To provide hydrogen storage metal alloy powders covered by a protective phosphate coating suitable for nickel-hydrogen rechargeable battery with superior charge/discharge characteristics and a production method for the same.

The hydrogen storing metal alloy powders feature that their surface is covered by a phosphate content protective coating that contains 2 atom.% or more phosphor and is 10-100 nm in thickness. The production method of the powders features that the powders are stirred or immersed in phosphate solution in a pH value ranging from 4 to 10 after an acid or alkali treatment, or they are stirred or immersed in phosphate solution without rinsing in water after an acid or alkali treatment.