Strategic priorities — Trans-tasman partnership

New Zealand and Australia have committed to a seamless trans-Tasman economic environment through the Single Economic Market (SEM), making it as easy to do business across both countries as it is domestically. For approximately 40 years, Standards NZ and Standards Australia have collaborated to develop joint standards that underpin trade agreements, regulatory systems, market competition, innovation and the broader SEM objectives.

This trans-Tasman standards system reduces complexity for users while improving market access, trade and economic integration. It supports the interoperability of products, services and labour markets, and enables more efficient use of system and market resources. For Standards NZ, the partnership involves close collaboration with Standards Australia to deliver a more harmonised, efficient and internationally aligned standards framework.

The benefits of this joint approach are significant. Both countries gain enhanced safety and protection for their people, stronger economic growth and trade opportunities, and increased influence and connectivity on the international stage.

The partnership is focused on expanding the pipeline of joint standards and coordinated adoption of international standards, aligning on priority areas and improving shared processes to maximise resources, reduce duplication, and strengthen outcomes for governments, industry, and consumers across New Zealand, Australia, and the wider Pacific region. There is an opportunity for Standards NZ to increase New Zealand’s influence in the identification, prioritisation and initiation of Trans-Tasman standards projects, to ensure joint work programmes reflect the
interests of both countries.

Key activities

• Coordinate work-programme planning and prioritisation and agree priority areas for strategic trans-Tasman alignment.
• Encourage and facilitate greater New Zealand influence in scoping, developing and prioritising joint Australian/New Zealand standards projects.
• Maintain the established joint Australian/New Zealand standards pipeline and support new initiatives aligned with New Zealand interests including:
  • making more joint Australian/New Zealand standards where appropriate
  • appropriately resourcing the trans-Tasman standards programme of work each year
  • harmonising and expediting the adoption of international standards.
• Recruit more New Zealand members to participate in joint Australian/New Zealand committees.
• Identify and implement business and process efficiencies related to joint Australian/New Zealand standards development, with a specific focus on avoiding and reducing duplication of effort across the two national standards bodies.

What this will look like in 3 years:

• Standards NZ and Standards Australia continue to operate as trusted, effective and collaborative partners.
• Joint standards development and adoption processes are embedded and operating smoothly, with clear
• prioritisation and coordinated decision making that reflects the needs of both countries and avoids duplication of effort where appropriate and possible.
• Expedited international standards adoption processes are operational within a number of joint standards committees.
• There is greater trans-Tasman standards alignment through more joint Australian/New Zealand standards and joint adoptions of international standards.
• New Zealand participation on joint trans-Tasman standards development committees has increased in number, diversity and alignment with New Zealand priorities.