Watching Brief - March 2025

Matter of Opinion

The Public Service - a season of renewal

Following a year of restructures and upheaval, the Public Service is set to be re-imagined. Both the Minister for the Public Service, Hon Judith Collins KC, and the Public Services Commissioner, Sir Brian Roche, began the year foreshadowing the reinvention of the Public Service in keynote speeches to Public Service Leaders and the New Zealand Economics Forum. It is difficult to overstate the importance, and potential, of these most welcome reforms.

While the Minister and Commissioner covered a variety of topics, the underlying message was clear – the Public Service is going to get things done. Three factors are seen as key to this aim: system change, technology and mindset shift.

System change

The Commissioner has highlighted the need to reform:

How government entities engage with each other: A 'whole of government approach' has led to extensive collaboration and consultation slowing down decision-making.

Processes that focus overly on risk-reduction: A number of public service processes are focused on managing risk, resulting in overly-layered management and too many meetings.
The size and structure of government entities: The current number of entities has resulted in large fixed costs and duplication, leading to the question of what the optimal size of a Public Service entity should be.

And for the public lawyers, the Minister emphasised the need to better define the role of chief executives by amending the Public Service Act to address their core role – serving the government of the day.

Technology

Both the Minister and the Commissioner emphasised the importance of using data and AI to enable New Zealanders and New Zealand to access services and information in an effective manner. The Minister raised the use of online portals, mobile applications and AI-enabled interfaces – and eventually "a centralised, AI-powered data platform that enables real-time sharing of insights and collaboration between agencies like health, education and housing". In contrast, the Commissioner was more cautious, noting the value of such an initiative while also emphasising the need to think through the privacy challenges.

Another signalled use of data and AI was to support decision-makers to make quick and efficient decisions. It seems even those in the Beehive are keen for some extra help, with data dashboards and predictive analytics being flagged as possible decision-making tools for Ministers.

Mindset shift

While the Minister and Commissioner referred to a number of values already deeply embedded in the public service – such as political neutrality, free and frank advice, utilising tax-payer money efficiently and delivering outcomes for New Zealanders – a few new concepts did also make an appearance.

Firstly, from the Minister, the shift to "saying yes" (following the Prime Minister's directive that "a culture of saying No is not acceptable"). In the words of the Minister, "Yes to the licence. Yes to the permit. Yes to considering trialling AI tutors for kids. Yes to delivering a government app that provides the sort of service that the commercial world delivers. And Yes to treating our customers like customers." So to the readers of Watching Brief, now is your chance. If there's something you've been needing, get in touch, we're happy to assist and armed with the knowledge that a Yes will be forthcoming.

Secondly, from the Commissioner, "unconstrained thinking", also referred to as "thinking beyond what is conventional today" – or in laypeople's terms "original ideas and creative solutions". So, to any public servants reading Watching Brief, now is your chance to get before your Minister, Chief Executive, or Manager with those unique ideas you've been longing to put in place.

Hopes for the future

While a lot of change has been forecast, the Minister and Commissioner were also keen to acknowledge the work and commitment that has been displayed by the Public Service in spite of recent significant challenges. The Commissioner's description of the constant state of a public servant – "you get this feeling of being squeezed like a sandwich from all sides" – is indeed apt.

We understand that the Commissioner intends to move with speed on driving these reforms, and is consulting intensely with the senior leadership of the Public Sector and others. Sir Brian has a well-deserved reputation for strong leadership and efficient action, so hopes are high for tangible reform sooner rather than later.

In the view of Watching Brief, success will be a stronger but more agile and nimble public sector, fit for purpose, and with the capacity to deliver results for New Zealanders in a fast moving and changing world. Any good renewal process maintains the quality and virtues of the past, while adapting to the challenges of the new.

In the News

What to expect from Budget 2025

The Government has announced some initial details of its "Growth Budget" for 2025, which represents a shift towards growing New Zealand's economy while keeping Government spending down. As forecast in Budget 2024, the Government has set an operating allowance for Budget 2025 of $2.4 billion, a decrease compared with Budget 2024's operating allowance of $3.2 billion and half of Labour's 2023 operating allowance of $4.8 billion. This annual operating allowance of $2.4 billion is intended to continue in 2026, 2027 and 2028.

The four priorities the Government has identified for Budget 2025 in its Budget Policy Statement are:

Lifting economic growth: The Government's economic growth strategy is targeted at five areas: education, regulation, innovation, international connections and infrastructure.
Implementing the social investment approach: Building on the establishment of the Social Investment Agency and Social Investment Fund in 2024, Budget 2025 is expected to reveal the first funding available for social services providers and provide more clarity regarding how the social investment approach and architecture will operate in practice.
Government spending restraint: The reduction to a $2.4 billion operating budget means that the Government has indicated that new initiatives in the Budget will have to clear a "high bar" and "be limited to the most important Government priorities". Further savings will need to be found beyond those already made in 2024 and most Government departments are expected to receive no additional funding in Budget 2025.
Investing in infrastructure: 2025 will see further investment in infrastructure, decisions made on the first City and Regional Deals, and further progression of the Going for Housing Growth programme. Proposed reforms include replacing Development Contributions with a Development Levy System and amending the Infrastructure Funding and Financing Act 2020 to greater enable private funding and financing of infrastructure.

Budget Day is set for Thursday 22 May 2025. Look out for our annual Budget Day publication for a breakdown of Budget 2025.

Investment Summit

The Government's Infrastructure Investment Summit was held in Auckland from 13 to 14 March 2025. The Government emphasised current and proposed reforms that will better enable foreign direct investment, including reforming foreign investment laws, reforming immigration settings, implementing a Fast Track Approvals regime, establishing Invest New Zealand by 1 July 2025, and improving regulatory settings.

A wide range of matters were canvassed, including announcements that New Zealand was looking for investors to support the following projects:

The development of a dry dock and surrounding marine maintenance facilities at Marsden Point in Northland.
Rebuilds for New Zealand's court houses, including the establishment of three new courthouses – a new District Court in Waitakere, a combined High and District Court in Rotorua, and a new Māori Land Court in Rotorua.
Christchurch Men’s Prison Redevelopment Programme, which will include 240 new high security beds and a new Health Centre and Intervention and Support Unit containing 52 beds.
Toll concessions (where a private company operates and maintains a toll road for a set period of time and provides the government with an upfront capital payment). Current routes being considered include: Northern Gateway Toll Road (currently tolled), Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (currently tolled), Takitimu Drive Toll Road (currently tolled), Penlink (to be tolled once open), Takitimu North Link (to be tolled once open), and Ōtaki to North of Levin (to be tolled once open).
Waitematā Harbour Crossing to supplement the Auckland harbour bridge. Decisions on whether a bridge or tunnel is the preferred option will occur mid next year, but NZTA will begin engaging with the market next month.

Other sectors in which investment opportunities were showcased included renewable energy, advanced transportation (including space), cleantech, aquaculture, and minerals and resources.

Four-year term legislation

The Term of Parliament (Enabling 4-year Term) Legislation Amendment Bill (Bill) was introduced to Parliament at the end of February and aims to enable a four-year term of Parliament. The passing of this Bill would represent a significant change in New Zealand's constitutional framework.

