Law changes are accelerating with the Government ramping up its legislative programme as we head towards the end of the year. We expect this trend to continue into 2026 as the Government looks to pass as much of its legislative programme as possible before the general election.
What laws have changed recently?
Below is a summary of some of the key changes since our May 2025 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 27 August 2025, the Employment Relations (Employee Remuneration Disclosure) Amendment Act 2025 came into force, allowing personal grievance claims for employees who are adversely treated for discussing their remuneration with another person.
- On 25 July 2025, the Imports and Exports (Restrictions) Prohibition Order (No 2) 2004 Amendment Order (No 2) 2025 came into force and prohibited the import and export of electrical and electronic waste unless the EPA grants a permit.
- On 1 July 2025, the Employment Relations (Pay Deductions for Partial Strikes) Amendment Act 2025 came into force, enabling employers to deduct pay for partial strikes.
- On 1 June 2025, the remaining provisions of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (Requirements and Compliance) Amendment Regulations 2023 came into force, requiring reporting entities to give new customers a risk rating during standard or enhanced customer due diligence.
- On 30 May 2025, the Taxation (Budget Measures) Act introduced an upfront 20% ‘investment boost’ tax deduction for new eligible business assets bought or completed on or after 22 May 2025.
Key changes for local government
- On 27 August 2025:
- The Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025 came into force and established a new framework for water services delivery.
- The Local Government (Water Services) (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2025 came into force making changes to a raft of legislation to support the new water services delivery framework, including the Local Government Act 2002, Local Government Act 1974, Water Services Act, Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Act, Resource Management Act, Local Government (Rating) Act, and Rates Rebate Act.
- The Public Works (Critical Infrastructure) Amendment Act 2025 introduced an accelerated land acquisition process for critical infrastructure projects.
- On 22 August 2025, the Building (Accreditation of Building Consent Authorities) Amendment Regulations 2025 came into force, requiring policies and procedures to ensure at least 80% of inspections are completed within 3 days.
- On 21 August 2025, the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Act 2025 stopped council plan-making and changes until 31 December 2027 (unless an exception applies).
- On 8 August 2025, the remaining provisions of the Building (Overseas Building Products, Standards, and Certification Schemes) Amendment Act 2025 came into force, allowing certain overseas building products, standards and certification schemes to be recognised as ways of showing compliance with the building code.
- On 31 July 2025, the Health (Hairdressers) Regulations were revoked, so territorial authorities are no longer required to register hairdressing premises.
- On 1 July 2025:
- The Water Services (Levies on Water Services) Regulations 2025 introduced a water services levy to be paid to the Water Services Authority quarterly in advance.
- The Environmental Performance Measures Record-Keeping Requirements for Drinking Water and Wastewater Network Operators Notice 2025 replaced the Environmental Performance Measures Record-Keeping Requirements for Drinking Water Network Operators Notice 2024.
- The Local Government Elected Members (2025/26) Determination 2025 replaced the 2024/25 Determination.
- The income threshold for a rates rebate increased from $31,510 to $32,210, and the maximum rates rebate increased from $790 to $805.
- A separate income threshold of $45,000 for a rates rebate was introduced for SuperGold Card holders.
- The remaining provisions of the Local Electoral Amendment Regulations 2023 came into force, requiring electoral officers to manage special voting by telephone dictation for disabled voters.
- The remaining provisions of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Amendment Act 2023 came into force, clarifying the type of natural hazards information that must be included in land information memoranda, and requiring regional councils to provide natural hazard information to territorial authorities.
- The remaining provisions of the Food (Fees, Charges, and Levies) Amendment Regulations 2024 came into force, requiring territorial authorities to collect and forward levies from food businesses operating under food control plans or national programmes to MPI.
Key changes for the electricity industry
- On 1 August 2025, the Electricity Industry Participation Code Amendment (Updates to Registry Fields) 2024 came into force.
- On 1 July 2025, the remaining provisions of the Electricity Industry Participation Code Amendment (Code Review Programme) 2025 came into force.
Key changes for the gas industry
- On 1 July 2025:
- The Gas (Levy of Industry Participants) Regulations 2025 set levies on gas industry participants for the 2025/26 financial year.
- The Notification of Levy Rates Under the Energy (Petrol, Engine Fuel, and Gas) Levy Regulations 2017 Notice 2025 increased the gas safety, monitoring, and energy efficiency levy from 5.3 cents to 5.8 cents for every gigajoule.
Key changes for landlords of residential tenancies
- On 1 July 2025, the insulation requirements in the healthy homes standards were applied to all residential tenancies.
Key changes for organisations with animals
- On 1 July 2025, further provisions of the Resource Management (Stock Exclusion) Regulations 2020 came into force.
Key changes for the education sector
- On 1 July 2025, updated versions of the following NZQA rules came into force:
- Qualification and Micro-credential Listing and Operational Rules 2025
- Programme Approval, Recognition, and Accreditation Rules 2025
- Private Training Establishment Registration Rules 2025
- Student Fee Protection Rules 2025
- Micro-credential Approval and Accreditation Rules 2025
What’s coming up?
Upcoming law changes include:
- On 25 September 2025, the following come into force:
- Residential Tenancies (Healthy Homes Standards) Amendment Regulations 2025.
- Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Amendment Regulations (No 2) 2025.
- On 29 September 2025, the remaining provisions of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2025 come into force.
- On 1 October 2025, the remaining provisions of the Budapest Convention and Related Matters Legislation Amendment Act 2025 come into force (including changes to the Search and Surveillance Act 2012 and the Telecommunications (Interception Capability and Security) Act 2013).
- On 12 October 2025, the remaining provisions of the Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act 2024 come into force.
- On 17 October 2025, the Local Government (Natural Hazard Information in Land Information Memoranda) Regulations 2025 come into force.
- On 20 October 2025, further provisions from the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Act 2025 come into force.
