Local government
Local government standards help build our communities.
The challenges that local government face now and into the future, are complex across multiple sectors: from the built environment, local production, water quality and waste to health and safety, tourism, infrastructure and the environment. When local decisions need to provide consistency and confidence across not only community but districts, regions and the nation, standards help create the building blocks of good policy and process. There are standards that can be integrated through every social, cultural, economic and environmental decision.
There are thousands of New Zealand or international standards that can help, and where there aren’t, we can help you develop solutions for your distinct community needs.
Who benefits from Local government standards?
Councils and authorities – Using standards can demonstrate a commitment to consistency across regions, and transparency to ratepayers. Standards put efficiency, resilience, safety and good practice at the heart of decision-making.
Service providers – Incorporating good-practice test methods and processes, standards can provide competitive edge, help you meet and surpass council requirements and establish trust and confidence.
Communities – When standards are integrated throughout every aspect of community needs residents can feel confident, safer and more content.
'Don’t reinvent the wheel. When interacting with authorities, New Zealanders want consistency and the confidence that comes from standards underpinning decision-making.’ Dr Mick Kearney, National Coastal Safety Manager, Surf Life Saving New Zealand.
Are you an industry expert?
Be at the forefront of standards development and revision, building professional national or international networks and shaping best practice, as a participant on a standards development committee.
‘Don’t reinvent the wheel. When interacting with authorities, New Zealanders want consistency and the confidence that comes from standards underpinning decision-making.’ - Dr Mick Kearney, National Coastal Safety, Manager, Surf Life Saving New Zealand
Just some of the ways standards help:
- AS/NZS 2416.3:2010 Water safety signs and beach safety flags
- NZS 9201.29:2007 Model general bylaws – Liquor control
- ISO/TS 14092:2020 Adaptation to climate change – Requirements and guidance on adaptation planning for local governments and communities
- AS/NZS 5667.6:1998 Water quality – Sampling – Guidance on sampling of rivers and streams
- NZS 9401:2008 Managing flood risk – A process Standard
- AS/NZS 1428.4.1:2009 Design for access and mobility – Part 4.1: Means to assist the orientation of people with vision impairment
- ISO 20611:2018 Adventure tourism – Good practices for sustainability – Requirements and recommendations
- NZS 9202:2003 Model standing orders for meetings of local authorities and community boards
- AS/NZS 4282:2019 Control of the obtrusive effects of outdoor lighting
- HB 246:2010 Guidelines for managing risk in sport and recreation organizations
Discover more about our work in the sector:
- Saving lives with signage
- Spray the right way with NZS 8409:2021 Management of agrichemicals
- AS/NZS 5328:2022 clarifies what can be flushed down your loo
- Shaping the standard, shaping the land with Sally Hargraves
Sponsored standards
Self containment of motor caravans and caravans
Access to NZS 5465:2001 Self-containment of motor caravans and caravans has been sponsored by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), who identified the importance of enabling tourists, local councils, and the public to access a PDF copy of the standard online at no charge.
NZS 5465:2001 Self containment of motor caravans and caravans(external link)
Testing and decontamination of methamphetamine-contaminated properties
Access to NZS 8510:2017 Testing and decontamination of methamphetamine-contaminated properties has been sponsored by agencies who have an interest in making the standard freely accessible. These agencies recognise the importance of enabling industry, landlords, the staff of local councils, and the public to view the standard online at no charge.
NZS 8510:2017 Testing and decontamination of methamphetamine-contaminated properties(external link)
Keep updated on the Local government sector
- Follow specific standards through ‘Keep-me-up-to-date’ or tick the ‘Local Government’ box under your free account notifications.
- Use the ‘Local Government‘ and ‘Tourism and Hospitality’ tags under for related articles under News and Updates
Represent the sector
You could have a role to play in shaping the future of standards you and your peers use. If you have skills, experience or a unique perspective in your industry you could contribute on a standards development committee – whether for New Zealand, joint Australian/New Zealand or international ISO or IEC standards. Complete an expression of interest here:
Join a standards development committee
Sector brochure
Want to commission a standard, get involved in a committee or learn more about the value of standards to the sector? Download our summary brochure for discussion with your business leaders.