Cutting Red Tape - NZ Health and Safety Law reforms

Politics. I know it’s not a popular topic. But if you’re a responsible business owner, one topic that shouldn’t be ignored right now is the sweeping Health and Safety Law reforms currently taking place in New Zealand.

So, what’s happening…

As a political punchline? The Government is cutting the red tape, particularly for small and low-risk businesses. In a nutshell, the changes are intended to relieve H&S bureaucratic requirements, by enabling businesses beneath a certain size to focus solely on critical risks. Small, low-risk businesses will need only to provide basic welfare facilities and manage risks which could cause death or serious harm.

The changes also aim to:

• Clarify where regulations overlap (i.e. between the Health & Safety at Work Act and transport safety requirements) to avoid ‘double handling’ of functional health and safety
• Reduce Worksafe notification requirements to reporting serious incidents only
• Introduce a “road-cone hotline” which allows anyone to report an accusation of excessive compliance in a temporary traffic setup
• Define day-to-day safety as a management duty and not the focus of directors, whose responsibility is accepted as more strategic oversight
• Reinforce Minister Approved Codes of Practice, offering businesses who adhere to these standards the opportunity to rely on them for legal defence, should the need arise

The reforms are spearheaded by Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety, Brooke van Velden, as part of the ACT/National coalition’s campaign manifesto.

What it means for you…

Immediately? Nothing. The bill changes detailed above are only the first proposal, with subsequent policy changes expected in the future. However, the current bill is expected to be introduced to parliament before the end of the year, with the changes applied legally, early in 2026.

For some industries, the administrative relief will be welcome and immediate. To use the reduction in Worksafe notification requirements as an example, businesses will no longer need to lodge an event every time someone climbs a scaffold or enters a tank.

As a business Director, the clarity around H&S responsibilities in leadership roles may be welcomed as common sense, with risk-management ‘ownership’ placed squarely on immediate managers… but if you are one of said managers, this change could cause some anxiety.

How it is being received, nationally and abroad?

Anecdotal claims state that the historic uncertainty around Director’s responsibilities has harboured an environment of fear and unnecessary over-compliance in boards across the country. The Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA) have supported this specific aspect of the proposed changes in a press-release earlier this year.

"Managers are best placed to understand and oversee health and safety in their workplace," says EMA Manager of Employment Relations and Safety Paul Jarvie.

The Business Leaders’ Health & Safety Forum have also offered “cautious support” of the changes in a public statement.

The consensus seems to be, that people are generally supportive of changes that lead to more streamlined H&S compliance for their businesses, balanced with concern for a reduction in practical day-to-day safety for the workforce.

Critics are calling the road-cone hotline a PR stunt and a political distraction from an otherwise important issue. Sceptics highlight that this is the largest change to H&S law in a decade, and an opportunity for New Zealand to improve on internationally unflattering workplace safety statistics. The New Zealand Institute of Safety Management Chair Mike Cosman called the proposed changes “underwhelming and unambitious”.

Despite a divided reception at home, foreign observers are monitoring the proposal with enthusiasm as there seems to be an international appetite for a reduction in Health and Safety bureaucracy. One Australian news outlet has described the proposal as a breath of fresh air and says it has the potential to set the example for other western countries.

Why it’s important to stay abreast… with SBS

At Safe Business Solutions, we keep you informed of all things Health and Safety and we will be monitoring the pending changes with great interest. As a support service customer, your policies and procedures will be updated to reflect any changes as an all-inclusive service, during your annual review. Watch this space, as the changes are approved.

If you have any questions or concerns about perspective changes call the SBS Team - Freephone 0508 424 723.