A four-year term would aim to improve lawmaking by providing "a longer period of effective decision-making and legislating" in between the time taken for Governments to establish themselves in their first year and preparing for re-election in their third year. Those opposed to an extension of the Parliamentary term cite concerns about a potential reduction in Government accountability to voters, and a lack of data and evidence to assess whether longer Parliamentary terms result in better decision-making and legislation. In 2013, a Constitutional Advisory Panel found that members of the public who were open to an extension of the Parliamentary term believed that this "would need to be counter-balanced by mechanisms to improve law-making and accountability."

In an effort to strike this balance, the Bill does not commit to a four-year term. Rather, it proposes maintaining the standard maximum term of three years but providing the option to extend the term to four years if a proportionality requirement is met. The proportionality requirement is that membership of subject select committees is calculated in a way that is proportionate to the non-Executive membership of the House (ie excluding Ministers and Parliamentary Under-Secretaries). In effect, this would mean each Government could choose between the public accountability caused by more frequent elections and the accountability produced by greater legislative scrutiny during the select committee process.

The enactment of this Bill would be subject to a majority support at a binding referendum, enabled by the Referendums Framework Bill. At the earliest, a referendum could occur alongside the 2026 election. However, decisions on the timing of a referendum will depend on the outcome of the select committee process. If successful, the Parliamentary term could be extended to four years following the 2029 election by a Proclamation issued by the Governor-General (on the advice of the Prime Minister), once the House has passed a resolution confirming that the proportionality requirement is satisfied.

Submissions are open on the Bill until 17 April 2025.

Charter schools update

In our previous Watching Brief (here), we discussed the legislative framework for charter schools and the first round of charter school applications. Since then, the first seven charter schools opened for teaching in 2025, with additional schools currently in contract negotiations.

Round two of the charter school application process is now open for both new schools and state schools wishing to convert to charter school status in 2026. The Government has indicated that there is capacity to open more new charter schools than the 15 initially estimated, but that the exact number would depend on the decisions made by the Authorisation Board.

The next step for interested parties is to submit the expression of interest packs for new charter schools here by 24 March 2025, or for schools wishing to convert to charter school status here by 11 April 2025. Applications are then due by 16 May 2025, with the Authorisation Board's decisions and interviews occurring throughout June / July 2025.

Applicants will need to demonstrate a solid business plan and provide information on the following areas, purpose and contribution; business planning for finance, workforce and assets; sponsor capability; and readiness to deliver on performance outcomes. Applicants will be advised of whether their application is successful by the end of July 2025.

New procurement rules

The Government has recently announced proposed changes to the Government Procurements Rules (Rules), which were last updated in October 2019.

The purpose of the proposed changes to the Rules is to streamline and simplify them, making them easier to understand and apply. Currently there are 71 rules that agencies are required to follow when tendering contracts. The Government is proposing to reduce this to 47 rules, with a number of requirements being replaced by a new 'economic benefit rule'.

The 'economic benefit rule' would require the agencies to consider the wider benefit to New Zealand of awarding contracts to New Zealand firms when making procurement decisions. This new rule would apply to all goods, services and refurbishment contracts worth more than $100,000 and construction works worth more than $9 million.

Some of the rules that will be removed under the proposed changes include:

build new non-residential government buildings to a five-star rating standard;
purchase battery electric or hybrid electric vehicles;
purchase office supplies that produce low amounts of waste and / or recyclable; and
pay the living wage in contracts for cleaning, catering and security guard services.

The new Rules also propose increased accountability of agencies for their procurement performance and use of public funds. This includes a new section in the Rules which will state the potential consequences and accountability measures for agencies if the Rules are not followed.

The Government has released a draft new set of Rules, and consultation on them has now opened, and closes on Friday 8 April 2025 at 5pm. Following this, Cabinet will consider the proposed changes.

In Trade

Strengthening trade ties in Asia: New Zealand’s diplomatic push

The Government is increasing its trade and foreign policy efforts across Asia as part of a broader strategy to diversify economic partnerships and enhance regional integration.

India: a renewed push for trade

The Prime Minister visited India on 15 March 2025, leading a large New Zealand delegation to engage in trade discussions. The delegation comprised key ministers including Trade Minister, Hon Todd McClay; Tourism Minister, Hon Louise Upston; and Ethnic Communities Minister, Hon Mark Mitchell; as well as business leaders and community representatives.

A key aspect of the visit was the Prime Minister's keynote address at the Raisina Dialogue, India's leading foreign affairs conference. This marked a significant diplomatic engagement, highlighting India's growing recognition of New Zealand as a strategic partner. Following the address and extensive discussions with India's Minister of Industry and Supply, Piyush Goyal, the Prime Minister and Hon Todd McClay announced that New Zealand and India have formally launched negotiations on a Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement.

Some challenges remain, however, including complex issues such as India's membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), which will require careful diplomatic engagement. The NSG is a multinational body that restricts the flow of nuclear materials to non-member countries and was formed in 1974 in response to India's first nuclear test, and membership remains symbolically important for India as part of its efforts to gain international recognition of its nuclear status. New Zealand, along with Ireland, Austria, and China, remains among the few countries still opposed to India's membership bid. While the Prime Minister has stated that New Zealand is "open to considering their membership", he emphasised that India still needs to "demonstrate very clearly that they can actually meet the non-proliferation standard".

New Zealand's efforts to strengthen ties with India align with broader global initiatives to enhance trade with the country. The European Union is progressing toward an FTA with India, while the United States continues negotiations on trade concessions. New Zealand's exports to India have risen steadily in recent years, growing from NZ$810 million in 2022 to NZ$1.22 billion in 2023, and reaching NZ$1.54 billion in 2024.

Thailand: advancing towards a strategic partnership

The Government is also engaging with Thailand to strengthen bilateral relations. On 17 April 2024, both countries announced their intention to elevate their relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026 and directed their Foreign Ministries to develop a comprehensive Roadmap and Plan of Action. This was formalised through the Thailand-New Zealand Roadmap to Strategic Partnership 2024-2026, which was adopted in December 2024. This builds on the existing Closer Economic Partnership (CEP), which has shaped trade relations between the two nations since 2005, and is now fully implemented, with all commitments taking effect from 1 January 2025.

The roadmap outlines plans to enhance cooperation in trade, investment, sustainability, and regional security. It includes measures to facilitate business mobility, improve supply chain resilience, and expand collaboration in agri-tech, renewable energy, and digital transformation.

Agreement on Trade and Sustainability signed with Costa Rica, Iceland and Switzerland

At the end of last year, New Zealand, along with Costa Rica, Iceland and Switzerland, became the founding members of the Agreement on Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS). This is an innovative trade agreement that includes trade rules to tackle climate and sustainability challenges. It is a living agreement, that will grow through the participation of new members and the introduction of new trade policy actions over time.

In 2019, the ACCTS was launched at the UN General Assembly Leaders' Week in New York. Following various rounds of negotiations, which concluded in July last year, the agreement was signed in November at a sustainable exports ceremony during APEC.

