Trans-Tasman standards agreement welcomed

The agreement has seen New Zealand adopt more than 110 new or updated standards in line with Australia – including 33 new joint standards and a further 24 re-aligned standards in areas like civil engineering, fuels, public health and safety, and building design.

“This agreement is something we have been advocating for, and we are pleased to see the coupling of many standards that will be of use for engineers,” says Engineering New Zealand Chief Executive Dr Richard Templer.

“These changes will mean that New Zealand engineers working on Australian or New Zealand projects can use the same standard. This will improve efficiency and consistency of designs.”

While the new agreement is good news, Engineering New Zealand will continue to advocate for standard system reform as more needs to be done to fix a broken system.

“We know that the standards system has needed an urgent overhaul for some time. Even with these new changes, the standards system is not yet fit for purpose,” says Templer.

“The current model for funding and accessing technical standards is outdated, costly and hindering progress in key sectors. Expecting industry to finance and contribute time to develop standards, only to then pay to use them, is both inefficient and inequitable. In addition, the system is not well aligned with regulatory frameworks or the pace of innovation.”

Engineering New Zealand is urging the Government to completely overhaul the funding model for the standards system, including the development of a clear reform programme with defined timeframes, measurable milestones and genuine stakeholder involvement

“Ultimately, the goal is to establish a modern, streamlined system that is ready for the future - one that drives innovation, supports government priorities, and safeguards the health, safety, and wellbeing of New Zealanders,” says Templer.

“While we welcome the new trans-Tasman standards agreement as a positive step, we know there is more that needs to be done.”