Standards for policy and regulation
Standards offer a faster, more agile, and cost-effective way to improve sector capability and performance than legislative or regulatory processes.
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E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā hau e whā. Tēnā koutou katoa.
[Narrator in studio. He is wearing a smart pale jacket and shirt]
What are standards.
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Standards are agreed specifications for products, processes services, systems, and/or performance requirements, developed by the very experts that use them or are impacted by them.
Think of them as a formula that describes the best way of doing something.
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Volunteer experts from various sectors develop standards to ensure they're fair unbiased and aligned with current good practices, science and technology.
Standards set clear expectations and are trusted for their credibility and accuracy serving as valuable tools in both regulatory and non-regulatory contexts.
For policymakers, standards offer a faster more agile and cost-effective way to improve sector capability and performance than legislative or regulatory processes.
Standards support policy objectives such as:
- protection and sustainability for people and the environment and management of risk;
- willing and incentivised compliance through wide technical social and economic representation in development - this ensures strong industry buy in stakeholder adoption and greater acceptance of policy guidance or regulation;
- efficiency and productivity by making use of learned practical experience and existing industry knowledge - this saves you cost and time providing quality assurance and preventing duplication of effort;
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- trade and market access that relies on agreed quality and performance requirements between countries - many trade agreements and mutual recognition treaties are underpinned by standards supporting World Trade Organization, APEC and UN efforts to reduce trade barriers and promote international rules-based systems.
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The use of adopted international standards in New Zealand ensures industry practices and technology are up to date and compatible globally while avoiding duplication of existing solutions.
Using standards in regulation doesn't shift responsibility. Legislation and standards can be updated and we encourage regular revisions to keep them current.
How can they be used by policy makers or regulators.
The core principles guiding standards development; openness, transparency, effectiveness, relevance, balanced representation, stakeholder engagement and consensus decision making, align with those of good governance and policy making and regulatory delivery practice.
Instead of creating technical regulations or other policy levers government regulators can use standards with quality safety or performance specifications that can achieve regulatory objectives.
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These standards can then be cited in outcome-based regulations as an acceptable means of compliance.
In New Zealand, hundreds of standards are already used in this way across diverse industries, even outside of regulatory systems there are significant commercial quality and safety drivers gained from standards-based documents.
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Non-sighted voluntary publicly available specifications produced by standards New Zealand are helping drive New Zealand's adoption of renewable energy, expanding the EV network, integrating Māori tikanga and kaupapa in healthcare and reducing energy consumption in homes through use of smart technology.
Different types of standards are appropriate for different policy and regulatory needs and these include performance-based standards which outline system outcomes and are widely used in New Zealand's regulations including areas like emissions, building safety, consumer protection, health, energy efficiency and durability.
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Management system standards ensure consistency quality risk management productivity and consumer trust, especially in manufacturing. Product standards cover specific components or products, focusing on performance aspects like strength, safety and durability and personnel certification standards cover licensing competency and professional behaviour for regulated professions and trades.
So how can Standards New Zealand help policymakers and regulators.
We follow an internationally recognised standards development process and are members of global and regional standards organisations. Our consensus-based approach prevents monopolies, provides independence and ensures balanced representation and technical accuracy. We form committees of volunteer experts to develop or adopt standards eliminating the need for contractors or agency staff.
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Standards New Zealand's international standard adoption process ensures fit-for-purpose international standards are accessible to both government and industry sectors.
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We can support developing bespoke standards for unique New Zealand solutions as we have for many industries and regulatory systems.
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Contact Standards New Zealand Aotearoa's internationally recognised national standards body to learn how standards can support your policy or regulatory goals.
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Mā mahi tahi, ka ora ai te iwi ki te pae kahurangi. Tihei mauri ora.
Instead of creating technical regulations or other policy levers, policy makers and government regulators can identify existing standards or commission the development of standards with quality, safety, or performance specifications that can achieve regulatory objectives. These standards can then be cited in outcome-based regulations as an acceptable means of compliance. Even outside of regulatory systems, there are significant commercial, quality and safety drivers gained from standards-based documents. In New Zealand, hundreds of standards are already used in this way across diverse industries.
What are Standards?
Standards are agreed specifications for products, processes, services, systems, personnel certification and or performance requirements, developed by the very experts that use them or are impacted by them. Think of them as a formula that describes the best way of doing something. They may be international like ISO or IEC, regional like AS/NZS or national New Zealand standards. Standards set clear expectations, recognise good industry practices, and are trusted for their credibility, accuracy, and high industry confidence, making them valuable regulatory and non-regulatory tools. Learn more about the general benefits of standards:
Types of standards publications
Standards are a legitimate instrument recognised under the Standards and Accreditation Act 2015:
Standards and Accreditation Act 2015(external link)
How can they be used by policy makers or regulators like you?
The core principles guiding standards development – openness, transparency, effectiveness, relevance, balanced representation, stakeholder engagement, and consensus decision-making – align with those of good governance and policy-making and regulatory delivery practice.