Some of the key features of the ACCTS include:

removal of tariffs and other barriers on 316 environmental goods (with the widest definition of environmental goods being used), including LED lamps, rechargeable batteries and solar panels;

improved market access to over 100 New Zealand firms offering environmental and environmentally related services, including for sustainable agriculture and forestry consultancy services industries; and
improved market access for New Zealand wool and wood exports to ACCTS members, which the Government has highlighted as a key benefit since these sectors are considered critical for doubling New Zealand's exports by value in the next 10 years.

The ACCTS also introduces the first international guidelines on eco-labelling. These guidelines are principles-based voluntary guidelines to promote trade in sustainable products, prevent eco-labels from being inadvertent barriers to trade, and support consumers to choose products based on their environmental credentials.

It also establishes the first international fossil fuel subsidy definition (building on existing World Trade Organisation approaches to defining subsidies), alongside a framework of prohibitions, exceptions and transparency requirements to address harmful fossil fuel subsidies. This includes a list of prohibited fossil fuel subsidies and goods, and energy products considered as fossil fuels. It also includes the Standard Carbon Rate Measurement, which enables members to reflect the impact of climate policy and carbon pricing on the costs of fossil fuels.

The ACCTS provides the pathway for new member states to join, with special flexibilities built into the agreement to encourage new members to join early.

In the House

The House will resume sitting on Tuesday 25 March. In that week, the Government has indicated that the House will consider various Government business, including the third reading of the Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Bill.

Progress of Legislation

Bills Introduced

Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Government
Member in charge: Hon Nicole McKee

This Bill intends to clarify obligations and enforcement, and reduce compliance costs, in New Zealand’s anti-money laundering and terrorism financing regime. It would make various amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act 2009, including:

relaxing mandatory enhanced customer due diligence requirements for low-risk customers that are trusts, or other vehicles for holding personal assets;
requiring a more risk-based approach when identifying whether a customer or beneficial owner is a politically exposed person;
prohibiting international wire transfers that lack required information;
updating definitions to provide clarification, including of beneficial owner, designated non-financial business or profession, trust and company service provider, life insurer and money or value transfer service;
introducing record keeping timeframes;
removing the obligation on correspondent banks to assess the effectiveness of a respondent bank’s AML/CFT controls; and
clarifying existing obligations for businesses under the AML/CFT Act.

Appropriation (2023/24 Confirmation and Validation) Bill
Type of Bill: Government
Member in charge: Hon Nicola Willis

This Bill would confirm and validate the Government's expenditure and capital injections in excess of existing appropriations by Parliament for the 2023/24, 2022/23 and 2021/22 financial years. The Minister of Finance has to expressly authorise some of these expenses under section 26B of the Public Finance Act 1989.

Auckland Council (Auckland Future Fund) Bill
Type of Bill: Local
Member in charge: Dr Carlos Cheung

The governing body of Auckland Council has established the Auckland Future Fund (AFF) as part of Auckland Council's Long-term Plan 2024-2034. The purpose of the Bill is to ensure the AFF is a long-term financial investment for the benefit of the current and future communities of the Auckland region. The Bill seeks to increase public confidence in the administration of the AFF, while enabling Auckland Council to retain the flexibility to make decisions about the entity or body that holds and manages the AFF and the nature and structure of the AFF. The Bill would do this by safeguarding the key principle for governing and managing the AFF and for distributing funds from the AFF and ensuring that decisions about the investment of the AFF are made on a prudent and commercial basis.

Auckland Harbour Board and Takapuna Borough Council Empowering Act Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Local
Member in charge: Hon Simon Watts

This local Bill would amend the Auckland Harbour Board and Takapuna Borough Council Empowering Act 1923 to allow 17 Sir Peter Blake Parade, Bayswater Auckland, owned by Takapuna Boating Club Inc, to be used for commercial purposes. However, the Bill would restrict the use of any money received from the commercial use of the land to maintenance of the land (or any building or other improvement on it) for "community purposes".

Broadcasting (Repeal of Advertising Restrictions) Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Government
Member in charge: Hon Paul Goldsmith

This Bill would amend the Broadcasting Act 1989 to remove restrictions on broadcast television advertising on Sunday and Anzac Day mornings, and television and radio broadcast advertising on Christmas Day, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.

Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Government Agency Registration) Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Government
Member in charge: Hon Mark Mitchell

This Bill would amend the Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Government Agency Registration) Act 2016 to update various reporting requirements for registrable offenders, enable notices to be served by electronic means, add further qualifying offences, and make various administrative amendments.

This Bill would amend the Copyright Act 1994 to provide an exception to copyright infringements for fair dealing with a work, where the purpose is for parody or satire. If enacted, the Bill would align New Zealand copyright laws with Australia, the European Union and the United States, who all have a parody and satire defence to copyright infringements.

Crimes (Countering Foreign Interference) Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Government
Member in charge: Hon Paul Goldsmith

This Bill would amend the Crimes Act 1961 to introduce the following:

a foreign interference offence to criminalise covert, deceptive, corruptive, or coercive conduct that is undertaken for, or on behalf of, a foreign power to intentionally or recklessly harm a wide range of protected New Zealand interests;
an offence to intentionally or recklessly benefit a foreign power in specified ways; and
offences providing that, if the relevant requirements are met, a person who owes allegiance to the Sovereign in right of New Zealand can be held liable as a party if they assist others to do or omit acts within or outside New Zealand that would constitute treason, inciting to mutiny, or espionage.

The Bill would also:

amend an existing warrantless search power in the Search and Surveillance Act 2012 to enable the relevant authorities to investigate such offending;
set out the circumstances in which a person owes allegiance to the Sovereign in right of New Zealand for the purposes of the Crimes Act 1961; and
amend various offences to ensure that they cover unauthorised disclosure of government information.

Crimes (Coward Punch Causing Injury or Death) Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Member's
Member in charge: Paulo Garcia

This Bill would criminalise the specific action of striking a person's head or neck in circumstances where they are unable to defend themselves from a strike (colloquially known as a "coward punch"). The Crimes Act 1961 would be amended so that the offender need only have intended to strike the victim's head or neck, or been reckless as to whether that occurred. The definition of "murder" would also be amended to include death arising from these circumstances.

Crimes Legislation (Stalking and Harassment) Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Government
Member in charge: Hon Paul Goldsmith

This omnibus Bill would create a new stalking and harassment offence under the Crimes Act 1961 and make associated amendments to the Harassment Act 1997, Sentencing Act 2002, Family Violence Act 2018, Arms Act 1983, and Evidence Act 2006. The proposed stalking and harassment offence has two key elements:

a person has engaged in a pattern of behaviour against another person, which is defined as doing a specified act (defined broadly to include, among other things, watching, following, loitering near, obstructing, recording, tracking, contacting, damaging property, or damaging or undermining the other person's reputation, opportunities, or relationships) at least three times within a 12 month period; and
the person engages in that pattern of behaviour knowing that it is likely to cause fear or distress to the other person.

