National Manager’s update – working on key projects helping to support NZ’s resilience in turbulent times

Standards fundamental to energy resilience

It is hard to ignore that we are living in unusually turbulent times. Global uncertainty, geopolitical tension, economic disruption, deterioration of the international rules-based order, and rapid technological change are all colliding in ways that feel challenging and, at times, unsettling.

Yet I believe these very conditions reinforce something fundamental: the enduring importance of strong multilateral international systems and institutions, strong and globally connected national quality and economic infrastructure, and the need to use these to continue building economic resilience and long‑term prosperity. Nowhere is that more evident right now than in the area of energy resilience.

Against this backdrop, I am heartened by the work Standards New Zealand has undertaken in recent years to support New Zealand’s transition to a more resilient and sustainable energy system. Our standards development efforts across renewable and emerging energy technologies – including electric vehicle technologies, photovoltaic solar systems, and hydrogen energy – are playing an important enabling role. These standards help provide certainty, safety, interoperability, and confidence, supporting the adoption and rollout of new technologies and energies across the economy. In doing so, they contribute in very practical ways to building New Zealand’s energy resilience. While there is clearly more to do as a country, the foundations we are laying now will matter for decades to come.

Changes to the Standards Approval Board

This month, Standards New Zealand is also pleased to welcome three new ministerially appointed members to the New Zealand Standards Approval Board. The Board plays a critical decision-making role in ensuring the integrity of the standards development process, independence, and quality of New Zealand, (including Trans-Tasman joint) and New Zealand adopted international Standards, and I am delighted to see the depth of experience and expertise that our new members bring. Further details on their backgrounds and appointments are included in this edition of Touchstone, and I know they will make a valuable contribution to our work. Learn more about the SAB members.

Standards Approval Board (SAB)

A broad range of projects in action

When I look across our current work programme, it is as busy and dynamic as I have ever seen it. Standards New Zealand and many hundreds of industry subject matter experts are currently involved in around 340 joint trans‑Tasman standards projects being led by Standards Australia, alongside nine joint trans‑Tasman projects Standards New Zealand are currently leading.  In addition, we are progressing 13 national (domestic) NZ standards development projects, addressing issues of direct importance to New Zealand. These include accessibility for people with disabilities, natural hazard management, electrical safety, health and building and construction standards.

Beyond this, New Zealand experts are actively participating in hundreds of international standards under development, across approximately 77 ISO and IEC international standards development committees, in which we hold Kiwi membership and participation in currently.

This level of engagement and participation in standardisation ensures New Zealand voices, interests, and conditions are reflected in the global standards system. Details of all this active work are always available through our work in progress information maintained on the Standards New Zealand website.

Standards in development: Standards New Zealand(external link)

Alongside our core standards development programme, we also have a number of focused initiatives underway. These include specific projects on cyber security standardisation for New Zealand, the refresh of our strategic business plan, continued work on streamlining trans‑Tasman standards development with our Standards Australia colleagues. We are also exploring technology improvements to our public consultation solution, to make it easier for stakeholders to engage with standards development.

In times of uncertainty, standards may not always be visible, but their role in underpinning trust, resilience, quality, consumer protection, regulatory compliance, and economic prosperity has rarely been more important. I want to thank everyone who continues to contribute their time and expertise to this work – your involvement continues to strengthen New Zealand’s standards system and the outcomes it delivers for all of us.

Noho ora mai,

Malcolm MacMillan,
Standards New Zealand National Manager