We're delighted to bring you the very latest news on Standards relevant to you and your industry.
This month we farewell Carol Stigley, who reflects on her 7 years on the Standards Council. We also publish revised Standards for Land development and subdivision infrastructure and Pool water quality, and publish a new Dangerous goods – Initial emergency response guide.
You'll also find stories about:
Touchstone is published monthly and includes updates on New Zealand Standards in development, amendments, drafts, superseded and withdrawn NZS and AS/NZS Standards, ISO, IEC, Australian, and British Standards. You can order overseas Standards from us so please support New Zealand by purchasing through your national Standards body!
We welcome your feedback and suggestions on improvements to ensure Touchstone is delivering on its promise. Please send feedback and suggestions to editor@standards.co.nz.
Reflections from Carol Stigley, Standards Council
Carol Stigley completed 7 years' service on the Standards Council in June 2010. Standards Council members and Standards New Zealand management and staff thank Carol for her contributions over the past 7 years. We wish her all the very best for the future.
We asked Carol about her memories of her time on the Standards Council.
Standards Council
Row 1: Cas Cinque (General Manager, Solutions - Management Team), John Albertson (former Council member and Deputy Chair), John Hannah (Council member)
Row 2: Tom Campbell (Council member), Vaughan Renner (Council member), Rob Warner (General Manager, Strategic Development and Innovation)
Row 3: Vivian Kloosterman (Council member), Carol Stigley (Council member), Michelle Wessing (General Manager, Corporate Services - Management Team), Fay Sowerby (Council member), Sharon Kletcko (Council member and Deputy Chair)
Row 4: Michael Wallmannsberger (Council member), Debbie Chin (Chief Executive), Richard Westlake (Chair of the Standards Council)
I believe that Standards are an absolutely central part of the economy and critical for consumers, technological development, productivity, innovation, and to make all our lives easier. I have enjoyed being part of the Standards Council and in the last 3 to 4 years Standards New Zealand has made significant advances.
The Standards Council closely examined the Standards New Zealand business model and how to operate commercially within the constraints we are given, as we receive no government funding, unlike most Standards bodies around the world.
Standards New Zealand now has a new business model that is much more viable because of the strategic thinking at the Council and Chief Executive level, and in the Standards New Zealand team. We are operating in sectors we have not traditionally worked in including environment, health, and primary industry.
Despite all the different backgrounds of the Council members, the Standards Council is one of the most functional boards I have been on and it has become much stronger over time. The Council has good debate and discussion, questions assumptions, thinks ahead, and is very conscious of the direction it is leading Standards New Zealand in.
Standards New Zealand has rebuilt the Standards development process, making it faster and smarter. The time it takes to commission and develop a Standard and to achieve consensus has been reduced from 2 years to 12 months. This is a huge achievement and means that Standards New Zealand has a world-leading Standards development process.
Standards New Zealand gets the right people around the table to examine what already exists and to ensure consensus decision-making in the Standards development process, whether using an international Standard, adopting or modifying an existing Standard, or creating a New Zealand Standard.
Risk management is an important part of the new Standards New Zealand business model. I have taken considerable pride in chairing the audit and risk subcommittee to ensure there is strategic awareness of risk and management of risk at Standards New Zealand.
Another part of the new business model is ensuring Standards New Zealand has the information systems we need to meet our future business needs. I enjoyed participating in the subcommittee that developed the 'Information Systems Strategic Plan' (ISSP). The ISSP has been a huge undertaking for Standards New Zealand. Though early days, the first phase of new systems is delivering better information and business intelligence.
Apart from her various directorships, Carol's earlier roles have included Ministry of Consumer Affairs Chief Executive and Local Government New Zealand Chief Executive, and the Standards Council has benefited from her experience with these organisations. 'Carol has overseen the improvement of company policies and procedures and she brought fresh thinking to the Council,' said Standards Council Chair Richard Westlake in his farewell speech at Carol's farewell dinner. 'We were well supported by Carol. Her questioning was always open and transparent, and she asked the hard questions.'
Note: The Standards Council is the governing body for Standards New Zealand. The Council is an appointed body, with representatives from a wide range of sectors as well as ministerial appointees. Standards New Zealand is the operating arm of the Standards Council.
Related Touchstone article