Customs (Levies and Other Matters) Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Government
Member in charge: Hon Casey Costello

This omnibus Bill would amend:

the Customs and Excise Act 2018 (C&E Act) to require specified persons to pay a levy to the chief executive of Customs where there is a levy order in place, and enables levy orders to be made for the purpose of recovering costs incurred by Customs in, or for the purpose of, performing its functions in relation to the management of goods;
the Waste Minimisation Act 2008 (WMA) to clarify that the Governor-General may specify other persons to be responsible for collecting a product stewardship fee by Order in Council, and that if the chief executive of Customs is designated as a person responsible for collecting a fee under the WMA then the duty provisions of the C&E Act will apply; and
the Goods and Services Tax Act 1985 to ensure that imported goods valued over $1,000 receive the same GST treatment as other goods, including by amendments to the provisions relating to returning, repairing and replacing goods that would allow GST to be refunded in these circumstances.

Dairy Industry Restructuring (Export Licences Allocation) Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Government
Member in charge: Hon Todd McClay

Dairy export quotas enable prescribed quantities of New Zealand dairy products to receive beneficial tariff rates in some international markets. They are negotiated as part of a range of trade agreements and administered by New Zealand as export licences.

This Bill would amend the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act 2001 to change how dairy export quotas are allocated. It aims to develop a system that reflects the diversity of business models and sizes in the dairy sector, ensure quota allocations are commercially viable and support companies to grow, maximise the value of New Zealand's dairy export quotas and enhance New Zealand's reputation and relationships in quota markets. It aims to do so by making three key changes:

requiring the allocation of export licences to participants in proportion with their share of New Zealand's export volumes over the previous three seasons;
empowering the making of regulations that enable 10% of export licences for certain designated markets to be reserved for exporters who would otherwise be ineligible and / or exports who are only eligible for fewer than 200 tonnes of product; and
opening the quota access to non-bovine dairy exports on the same basis as bovine dairy exports for quotas which include non-bovine dairy products.

Disputes Tribunal Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Government
Member in charge: Hon Paul Goldsmith

This Bill would amend the Disputes Tribunal Act 1988 to expand the financial jurisdiction of the Disputes Tribunal from $30,000 to $60,000. The Bill aims to increase access to justice and enable greater resolution of claims through the Disputes Tribunal, as a low-cost avenue. A new filing fee tier for claims of $30,000 or more would be introduced to the Disputes Tribunal Act 1988.

Employment Relations (Collective Agreements in Triangular Relationships) Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Member's
Member in charge: Helen White

This Bill aims to ensure that employees employed by one employer but working under the control or direction of another business or organisation are not deprived of their rights under a collective agreement covering the work actually being performed. It would amend section 56 of the Employment Relations Act 2000, which relates to the application of collective agreements, to amend the definition of employees who may enforce a collective agreement to include employees working under the direction of a party to the relevant collective agreement.

Employment Relations (Pay Deductions for Partial Strikes) Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Government
Member in charge: Hon Brooke van Velden

This Bill would amend the Employment Relations Act 2000 to give employers the option to make pay deductions in response to partial strikes, which are industrial strikes that fall short of a full withdrawal of labour. Currently, an employer's options are to either accept the partial strike or to suspend employees and deduct all pay as if it was a full strike. An employer would be required to provide written notification to employees before making a deduction and respond to any requests by unions for information.

Employment Relations (Termination of Employment by Agreement) Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Member's
Member in charge: Laura McClure

This Bill would allow employers to negotiate with employees to terminate the employee's contract by mutual consent. An employer would be able to make an offer to an employee to sign a settlement agreement in which, in exchange for compensation, the employee would have their contract terminated and be unable to bring a personal grievance claim in relation to this termination. Such negotiations would also be inadmissible in any employment proceedings relating to the employment relationship, bar certain listed exceptions.

Enabling Crown Entities to Adopt Māori Names Bill
Type of Bill: Member's
Member in charge: Shanan Halbert

This omnibus Bill would enable the Governor-General, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the relevant Minister, to establish Māori names for Crown entities. The Bill would also allow for the Māori name to be adopted in addition to, or instead of, the name given to the entity by the Acts that establish them. The purpose of this Bill is to allow for the legal adoption of Māori names for Crown entities, following the process that exists for public service departments outlined in section 23 of the Public Service Act 2020. Clause 3 of the Bill sets out a Schedule that would make the amendments to the Acts that establish statutory Crown entities to allow the entities' names to be amended.

Financial Markets (Conduct of Institutions) Amendment (Duty to Provide Financial Services) Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Member's
Member in charge: Andy Foster

This Bill would prevent financial institutions, including registered banks, from withdrawing or refusing to provide banking services based on:

prohibited grounds of discrimination;
any direct or indirect environmental, social, or governance consideration;
any climate-related reporting standard issued by the External Reporting Board; or
the industry within which the consumer operates.

Rather, financial institutions would only be able to withdraw or refuse to provide services to a consumer or treat a consumer less favourably where required or permitted by legislation or for "a valid and verifiable commercial reason". The Bill creates an offence that provides for fines of up to $500,000 per offence. For commentary on the background of the Bill and its provisions, see our Insights article here.

Gene Technology Bill
Type of Bill: Government
Member in charge: Hon Dr Shane Reti

This Bill seeks to enable the use of gene technology in New Zealand by establishing a risk-proportionate regulatory regime for gene technology and genetically modified organisms. The proposed regime consists of three categories of activity (medical, contained, and environmental) and four main risk tiers of activities (exempt, non-notifiable, notifiable and licensed), with requirements for each tier proportionate to the risks posed to human health and safety and to the environment.

The Bill would establish a Gene Technology Regulator within the Environmental Protection Authority to make declarations on the risk tier of activities, prepare risk assessment and risk management plans in relation to licensed activities, and make decisions on licences and conditions. It would also establish a Technical Advisory Committee and a Māori Advisory Committee to provide the Regulator with expert advice.

Juries (Age of Excusal) Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Member's
Member in charge: Carl Bates

At present, anyone above the age of 65 can be excused from jury services on the basis of their age. While jury summons are still sent to those above the age of 65, the Registrar must excuse them if requested. This Bill proposes increasing the age for automatic excusal to 72. The purpose of the Bill is to combat the increasing difficulty to fulfil the numbers required for jury trial, and is self-described as appropriate given the changing social dynamics of people working later into life.

Land Transport Management (Time of Use Charging) Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Government
Member in charge: Hon Chris Bishop

This Bill would establish a framework for implementing time of use charging schemes. It would allow local authorities to identify areas of problematic traffic congestion, propose indicative scheme areas, and outline potential charging zones. It would also provide for the establishment of a scheme board, chaired by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), who would develop and operate the scheme. The Bill would also amend the Land Transport Management Act 2003 to create statutory roles and responsibilities for the scheme board, NZTA, and the Minister of Transport.

Local Government (Water Services) Bill
Type of Bill: Government
Member in charge: Hon Simon Watts

This Bill is the third and final piece of legislation in the Government's Local Water Done Well policy framework. It provides for:

arrangements for a new water services delivery system, including new models of delivery which councils may elect to use;
a new planning and accountability reporting framework for water services providers;
the introduction of an economic regulation and water protection regime for water services, to be administered by the Commerce Commission;
changes to the water quality regulatory framework and regulator; and
various consequential amendments to numerous other pieces of legislation.

