31 August was the last sitting day of Parliament before the General Election on 14 October 2023. The final weeks of Parliament saw the government pushing through a ton of last-minute law changes - from resource management and water services reforms to changes to local government electoral legislation, and more.
What laws have changed recently?
Below is a summary of some the key changes since our June 2023 newsletter. Please note that this isn’t a complete list of all law changes relevant to your organisation.
To get full clarity about legislative changes affecting your organisation, dial up the ‘clarity of change’ function in your ComplyWith Obligations Register.
While you’re there, turn on law change notifications for yourself and remember that in the ComplyWith Admin module you can set up tailored law change notifications for anyone in your organisation who will benefit from being kept up to date about law changes relevant to their role.
Key changes for all sectors
- On 24 August 2023, the Natural and Built Environment Act 2023 and Spatial Planning Act 2023 came into force. Together these Acts will replace the Resource Management Act (RMA). Some changes apply right away, and others take effect in a region when its natural and built environment plan is in place. Until then, much of the RMA continues to apply.
- On 8 August 2023, the Companies (Directors’ Duties) Amendment Act 2023 clarified that when considering the best interests of a company or holding company, directors can consider matters other than maximising profit.
- On 31 July 2023, various Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism amendment regulations came into force.
- On 27 July 2023, the Resource Management (National Environmental Standards for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Industrial Process Heat) Regulations 2023 and National Policy Statement for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Industrial Process Heat 2023 came into force.
- On 1 July 2023, the Waste Minimisation (Plastic and Related Products) Amendment Regulations 2022 expanded the list of plastic products that can no longer be manufactured or sold.
- On 30 June 2023, the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (Class Exemptions) Amendment Notice 2023 came into force.
Changes for local government
- On 31 August 2023, the following came into force:
- Local Government Electoral Legislation Act 2023
- Land Transport Management (Regulation of Public Transport) Amendment Act 2023
- Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Community Participation) Amendment Act 2023
- On 24 and 31 August 2023 provisions in the following water services reform legislative changes came into force:
- Water Services Entities Amendment Act 2023
- Some provisions of the Water Services Legislation Act 2023
- Water Services Economic Efficiency and Consumer Protection Act 2023.
- On 27 July 2023, the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Amendment Act 2023 added 2 new conclusive reasons for withholding official information.
- On 13 July 2023, further provisions in the Self-contained Motor Vehicles Legislation Act 2023 came into force, and the Freedom Camping (Penalties for Infringement Offences) Regulations 2023 came into force.
- On 1 July 2023:
- The Local Government Members (2023/24) Determination 2023 replaced the Local Government Members (2022/23) Determination 2022.
- The Rates Rebate (Specified Amounts) Order 2023 increased the income threshold for a rates rebate and the maximum rates rebate.
- The Environmental Performance Measures Record Keeping Requirements for Drinking Water Network Operators Notice 2023 came into force.
Changes for the electricity industry
- On 31 August 2023, the Electricity Industry Participation Code Amendment (Part 6A Dispensation for Specified Persons) 2023 introduced a new dispensation scheme for Part 6A.
- On 1 August 2023, the minimum weekly amount payable during an Official Conservation campaign increased.
- On 31 July 2023, the Electricity Industry Participation Code Amendment (Transmission Pricing Methodology Amendments) 2023 came into force.
Changes for the gas industry
- On 1 July 2023:
- The Gas (Levy of Industry Participants) Regulations 2023 came into force.
- The Notification of Levy Rates Under the Energy (Petrol, Engine Fuel, and Gas) Levy Regulations 2017 Notice 2023 increased the gas safety, monitoring, and energy efficiency levy rate for July 2023 to 30 June 2024.
Changes for the health sector
- On 1 July 2023, Zopiclone and zolpidem became class C5 controlled drugs and fentanyl became a class B1 controlled drug when provisions of the Misuse of Drugs (Classification and Presumption of Supply) Order 2022 came into force.
Changes for the education sector
- On 23 August 2023, the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 came into force and expanded:
- the information universities must include in their annual reports, and
- the police vetting requirements on early childhood service providers.
- On 28 August 2023, the Education (Early Childhood Services) Amendment Regulations 2023 came into force.
- On 30 June 2023, a new Code of Good Practice for New Zealand Apprenticeships came into force and replaced the 2015 Code.
Changes for organisations with animals
- On 1 July 2023:
- Certain provisions in the Resource Management (Stock Exclusion) Regulations 2020 came into force for existing pastoral systems.
- The Resource Management (Freshwater Farm Plans) Regulations 2023 and Resource Management (Application of Part 9A - Freshwater Farm Plans) Order 2023 came into force.
Changes for organisations with firearms
- On 28 July 2023, the Arms Amendment Regulations (No 2) 2023 excluded certain types of low-risk firearms that can be owned without a firearms licence from needing to be registered on the arms registry.
Changes for registered charities
- On 6 July 2023, certain provisions in the Charities Amendment Act 2023 came into force allowing the Department of Internal Affairs to exempt qualifying charities from submitting financial statements. Qualifying thresholds will be set out in regulations.
What’s coming up?
Below is a summary of some of the key changes coming up.
- On 1 October 2023, the following come into force:
- Certain provisions in the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Regulations 2022
- The remaining provisions of the Misuse of Drugs (Classification and Presumption of Supply) Order 2022
- On 4 October 2023, the rest of the Water Services Legislation Act 2023 and Water Services Act 2021 come into force.
- On 5 October 2023, the following come into force:
- The Incorporated Societies Act 2022 and Incorporated Societies Regulations 2023
- The Resource Management (Stock Exclusion) Amendment Regulations 2023
- Certain parts of the Local Electoral Amendment Regulations 2023
- The Misuse of Drugs Amendment Regulations (No 2) 2023
- The Construction Contracts (Retention Money) Amendment Act 2023
- The Severe Weather Emergency Recovery (Local Government Act 2002—Long-term Plan) Order 2023
- Some provisions of the Charities Amendment Act 2023.
