Message from the Chair
In 2010, the Council adopted a new vision: to be New Zealand's leader in creating value through standardisation. Standards are key enablers of New Zealand's economic success and a wide range of public good outcomes. The Standards Council's main purpose is to promote and champion the benefits of Standards for all New Zealanders, while encouraging government, industry, and the community to value and participate in our activities. Our 2011 Annual Report shows that we are making progress on our vision.
For the third year in a row, we reported a net budget surplus – our strongest financial showing since 1998.
Stakeholder satisfaction remains high. Our 2010 – 2011 annual performance survey results showed that overall customer satisfaction with the supply of Standards rated 6.04 out of 7. Overall client satisfaction with the quality of service received for Standards development rated 5.91 out of 7, and Standards development committee satisfaction rated 6.14 out of 7.
We have continued to invest in our staff and key technological resources to offer new and improved systems, products, and processes.
We sought the assistance of Business and Economic Research Limited to provide evidence of a link between Standards and the economic growth of New Zealand, which they did. The report, The Economic Benefits of Standards to New Zealand shows, for the first time in this country, that Standards are a powerful economic lever and, over time, could lead to a 1.0 percent – or $2.4 billion – increase in New Zealand's annual economy-wide GDP.
Our ongoing activities in 2012 will build on this year's achievements as we – the Council and the committed, hardworking, and professional Standards New Zealand team – continue to follow our vision.
On behalf of the Standards Council have a very safe and enjoyable holiday season.
Christmas message
2011 has been a great year for Standards New Zealand; indeed it was a record year in many ways. Our achievements are recorded in more detail in our 2011 Annual Report but, briefly, here is a snapshot of some of our main successes. We:
- published over 150 Standards, including NZS 3604:2011Timber framed buildings and its accompanying NZS HB 3604:2011 Timber-framed buildings: Selected extracts from NZS 3604:2011
- continued to build on our strong relationship with Standards Australia and to represent New Zealand in the international Standards community
- broadened our client base, extended our range of products and services, and developed new channels for the sale of our Standards.
- recorded a budget surplus which we will use to reinvest in our legacy computer systems so we can offer even more value for money to our customers and clients.
These achievements are due to the continuing hard work and dedication of everyone at Standards New Zealand, the thousands of expert volunteers who serve on national, regional, and international committees developing Standards solutions for the benefit of New Zealanders, and the ongoing support from funders, members, and customers. My sincere thanks to all of you.
2011 was also a year in which we dealt with the effects of tragedy. Major events such as the Canterbury earthquakes, the Pike River mining disaster, and the grounding of the Rena have put the spotlight on the importance of Standards and standardisation in this country.
Standards New Zealand has a critical role to play in the rebuilding of Canterbury. The Royal Commission's Interim Report contains some strong recommendations about the revision of current building Standards. We have already brought together sector stakeholders to discuss 'where to from here?". Industry representatives from the fire, insurance, electrical, gas, research, and engineering sectors focused on the learnings from the earthquakes and the issues and concerns that need to be worked through. We also had presentations from the Executive Director of the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission of Inquiry and from the National Infrastructure Unit of Treasury about the National Infrastructure Plan and resilience.
Some of the challenges ahead need to be carefully thought about as we head into another year. Is there a need for a common approach to hazard management across the country? Are the learnings from the Canterbury earthquakes scalable to the rest of New Zealand? When should research be standardised? How should the costs, benefits, risks, and priorities ahead be considered?
On behalf of the Standards New Zealand team, I hope you and your loved ones have a wonderful holiday break, and a successful 2012.
Institution of Professional Engineers – New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards
The annual Engineering Excellence Awards took place on 30 November. Standards New Zealand is the principal sponsor of this premier awards event for engineering professionals in New Zealand and I was delighted to present the Supreme Award to the project team that was responsible for the Tauranga Harbour Link. The winning project team was a cross-agency one and included the New Zealand Transport Agency, Beca, URS New Zealand, and the Fletcher Construction Company Ltd.
The Tauranga Harbour Link is more than a second bridge across the harbour. The project reshaped the transport corridors in a growing city and improved the feeder routes into the rapidly growing export port in a manner that significantly enhanced this community amenity. Trip reliability and travel times have improved beyond expectation. The overall outcome has wide community acceptance and support. The project was delivered ahead of schedule through a partnering approach involving designers, the contractor, the client, and its consultant.
Read more about the awards in our article 'New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards – 2011 winners'.
Strengthening relationship with Standards Australia
Our relationship with Standards Australia continues to strengthen. I recently returned from the Standards Australia Annual General Meeting at which Standards New Zealand is always invited to speak. I also had meetings with the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research; the Australian Building Codes Board; the New Zealand High Commission; and the Board of Standards Australia.
Sharing Standards knowledge
Standards New Zealand was pleased to host a delegation from the People's Republic of China in November 2011. Members of the delegation included the Deputy Director of Standards and Norms, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development; the Director of the China Academy of Building Research; the Director of the China Institute of Building Standard Design and Research, and the Vice-President of Guangzhou University.
We presented on topics such as how Standards New Zealand operates, the New Zealand building controls system, and relevant Standards for seismic loading.
We also invited guest speakers to present. Graeme Beattie, Senior Engineer, BRANZ, spoke about the performance of residential housing during the Canterbury earthquake. Cam Smart, Engineering Practice Manager, the Institution of Professional Engineers in New Zealand, spoke about early base isolation test rigs. Dr Ivan Skinner, co-author of Seismic Isolation for Designers and Structural Engineers, and a world leading pioneer in base isolation, spoke about the history and development of base isolation.
Members of the delegation indicated to us that they found the visit most informative and of great value, and they were very honoured to meet someone of such standing as Dr Skinner.
Standards New Zealand close-down period
23 December 2011 to 16 January 2012
Every year Standards New Zealand has a close-down period over the Christmas and New Year break to enable our employees to rest and relax after the busy year.
We will be officially closed from 12 noon on Friday 23 December 2011 and will re-open at 8.30am on Monday 16 January 2012.
Placing orders for Standards over this time.
You can still place orders for PDFs, add Standards to your Online Library portfolio, and order hard copy documents during the close-down period via our webshop at www.standards.co.nz. If you are a member of Standards New Zealand, or pay by credit card, your PDF order will be fulfilled immediately. A small customer services team will fulfill hard copy and other orders from 10 January 2012. All orders paid by online banking, or cheque will be processed and fulfilled from12 January 2012.
We look forward to working with you again in 2012.
If you have an urgent enquiry requiring attention during our closedown period, please call 027 5612 822, and we will do our best to assist.
Debbie Chin, Chief Executive
Standards New Zealand