For a more comprehensive overview of the Bill, see our Insights article here.

Māori Purposes Bill
Type of Bill: Government
Member in charge: Hon Tama Potaka

This omnibus Bill makes several amendments to legislation relating to Māori affairs. The amendments relate to minor and technical matters such as meeting and governance arrangements for specific Māori boards and committees.

Mental Health Bill
Type of Bill: Government
Member in charge: Hon Matt Doocey

This Bill would repeal and replace the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992. It aims to modernise the approach to compulsory treatment of mental health care, underpinned by three key principles: that compulsory care should serve a therapeutic purpose, that compulsory care should be applied in the least restrictive manner, and that compulsory care should be supportive and responsive. Substantively, the Bill proposes:

a range of mechanisms to support people to make decisions about their own mental health, including strengthening the role of family, whānau and other trusted people;
an updated set of rights for those subject to compulsory rights, a clarification of who must carry out duties and an updated process for making a complaint;
a set of compulsory care criteria that must be satisfied in order for a person to be the subject of compulsory care;
the process by which an individual may become subject to compulsory care and how their care must be planned and implemented;
to reduce and eliminate seclusion and other restrictive practices;
additional requirements and protections applicable to children and young people;
to continue the process for people subject to compulsory care as part of the justice system from the previous regime; and
to update existing administrative roles to align with the new policy intention contained in the Bill.

Offshore Renewable Energy Bill
Type of Bill: Government
Member in charge: Hon Simon Watts

This Bill would introduce a bespoke legislative regime for offshore wind and other renewable energy (ORE) developments in New Zealand, and includes:

two classes of permits for ORE developments, consisting of feasibility permits and commercial permits;
eligibility and application requirements for permit rounds;
powers for the Minister for Energy to declare safety zones for ORE generation infrastructure or ORE substations;
permit transfer requirements; and
end-of-life responsibilities for decommissioning ORE generation infrastructure.

See our Energy Blog article for more information on the Bill.

Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Government
Member in charge: Hon Karen Chhour

This Bill would establish a young serious offender (YSO) declaration and a military-style academy order through amendments to the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989, with the aim of addressing repeat youth offending. In particular, the Bill would:

give the Youth Court the power (following application by police) to make a YSO declaration for a young person aged 14-17 who has two or more distinct eligible offences punishable by at least 10 years' imprisonment, and whom the Youth Court is satisfied is likely to reoffend. YSO declarations would give the Youth Court and Police additional powers such as strengthened court orders and sentencing conditions; and
establish a military-style academy programme for eligible young persons (declared YSOs), to be delivered in an Oranga Tamariki residence, which would involve residents following a curriculum involving military style activities. A military-style academy order would be a sentencing response available to the Youth Court for a YSO which would require them to attend the military-style academy programme.

Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Legislation Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Government
Member in charge: Hon Louise Upston

This Bill would alter the oversight and monitoring of the Oranga Tamariki system by making structural changes to the Independent Children's Monitor and the Children and Young People's Commission (Commission). This omnibus Bill would amend the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Act 2022 and the Children and Young People's Commission Act 2022. The Independent's Children's Monitor is currently within the Education Review Office and the Bill would reestablish it as an independent Crown entity. The structural changes to the Commission would include replacing the Commission's current five commissioner board structure with a single independent Children's Commissioner.

Policing (Police Vetting) Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Government
Member in charge: Hon Mark Mitchell

The Police provide a vetting service to 14,000 agencies, receiving around 65,000 requests each year. This Bill looks to generate efficiencies in the process, and provide a consistent policy framework for Police and users of the service. The current service would be extended to enable Police to provide updates of a vet to an agency if requested and consented to, and to allow vetting information for an individual to be sent to multiple agencies (for example, when an individual wishes to provide a Police vet to multiple prospective employers, instead of each employer separately requesting the vet).

Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill
Type of Bill: Government
Member in charge: Hon David Seymour

This Bill aims to redefine and codify the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in legislation, to aid with Government decision-making and legislative interpretation. It would replace the Treaty principles developed and interpreted by the courts and Waitangi Tribunal (which include partnership, active protection, participation, redress, mutual benefit, options and equity) with those set out in the Bill, consisting of:

Civil government: the Government of New Zealand has full power to govern, and Parliament has full power to make laws.
Rights of hapū and iwi Māori: respecting and protecting the rights of Māori that are the same as the rights for everyone, but recognising differing rights for Māori only to the extent specified in Treaty settlements.
Right to equality: everyone is equal before the law and is entitled, without discrimination, to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law and the equal enjoyment of the same fundamental human rights.

The Bill provides that a majority at a public referendum is required for it to come into force.

Racing Industry Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Government
Member in charge: Rt Hon Winston Peters

This Bill would:

extend TAB New Zealand's (TAB) existing land-based monopoly by prohibiting any operators, aside from TAB or its partner organisation, from offering online sports and racing betting to a person in New Zealand;
extend the harm prevention and minimisation regulation-making powers in the Racing Industry Act 2020 to TAB's online operations;
create a new regulation-making power to specify the circumstances in which TAB may exclude a person from participating in racing betting or sports betting; and
make some changes to the governance and oversight of TAB, including giving the Minister powers to require TAB to provide relevant information on TAB performance functions.

Referendums Framework Bill
Type of Bill: Government
Member in charge: Hon Paul Goldsmith

This Bill would provide a framework for referendums to be conducted alongside a general election if a referendum is required under another Act for that other Act to come into effect. It largely reproduces the requirements for the conduct and advertising of referendums that apply to general elections. The Bill is time-limited and would only apply to referendums held at either of the next 2 general elections (potentially in 2026 and/or 2029) and be repealed in 2031.

Regulatory Systems (Courts) Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Government
Member in charge: Hon Paul Goldsmith

This Bill would amend multiple acts, rules and regulations with a focus on the operation and efficiency of New Zealand's courts in attempt to decrease delays in court processes. It is in a package with the Regulatory Systems (Tribunals) Amendment Bill and the Regulatory Systems (Occupational Regulation) Amendment Bill.

The Bill includes amendments to update permissions in relation to access to court information, judicial information or Ministry of Justice information; change the administrative tasks coroners have to carry out and allow evidence to be admitted if the coroner is satisfied that it is accurate without it being put into writing as is currently required; and make some of the temporary amendments made to court processes during the COVID-19 pandemic permanent in relation to jury selection.

Regulatory Systems (Occupational Regulation) Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Government
Member in charge: Hon Nicole McKee

This Bill is one of a package of bills that seek to improve the quality of existing regulation, court timeliness, efficiency and access to justice. It is an omnibus bill that would amend a range of other Acts, including:

the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006, to allow the enforcement in the High Court of an undertaking by a conveyancing practitioner, update the process for the referral and triaging of complaints received by the New Zealand Law Society, confirm that members of the Lawyers' Standards Committee are not providing regulated services while performing functions as part of the Committee, and automatically revoke powers of attorney given by a sole practitioner when that practitioner enters into a partnership;
the Prostitution Reform Act 2003, to update references in the Act to offences under the Crimes Act 1961 and the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 which disqualify a person from operating a brothel; and
the Real Estate Agents Act 2008, to rename the Real Estate Agents Authority to the Real Estate Authority and make changes to the Authority's composition and powers, allow individuals whose licences were suspended or revoked for non-compliance with continuing education requirements or non-payment of fees and levies to reapply for a licence sooner if they meet relevant requirements, and expand the types of behaviour that can be considered unsatisfactory conduct for the purposes of disciplinary processes.

