Welcome to 2026 – A year of opportunity, collaboration, and impact
Welcome to 2026. I hope the year has begun well for you and your teams. For Standards New Zealand, it promises to be a significant and productive year on the back of one of our busiest years ever, with a full and ambitious work programme already underway.
Harmonisation with Australia
A major priority this year is strengthening our trans‑Tasman standards partnership with Australia, supporting the one economic market objectives of the Trans‑Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement and the Closer Economic Relations Free Trade Agreement. These frameworks remain essential for the free movement of goods and services between our countries, and standards are central to making this work.
As highlighted recently by Minister Simpson(external link), our partnership with Standards Australia continues to deepen. This progress reflects considerable effort by both national standards bodies, and our shared commitment to ensuring interoperable Australasian products, services and labour forces, improving access to global markets, and enabling businesses in both countries to operate seamlessly. This alignment drives trade, innovation, competition, consumer choice, quality, safety and long‑term economic prosperity.
New trans-Tasman agreement to strengthen single economic market(external link)
Our joint AS/NZS standards system is genuinely unique internationally. For decades, New Zealand and Australia have jointly developed, adopted, and maintained standards across a vast range of sectors - an arrangement few other economies have achieved at such scale or longevity. The model is widely regarded globally as an example of what is possible when two nations align regulatory intent, technical expertise, and market needs in a practical and enduring way.
This shared system delivers measurable value: reduced duplication and compliance costs, smoother trade, improved safety and quality outcomes, and stronger, more internationally recognised standards. By combining expertise, we strengthen our influence in international standards development and ensure Australasian perspectives are well represented.
Domestically, we will continue improving access to standards and strengthening our consultation processes. Meaningful consultation is vital to trust and transparency, and we are committed to improving the experience for industry and stakeholders.
Help shape tomorrow's standards
In 2026 we will also increase our focus on international standards adoption and participation. International standards – primarily from ISO and IEC - play a critical role in enabling trade, improving efficiency and safety, and supporting innovation. Standards New Zealand is New Zealand’s gateway to getting involved in shaping those standards and accessing them. There are hundreds of committee opportunities to utilise your industry expertise and put NZ on the global map. We welcome expressions of interest from technical experts keen to represent New Zealand internationally.
Help make standards(external link)
Key domestic projects this year include consultation on the revision of NZS 3604 Timber‑Framed Buildings, NZS 3404 Steel Structures, ongoing work on NZS 4121 Design for access and mobility: Buildings and associated facilities, and other standards development work across areas such as natural hazards, flood modelling, bungee jumping, fire-fighting, methamphetamine decontamination, health waste, local government meeting requirements, indoor air quality, and electrical appliance safety to name but a few.
We have also published a new standards committee handbook, available on our website, and are hosting training webinars to support its rollout and information sharing about its guidance – you still have time to register for the Thursday 5 March session.
Register to learn more about the committee handbook(external link)
Thank you for your ongoing engagement and incredible industry support we receive. I look forward to working with you throughout 2026 as we continue to enable safe, high‑quality, innovative, and competitive products and services for New Zealand.
Noho ora mai,
Malcolm MacMillan,
Standards New Zealand National Manager
