DOIA REQ 0019218 response.pdf

19 September 2025

Ref: DOIA-REQ-0019218

GW
Email: [FYI request #31967 email]

Tēnā koe GW

Thank you for your email of 10 August 2025 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
(MBIE) requesting, under the Oﬃcial Information Act 1982 (the Act), information regarding the new
agreement to strengthen the Trans-Tasman standards partnership between New Zealand and Australia.
For ease of reference, I have responded to each of your questions in turn.

  1.      A copy of the full agreement or memorandum of understanding outlined in the
announcement, including any annexes or technical schedules.

2.      Any documents, brieﬁngs, or ministerial correspondence related to the negotiation,
formulation, and approval of this agreement.

Attached is the documentation relevant to your request. Please note some information has been withheld
under the fol owing sections of the Act:
•  9(2)(a), to protect the privacy of natural persons, including that of deceased natural persons;
•  9(2)(b)(ii), to protect information where the making available of the information would be likely
unreasonably to prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied or who is the
subject of the information;
•  9(2)(h), to maintain legal professional privilege;
•  9(2)(i), to enable a Minister of the Crown or any public service agency or organisation holding the
information to carry out, without prejudice or disadvantage, commercial activities; and
•  9(2)(j), to enable a Minister of the Crown or any public service agency or organisation holding the
information to carry on, without prejudice or disadvantage, negotiations (including commercial
and industrial negotiations).

I do not consider that the withholding of this information is outweighed by public interest considerations
in making the information available.

       3.      A summary of the expected beneﬁts, sectors aﬀected, and implementation timeline for
this agreement within New Zealand.

Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand have signed a new Heads of Agreement (HoA) to
modernise and streamline our joint standards arrangements.  It is intended that the new agreement wil
reﬂect this important relationship and our current operating environments, technologies and markets. A
revised commercial agreement is under development which will aim to build a forward-looking
partnership between Standards New Zealand and Standards Australia, reﬂecting the fundamental
importance of joint standards to the New Zealand and Australian economies.

More information on this partnership is available online here: 40-year trans-Tasman standards partnership
takes the next step :: Standards New Zealand.

       4.      A list of stakeholders and key agencies involved in developing, approving, and
implementing the agreement.

The HoA was developed by the senior management teams of Standards Australia and Standards New
Zealand, with input from wider MBIE trade policy and legal teams.

Internal MBIE approval involved the following key stakeholders: General Manager of Market Integrity
Branch, New Zealand Standards Executive, Deputy Chief Executive Te Whakatairanga Service Delivery, the
Chief Executive of MBIE.

Internal MBIE consultation and input to its development also involved MBIE’s Trade, Communications and
Infrastructure Team, Finance, and Legal Teams.

The Minister of Commerce and Consumer Aﬀairs was advised of MBIEs intention to sign the HoA as a step
in commercial negotiations.

The ﬁnal HoA was signed by the GM Market Integrity MBIE who also carries the statutorily independent
role of the New Zealand Standards Executive under the Standards and Accreditation Act, and the Chief
Executive of Standards Australia.

If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, or if you require any further assistance,
please contact [email address].

You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information
about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz  or freephone 0800 802
602.

Nāku noa, nā

Malcolm MacMillan
NATIONAL MANAGER STANDARDS NEW ZEALAND
Ministry of Business Innovation & Employment