Regulatory Systems (Tribunals) Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Government
Member in charge: Hon Nicole McKee

This Bill would amend multiple acts affecting the Disputes Tribunal, the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal, the Tenancy Tribunal, the Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority and the Parole Board. The intention of this Bill is to make the operation of tribunals and quasi-judicial bodies more efficient, including by simplifying the appointment process of tribunal bodies. It is in a package with the Regulatory Systems (Courts) Amendment Bill and the Regulatory Systems (Occupational Regulation) Amendment Bill.

Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Government
Member in charge: Hon Chris Bishop

This Bill is aimed at providing "quick fixes" to the Resource Management Act 1991 while its replacement is being progressed. It includes various amendments to clarify and enable consents relating to infrastructure and energy, housing growth, farming and the primary sector, natural hazards and emergencies, and system improvements.

Resource Management (Prohibition on Extraction of Freshwater for On-selling) Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Member's
Member in charge: Debbie Ngarewa-Packer

This Bill is aimed at protecting freshwater from commercial extraction, by amending the Resource Management Act 1991 to make the "extraction of freshwater for the purpose of on-selling of the water in packaged form" a prohibited activity.

Responding to Abuse in Care Legislation Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Government
Member in charge: Hon Erica Stanford

This Bill would implement various legislative changes to improve the safety and wellbeing of children, young people, and adults in care. This follows the Report on the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions, which was released in July 2024 and made many recommendations to the Government.

This Bill marks the Government's first step in legislative response by seeking various amendments to the Children's Act 2014, Crimes Act 1961, Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 and Public Records Act 2005 to help prevent further abuse in state and faith-based institutions.

Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Sales on Anzac Day Morning, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Christmas Day) Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Member's
Member in charge: Hon Kieran McAnulty

This Bill would allow licensed businesses already permitted to be open on ANZAC Day morning, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Christmas Day to sell alcohol under their usual licence conditions. The Bill would repeal the current restrictions prohibiting on-license holders from selling or supplying alcohol on the listed public holidays.

Social Security Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Government
Member in charge: Hon Louise Upston

Following the Coalition Government's jobseeker reduction target, the Social Security Amendment Bill seeks to support people off the benefit and into employment. Amongst other things, the Bill would introduce non-financial sanctions of money management and community work experience in certain circumstances, and halve the expiry of the jobseeker support benefit (requiring reapplication after 26 weeks, formerly 52 weeks).

Term of Parliament (Enabling 4-year Term) Legislation Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Government
Member in charge: Hon Paul Goldsmith

This Bill would enable a four-year term of Parliament, by maintaining the standard term of three years but providing the option to extend the term to four years if a proportionality requirement is met. The proportionality requirement is that membership of subject select committees is calculated in a way that is proportionate to the non-Executive membership of the House (ie excluding Ministers and Parliamentary Under-Secretaries).

The enactment of this Bill would be subject to a binding referendum, enabled by the Referendums Framework Bill.

Bills awaiting First Reading

Bills defeated, withdrawn or discharged

Bills before Select Committee

Submissions Open

BILL	SELECT COMMITTEE	CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSIONS
Māori Purposes Bill	Māori Affairs	27 March 2025
Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill	Justice	28 March 2025
Regulatory Systems (Occupational Regulation) Amendment Bill	Education and Workforce	1 April 2025
Consumer Guarantees (Right to Repair) Amendment Bill	Economic Development, Science and Innovation	3 April 2025
Regulatory Systems (Courts) Amendment Bill	Justice	3 April 2025
Regulatory Systems (Tribunals) Amendment Bill	Justice	3 April 2025
Auckland Council (Auckland Future Fund) Bill	Governance and Administration	8 April 2025
Term of Parliament (Enabling 4-year Term) Legislation Amendment Bill	Justice	17 April 2025
Referendums Framework Bill	Justice	17 April 2025
Land Transport Management (Time of Use Charging) Amendment Bill	Transport and Infrastructure	27 April 2025

Submissions Closed

BILL	SELECT COMMITTEE	CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSIONS
Parliament Bill	Parliament Bill	24 March 2025
Budapest Convention and Related Matters Legislation Amendment Bill	Justice	15 April 2025
Statutes Amendment Bill	Governance and Administration	17 April 2025
Employment Relations (Pay Deductions for Partial Strikes) Amendment Bill	Education and Workforce	22 April 2025
Social Security Amendment Bill	Social Services and Community	22 April 2025
Mental Health Bill	Health	23 April 2025
Racing Industry Amendment Bill	Governance and Administration	30 April 2025
Policing (Police Vetting) Amendment Bill	Justice	5 May 2025
Employment Relations (Employee Remuneration Disclosure) Amendment Bill	Education and Workforce	6 May 2025
Evidence (Giving Evidence of Family Violence) Amendment Bill	Justice	6 May 2025
Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill	Justice	14 May 2025
Crimes (Countering Foreign Interference) Amendment Bill	Justice	19 May 2025
Disputes Tribunal Amendment Bill	Justice	19 May 2025
Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Amendment Bill	Social Services and Community	21 May 2025
Crimes Legislation (Stalking and Harassment) Amendment Bill	Justice	10 June 2025
Improving Arrangements for Surrogacy Bill	Health	12 June 2025
Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill	Justice	17 June 2025
Gene Technology Bill	Health	17 June 2025
Local Government (Water Services) Bill	Finance and Expenditure	17 June 2025
Offshore Renewable Energy Bill	Transport and Infrastructure	17 June 2025
Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) (3 Day Postnatal Stay) Amendment Bill	Health	17 June 2025
Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill	Environment	17 June 2025
Broadcasting (Repeal of Advertising Restrictions) Amendment Bill	Economic Development, Science and Innovation	18 June 2025
Customs (Levies and Other Matters) Amendment Bill	Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade	29 July 2025

Bills awaiting Second Reading

Bills awaiting Committee of the whole House

Bills awaiting Third Reading

Bills awaiting Royal Assent

None

Acts assented

Bail (Electronic Monitoring) Amendment Act 2025

This Act amends the Bail Act 2000 to clarify that the court can authorise an electronic monitoring (EM) assessor to approve a defendant granted bail with an EM condition to be absent from their EM address for court-authorised purposes. It does this by introducing requirements for authorisations made under section 30M of the Bail Act 2000, including that the court must specify the purpose(s) for which the defendant may be absent and the details of an authorisation. The EM assessor is enabled to approve an absence in line with the specified purpose(s) and details of the authorisation. It also allows for the validation of certain pre-commencement authorisations.

This Act was introduced and passed under urgency on 11 March 2025.

