply couldn’t exist without the people who create them. If you’re one of our committee members, take pride in your work and share your story - we’d love to hear from you at editor@standards.govt.nz.
Want to help others understand the value of standards? Share our informative videos with your networks and encourage others to get involved.
YouTube - Standards New Zealand(external link)
Ngā mihi nui to all our contributors - your work matters.