Source: Radio New Zealand
BusinessNZ director of advocacy Catherine Beard. Supplied / Business NZ
Standards New Zealand has been invited by Standards Australia to take a seat at the table following many years of being unable to pay the price to join.
The change follows an agreement by the Australian and New Zealand governments to fund New Zealand’s participation in the development of joint standards, which were essential to trans-Tasman trade.
“Standards Australia has been well resourced over the years, while Standards New Zealand was the poor cousin, and NZ businesses were having to pay to participate in joint standards development,” BusinessNZ director of advocacy Catherine Beard said.
“As a result of the cost barrier, and the 100 percent user pays model operating in New Zealand, there were about 500 joint standards that were de-jointed since 2016.”
She said New Zealand businesses will, however, continue to fund the expenses associated with travel and other expenses incurred by New Zealand’s contributing experts attending the standards meetings.
“Joint standards are needed as Australia and NZ are each other’s biggest market for manufactured exports and given the closeness between the two economies and business sectors.
“This has been particularly challenging for construction and building industries, where safety could be compromised through inadequate standards.
“Industry standards are needed for product safety, regulatory compliance, successful exporting and importing, efficiency, consistency, and many other needs. All manufactured items must be manufactured to recognised standards. All recognised trade training in NZ is linked to Standards,” she said.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