Building (Earthquake-prone Building Deadlines and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2024

This Act amends the Building Act 2004 to extend the time required for earthquake-prone buildings to be remediated by four years, with a limited power to extend deadlines by a one-off further two years by Order in Council. The change applies to buildings with deadlines that had not expired as of 2 April 2024 and applies retrospectively from that date. This Act was passed against the backdrop of the Government currently conducting a review of the earthquake-prone building system.

The Act also clarifies that independently qualified persons must only issue a certificate for a specified system (required for building warrant of fitness) if requirements stated in the compliance schedule have been fully complied with in the previous 12 months. It is an offence to issue a certificate without meeting these requirements. Additionally, the Act makes several other minor and technical amendments to the Building Act 2004.

Citizenship (Western Samoa) (Restoration) Amendment Act 2024

The Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982 removed NZ citizenship from certain individuals who, under earlier legislation, had been granted NZ citizenship if born in Western Samoa between 13 May 1924 and 1 January 1949 (or connected through descent or marriage). This Act amends the law so that these individuals are now able to apply for NZ citizenship.

Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Scheme Agricultural Obligations) Amendment Act 2024

This Act amends the Climate Change Response Act 2002 to remove agricultural activities from the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS). This removes the requirements for:

agricultural processors to surrender New Zealand units (NZUs) to pay for their agricultural emissions from 1 January 2025; and
animal farmers to report their emissions from 1 January 2026, and to surrender NZUs to pay for them from 1 January 2027.

Contracts of Insurance Act 2024

This Act modernises and consolidates existing insurance laws. Key changes include:

modification of laws which relate to a policyholder's duty of disclosure at the time of entry into an insurance contract;
more proportionate insurer's remedies for non-disclosure, in relation to the nature and consequences of that non-disclosure;
a limitation on the insurer's right to avoid a policy to circumstances involving deliberate or reckless non-disclosure or where it can be shown the insurer would not have entered into the insurance contract at all had the true position been disclosed;
the creation of several new obligations for insurers, bringing the regulation of insurers closer to that of lenders and issuers of financial products. Such obligations include duties for an insurer to assist policyholders to understand insurance contracts;
provides the Government of the day an option to set regulations surrounding the use of genetic testing results by insurers; and
establishment of a direct right of action by claimants against insurers with leave of the court.

See our Insights articles here and here for further information on the changes.

Contracts of Insurance (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2024

This Act was formed from the Contracts of Insurance Bill. The Committee of the Whole House divided the Bill to form the Contracts of Insurance Act 2024 (as discussed above) and the Contracts of Insurance (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2024.

This Act makes specific amendments to other Acts which contain insurance provisions, and repeals a number of previous Acts relating to insurance. Such changes include:

broadening the extent to which the unfair contracts regime in the Fair Trading Act 1986 applies to contracts of insurance;
an amendment to the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013 which provides an insurer has duties to assist policyholders to understand insurance contracts; and
technical changes to other aspects of the law, including abolition of the statutory charge under the Law Reform Act 1936 over insurance moneys under liability policies.

Corrections (Victim Protection) Amendment Act 2024

This Act amends the Corrections Act 2004 to increase protections for victims of crime against unwanted contact by offenders responsible for the crimes and offences against them. The changes include requiring the Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections to ensure that processes are established to inform people of measures they can take if they do not want to be contacted by a prisoner, and the creation of a new offence where a prisoner contacts a person, or solicits anyone else to contact a person, who the prisoner knows or ought reasonably to know does not want to be so contacted.

Crimes (Theft by Employer) Amendment Act 2025

This Act amends the Crimes Act 1961 to provide that not paying an employee their wages is theft. It creates a new offence for employers who owe wages and intentionally fail to pay them, without reasonable excuse, to their employee.

District Court (District Court Judges) Amendment Act 2025

This Act amends the District Court Act 2016 to increase the maximum number of District Court Judges that can be appointed at any time, by one, from 182 full-time equivalents to 183 full-time equivalents. The amendment seeks to assist the District Court's increasing workload and to support the implementation of reforms in the Sentencing (Reform) Amendment Bill, which would require another District Court Judge to support a likely increase in sentencing events.

Family Proceedings (Dissolution of Marriage or Civil Union for Family Violence) Amendment Act 2024

This Act aims to reduce the harm caused by family violence by providing that a marriage or civil union can be dissolved on the basis of family violence. The Act further provides that the existence of any protection order is sufficient evidence to justify dissolution and the ordinary requirement for parties to have lived apart for two years prior to dissolution does not need to be fulfilled.

Fast-track Approvals Act 2024

This Act creates a fast-track decision-making process that facilitates the delivery of infrastructure and development projects with significant regional or national benefits. It provides that:

projects listed in Schedule 2 of the Act can lodge substantive consent applications for their projects to be considered by expert panels for fast-track approval; and
projects not listed in the Act can apply to the Minister for Infrastructure for referral to an expert panel. If the Minister accepts the referral application, they may refer the project to the fast-track approvals process, which will allow substantive consent applications for the project to be lodged for consideration by an expert panel.

Gambling (Definition of Remote Interactive Gambling) Amendment Act 2024

The Act amends the Gambling Act 2003 to make permanent the temporary provision that exempts class 3 gambling in the form of a lottery from the prohibition on remote interactive gambling. This would allow class 3 gambling that is in the form of a lottery to be conducted remotely and allow operators to receive payments through phone or internet banking.

Overseas Investment (Build-to-rent and Similar Rental Developments) Amendment Act 2025

This Act sets up a new pathway under the Overseas Investment Act 2005, which allows for overseas investors to apply to purchase existing Build to Rent developments with at least 20 dwellings (provided the investor intends to continue to lease them). This pathway is called the "large rental development test". This test is met if:

the residential land consists of 20 or more dwellings suitable for use as, or conversion to, residential dwellings;
at least 20 of the dwellings will be, or are likely to be, available for use within a timeframe satisfactory to the relevant Ministers; and
the non-occupation outcome under the Overseas Investment Act 2005 is achieved (effectively that the investor, or those closely related to it, will not occupy the building).

The new pathway is intended to provide a more secure exit strategy to Build to Rent developers, while still maintaining the housing supply these developments have provided. Previously, overseas investors applying to purchase an existing Build to Rent development were required to apply for consent under the general "Benefit to New Zealand" pathway.

Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) (Improving Mental Health Outcomes) Amendment Act 2024

This Act amends the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022 to require the Minister of Health to determine a Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy (Strategy). Under the Act, the purpose of the Strategy is to provide a framework to guide health entities for the long-term improvement of mental health and wellbeing outcomes. The Strategy must, among other things, set out priorities for mental health and addiction services and health sector improvements relating to mental health and wellbeing.

Racing Industry (Unlawful Destruction of Specified Greyhounds) Amendment Act 2024

This Act prohibits the destruction of greyhounds that are registered with the New Zealand Greyhound Racing Association Incorporated (Association), unless it is done by a vet for a reason specified by the Association's policy.

