International alignment consultation

Alignment with international standards. Sustainability assurance, ethics and independence and using the work of an external expert We have issued this consultation paper to seek feedback from assurance practitioners on whether to make new international standards available for use in New Zealand.

Our consultation paper should be read together with the following exposure drafts (EDs):

1. ED International Standard on Sustainability Assurance (New Zealand) 5000, General Requirements for Sustainability Assurance Engagements (ISSA (NZ) 5000)
2. ED International Ethics Standards for Sustainability Assurance (including International Independence Standards) (New Zealand) (IESSA (NZ))
3. ED Other Revisions to the Code Relating to Sustainability Assurance and Reporting
4. ED Revisions to the Code Addressing Using the Work an External Expert
5. ED Amendments to Assurance Engagements over Greenhouse Gas Emissions Disclosures 2025.

The EDs cover sustainability assurance, ethics and independence of sustainability assurance engagements.  

The ED relating to revisions to the Code addressing using the work of an external expert impacts all assurance engagements including audits of financial statements, reviews and sustainability assurance engagements.

Do you assure the greenhouse gas disclosures in climate statements?

We propose to add an option to use ISSA (NZ) 5000 within our temporary standard, NZ SAE 1. This would apply to these mandatory assurance engagements required under the Financial Markets Conducts Act 2013.

Submissions closed on Friday 10 October 2025.

Received Submissions:

• Accountability
• CPA Australia
• PwC
• Deloitte
• Toitū Envirocare
• EY
• McGuinness Institute
• KPMG
• OAG
• CA ANZ