Strategic priorities — Business fundamentals

Standards NZ must ensure service delivery under the Standards and Accreditation Act 2015, the Public Finance Act 1989, the Public Service Act 2020 and government directives. Within this context, Standards NZ recognises that expectations may change as fiscal constraints tighten, requiring careful prioritisation and management of core functions and available resources.

Standards New Zealand recognises that the Māori-Crown partnership and Treaty obligations are fundamental to how we operate as part of the New Zealand public service. Through delivery of MBIE’s Te Ara Amiorangi and the Standards NZ Māori Strategy, we work with iwi, Māori organisations and other partners to support Māori economic, social, cultural and environmental aspirations while ensuring Māori perspectives help shape standards development. This includes building the capability of our people to understand and uphold Crown-iwi partnership obligations, increasing Māori representation and participation in standards committees and strengthening relationships with organisations that represent and champion Māori interests. Together, these efforts support more inclusive standards development, stronger partnerships and better outcomes for Māori.

Standards NZ will maintain a focus on delivering its statutory responsibilities and key outcomes as effectively, efficiently and affordably as possible. This will involve adopting more efficient ways of working where able, prioritising high-impact, high-value activities, reducing some activities and service offerings, and seeking opportunities to improve productivity and resilience.

Standards NZ must secure sufficient revenue and employ efficient business practices to perform its core statutory functions of developing, adopting and providing access to standards and participating internationally in the global standardisation system. As well as maintaining relevant internal resources, processes and systems, we must effectively service and support the large volunteer industry workforce engaged in standards development committees who play a critical role in the standards system.

Standards support economic growth by driving innovation, competition, business productivity, regulatory compliance, consumer protection, market access and trade. Raising New Zealand market awareness of this value and securing government investment remains necessary. Together, these elements will enable Standards NZ to operate efficiently, support its people, and continue to meet the needs of stakeholders now and into the future.

Key activities

• Continue to support MBIE’s policy work on the standards system.
• Prioritise close relations with existing customers/clients to maintain a pipeline of commissioned development, review, and standards adoption work.
• Provide access to standards and improve the self-help functionality of our e-commerce business for our customers on our website and web-shop.
• Adopt modernisation and business efficiency measures including increased use of the Ministry’s shared services and wider capacity and capabilities, AI and digital automation, and progress towards a more digital standards future.
• Actively support the volunteer committee workforce through recruitment, training and recognition initiatives with a focus on growing depth and diversity within committees.
• Align business activities with available revenue and resourcing.

What this will look like in 3 years:

• Core standards development, adoption and access activities are prioritised and delivered efficiently and professionally, with clear and deliberate alignment to national needs and international obligations.
• Standards NZ consistently delivers priority projects on time and within agreed budgets.
• Commercial revenue streams are as stable and predictable as possible.
• Increased use of digital tools, automation, and shared services, where possible, results in business efficiencies, reduced administrative effort and improved quality and service delivery.
• Standards development committee members are supported, engaged, acknowledged and representative of New Zealand’s diversity, with clear pathways and resources for recruitment, induction, development, and succession.
• The breadth and scope of products and services being offered are targeted to high-value, high-benefit
  outcomes.