The Government’s overhaul of New Zealand’s health and safety laws has passed its third and final reading, with the changes set to come into force on April 1, 2027.
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says the Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill delivers on the ACT-National coalition agreement by simplifying compliance requirements while maintaining protections for workers.
“For too long, businesses have been dealing with a system that is confusing and difficult to comply with. Rather than making workers safer, it has distracted from the risks that really matter and increased regulatory burden,” van Velden says.
“This Bill reflects that this Government is listening to the people on the ground having to deal with our laws day in and day out. They told us change was needed, and we have delivered.”
The legislation introduces a stronger focus on “critical risks” — those that could result in death, serious injury or illness — with the Government saying this will allow businesses to better target their health and safety efforts.
The reforms also strengthen Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs), with businesses that follow an approved code able to demonstrate they have met their health and safety obligations for that particular risk.
“Businesses told us they need clearer, more practical guidance. The Bill clarifies that if a business follows an ACOP’s processes for managing a risk, they can be confident they are meeting their health and safety obligations for that risk,” van Velden says.
The legislation also introduces a more proportionate approach for small businesses, requiring them to focus on managing critical risks while continuing to provide essential worker welfare facilities.
“These changes give small businesses clarity about what they need to focus on to keep people safe, without unnecessary compliance burden,” she says.
Other changes include:
- Clearer duties for company directors, allowing them to focus on governance rather than day-to-day management.
- Reduced duplication with other regulatory systems.
- Clarified responsibilities for recreational activities on land.
- Clearer requirements for reporting serious workplace incidents.
The Government says guidance to help businesses understand and comply with the new requirements will be released over the coming months before the legislation takes effect.
“These reforms strike the right balance – maintaining strong protections for workers while delivering a simpler, more effective system that focuses on critical risks and improves safety outcomes,” van Velden says.
