Standards New Zealand

Topic: Developing Standards - the role of stakeholder consultation

Summary:

Standards New Zealand is committed to promoting the value of innovation and knowledge transfer with international Standards. We facilitate and coordinate local feedback on Standards being developed off-shore, on topics such as carbon footprint ‘food miles’ and risk management. We also make available New Zealand-developed Standards for possible use around the world, on topics such as employment equity and family violence.

Our recent coordination and representation of a ‘New Zealand Inc’ position on the Microsoft Office Open XML standard to international standards status attracted a high level of attention and positive acknowledgement, both domestically and internationally, and really tested the international Standards development process.

This project has highlighted the importance and value of building consensus between Government, industry, and community stakeholders, and particularly highlights the role of the national Standards body in ensuring New Zealand's voice is heard.

Our case study will demonstrate:

• how we use a robust process to build stakeholder buy in and trust
• the power of consensus in driving development goals of the State Sector
• the importance of ensuring New Zealand's interests are represented in international Standard forums.
• the opportunities that exist to promote New Zealand-developed Standards for overseas use.