The Act follows the Government's in principle agreement to close the greyhound racing industry from 1 August 2026, and was introduced and passed under urgency on 10 December 2024. The Act addresses the concern that greyhounds could be euthanised as a result of this decision, and as such protection is required. A person who commits an offence against the Act is liable to up to 12 months imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $50,000.

Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024

This Act introduces a range of changes affecting the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. These include changes to tenancy termination rights and keeping pets in rental properties.

Regarding tenancy terminations, the changes include:

reintroduction of the 90-day no-cause terminations for periodic tenancies – a landlord can give at least 90 days' notice to end a tenancy without any reason;
reinstating a 42-day notice period on certain grounds (such as a family member of the owner moving in, or the property is being sold);
decreasing the minimum notice period a tenant must give to end a periodic tenancy, or renew or extend a fixed term tenancy, from 28 days to 21 days; and
enabling landlords or tenants to give notice to end a fixed term tenancy between 90 to 21 days before the end of the fixed term without providing a reason.

The Act also enables a tenant to keep a pet in their rental property, if allowed in their tenancy agreement or with the landlord's written consent. In such an instance, a landlord requires reasonable grounds to prohibit or refuse consent for a tenant to keep a pet (such as the premises is not suitable for pets, the number of pets requested, or the pets are likely to cause damage/disruption). Landlords are able to request and keep a "pet bond" from their tenants if pets are kept in the property, up to two weeks' rent in addition to the standard maximum four weeks' rent bond.

Resource Management (Freshwater and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2024

This Act amends the Resource Management Act 1991 to simplify the process for preparing and amending national direction instruments made under the RMA. This Act also made amendments in relation to several national direction instruments: the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020, the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity 2023, the Resource Management (National Environment Standards for Freshwater) Regulations 2020, and the Resource Management (Stock Exclusion) Regulations 2020. The national direction instrument changes are expected to particularly affect farming, mining and other primary industries.

This Act was enacted as part of the Government's plan to overhaul New Zealand's resource management laws – see our Insights article here.

Secondary Legislation Confirmation Act 2024

This Act keeps 13 pieces of secondary legislation made between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024, which would otherwise be revoked if not confirmed by an Act of Parliament, in force. The secondary legislation being confirmed relates to a wide selection of topics including alcohol and tobacco duties, social security benefits and allowances, and a range of Government levies.

Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Act 2024

This Act reinstates the legislative regime for sentencing repeat serious offenders, more commonly known as the "three-strikes law", by amending the Sentencing Act 2002, the Criminal Procedure Act 2011, the Criminal Procedure (Mentally Impaired Persons) Act 2003, the Evidence Act 2003 and the Parole Act 2002. The regime:

applies to 42 qualifying violent or sexual offences contained in the Crimes Act 1961;
applies only if a Court finds that a sentence of imprisonment of more than 24 months would apply;
requires warnings to be given at each stage, with second and subsequent strikes carrying a requirement that a sentence be served without parole and third and subsequent strikes carrying the maximum penalty for that offence;
includes a manifest injustice exception for all mandatory elements of the regime, guided by the principles in the Act;
allows a court to reduce the term of imprisonment when the offender pleads guilty; and
applies only to offences committed after the commencement date of the amendments to the Sentencing Act 2002.

Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Amendment Act (No 2) 2024

The Act amends the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990. The purpose of this Act is to reduce the access children and young people may have to vaping products by:

banning the manufacture, sale, supply, and distribution of disposable vapes;
increasing penalties for unlawful sale of regulated products to minors;
imposing restrictions on the visibility of vaping products in retail stores and online advertising; and
extending the prohibition on discounts and giveaways to include vaping products from specialist vape retailers.

Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Claims Settlement Act 2025

This Act gives effect to the deed of settlement signed on 29 July 2023 to settle the historical Treaty of Waitangi claims of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua, consisting of the Tamahaki, Tamakana and Uenuku ki Manganui-o-te-Ao, nā Tūkaihoro iwi. Part 1 of the Act includes a historical account and the Crown’s acknowledgements and apology. Part 2 provides for cultural redress, including statutory acknowledgements, deeds of recognition, overlay classifications, changes to official place names, vesting of cultural redress properties, and provisions for iwi involvement in the Tongariro-Taupō Conservation Board and development of the Tongariro-Taupō Conservation Management Strategy. Part 3 provides for commercial redress, including the transfer of commercial redress properties and deferred selection properties, and provides the iwi a right of first refusal over certain lands.

Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara/Ō-Rākau Remembrance Act 2025

This Act gives effect to provisions of te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga mō Ō-Rākau, te Pae o Maumahara / the Deed of Agreement relating to the Ō-Rākau site, dated 31 October 2023. The Ō-Rākau site was the ground of the last major battle of the Waikato War, and the deed of agreement was signed by the Crown and representatives of Maniapoto, Raukawa and Waikato (three iwis collectively referred to as Ngā Ahi e Toru). The Act vested the Ō-Rākau site in ngā tupuna o Ō-Rākau, named individuals who were either present during the battle or had prior connections to the land. Under the Act, Ngā Ahi e Toru have legal rights and obligations of owners on behalf of ngā tupuna.

Te Ture Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua 2025/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Act 2025

This Act gives effect to Te Ruruku Pūtakerongo, a collective redress deed addressing the historical claims of the eight Taranaki iwi relating to their ancestral mountains. While each iwi has previously settled their individual Treaty of Waitangi claims, their settlements included commitments to future negotiations about cultural redress for Taranaki Maunga and the surrounding national park, which this Act, in part, addressed.

The Act has changed the official names of the mountains and national park, with "Egmont National Park", "Mount Taranaki" and "Mount Egmont" no longer being official geographic names. The national park is now known as Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki (meaning “the highly regarded and treasured lands of Taranaki”), and the highest peak is now Taranaki Maunga.

The Act recognises Taranaki Maunga and other ancestral mountains as legal persons, with their rights, powers and duties being exercised by its respective representative entity. Provisions of the Act will form the ongoing governance, management and administration of the national park.

Therapeutic Products Act Repeal Act 2024

This Act repeals the Therapeutic Products Act 2023, which was enacted by the previous Labour Government to replace the current Medicines Act 1981 and Dietary Supplements Regulations 1985 (Regulations). It also:

brings the Regulations under the Food Act 2014;
amends the Regulations to provide that adopted joint food standards (such as the Australia and New Zealand Food Standards Code) do not apply to dietary supplements; and
replaces the offence and penalty provisions in the Regulations with the offence and penalty provisions in the Food Act 2014.

Victims of Family Violence (Strengthening Legal Protections) Legislation Act 2025

This Act aims to strengthen the courts' statutory powers to protect victims of litigation abuse in family proceedings. It does so by amending the Family Court Act 1980, District Court Act 2016 and Senior Courts Act 2016 to establish an alternative mechanism for Judges to restrain a party from filing further steps in family proceedings in any court. The court is required to be satisfied that a party to a proceeding under a specified Act has exhibited conduct that is an abuse of court (including conduct intended to harass or annoy), having regard to all the circumstances and having given the party a reasonable opportunity to be heard. The specified Acts include the Family Violence Act 2018, the Care of Children Act 2004, and other family law related statutes.