Standards support policy objectives such as:
- Protection and sustainability for people and the environment, and management of risk.
- Willing and incentivised compliance through wide technical, social, and economic representation in development ensures strong industry buy-in, stakeholder adoption, and greater acceptance of policy guidance or regulation.
- Efficiency and productivity by making use of learned practical experience and existing industry knowledge saving you costs and time, providing quality assurance and preventing duplication of effort.
- Trade and market access rely on agreed quality and performance requirements between countries. Many trade agreements and mutual recognition treaties are underpinned by standards, supporting WTO, APEC, and UN efforts to reduce trade barriers and promote international rules-based systems.
Supporting quality transparent regulation
Standards support the development of high quality, transparent and achievable policies and regulation by referencing up to date and expert guidance that makes it easier for end users to understand and comply with requirements. Standards use supports the outcomes Ministry of Regulation are working to deliver are:
- higher quality regulation: Government resources are combined and focused to improve the quality of regulation and the performance of regulatory systems
- greater transparency: the Government and the public are informed about the purpose, costs, benefits, and outcomes of regulation being used in New Zealand
- improved public trust and confidence: the public have better experiences with, and perceptions of, regulation and regulatory systems
- increased capability: regulators and regulatory leaders are more capable stewards and operators of regulatory systems.
Save time, money and reinventing the wheel
For policy makers, standards can be a more agile, faster and more affordable way to change sector capability and performance than legislative or regulatory processes.
The use of adopted international standards in New Zealand also helps ensure our industry practices, performance, science and technology are as up to date and compatible with the rest of the world as possible. It also delivers the efficiency of not duplicating effort and reinventing existing solutions that exist globally.
Using standards in technical regulation doesn't mean regulators delegate responsibility. Legislation and standards can be updated as needed. We encourage regulators to regularly commission revisions to ensure standards remain current.
Technical barriers to trade (TBT)
Section 49 of the Legislation Act 2012 provides that ‘material’, including a ‘standard’, can be incorporated by reference in regulation. Consideration needs to be given when incorporating or referring to a standard which could restrict trade. New Zealand is party to the World Trade Organisation Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement (TBT). Article 2.4 of the TBT includes an obligation to base technical regulations on relevant international standards. Where there is an appropriate international standard (or New Zealand adoption of an international standard), you can refer to or incorporate that standard. If it isn't appropriate for application in New Zealand or doesn't allow you to achieve a legitimate purpose, regional or New Zealand specific solutions can be used or developed. Find more information about TBT here:
A Regulator’s Guide to New Zealand’s Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Obligations(external link)
MBIE Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Strategy(external link)
Who uses standards in policy
Hundreds of standards are used across diverse policies, regulations and Acts by government agencies and industry bodies. Examples of organisations using them include:
- Building System Performance – the building regulator within MBIE cite over 130 NZS and AS/NZS standards (and sponsor access to ensure people do the right thing). When used in regulation standards ensure our built environment is strong, durable, reliable, and built to anticipate New Zealand’s harsh climate and seismic hazards. The building code recognises AS/NZS series of 3000 standards as the backbone of electrical installation safety and AS/NZS 3500 plumbing and drainage standards as core elements in plumbing referenced in the Gas (Safety and Measurement) Regulations 2010 and the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010.
- EECA – the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority have commissioned the development of bespoke New Zealand guidance through PAS (publicly available specifications) and sponsored them for free access to help New Zealanders improve energy efficiency and inform purchasing decision making.
- The Ministry of Health – in 2021 three separate standards were consolidated into one solution that incorporated tikanga and Kaupapa Māori into modern health case delivery, sponsored for free access to help shape better practice in healthcare facilities and services.
- Worksafe – In particular WorkSafe Energy Safety uses hundred of standards for the regulation of electricity and gas services, safety, quality and measurement in New Zealand.
- Ministry for Primary Industries – a recent update to dairy herd testing standards meant the Dairy Industry (Herd Testing and New Zealand Dairy Core Database) Regulations 2001 could be brought up to date with a simple change in reference to latest good industry practice.
- Fire and Emergency NZ – by using AS/NZS standards within policy means the crucial life saving PPE firefighters use are fit for purpose, and firefighters can support each other much more easily with campaigns across the Tasman using equipment created to specifications that incorporate particular ways of firefighting and the environment they operate within.
- Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment – within MBIE many standards are used across policies and regulations that are in place for consumer safety and protection such as those for safer toys, children’s nightwear, sunscreen, and ladders. Many of these have been included in responses to incidents to help prevent any further harm or loss of life.
So how can Standards New Zealand help you as a policy maker or regulator?
We follow an internationally recognised standards development process and adoption and are a member of several global and regional standards organisations. Our consensus-based decision-making approach prevents monopolies, provides independence and ensures balanced representation and technical accuracy. We form committees of volunteer experts to develop or adopt standards, eliminating the need for contractors or agency staff.
Find standards relevant to your need via the search function or get in touch to discussion developing or sourcing the right standards for your policy need.
Last updated: 27 March 2025