Source: Worksafe New Zealand
Read our July 2025 energy safety business update.
In this issue:
Source: New Zealand Government
As part of the Government’s drive to cut down on excessive use of road cones – and reducing the eye-watering cost of temporary traffic management – councils will soon be forced to use a commonsense approach to risk assessment before receiving government funding, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says.
“New Zealanders have become increasingly irritated by the too-frequently over-the-top use of road cones and costly temporary traffic management around roadworks,” Mr Bishop says.
“This approach causes drivers unnecessary delays, creates congestion and wastes taxpayers’ money. The previous government spent a whopping $786 million of taxpayers’ money on temporary traffic management in just three years.
“We campaigned on bringing some much-needed common sense to the use of road cones, and we’re making good progress.
“NZTA, which builds and maintains our state highway network, has worked with its project contractors to apply pragmatism and critical thinking to the way they use road cones and other temporary traffic management measures.
“Since we’ve formed Government, the percentage of project costs spent on temporary traffic management has reduced from 15.8 per cent of maintenance costs down to 8.8 per cent, and from 6.0 per cent of the cost of capital projects, down to just 2.3 per cent.
“This means fewer disruptions for drivers, and less taxpayer money wasted.
“NZTA has achieved these results by requiring its contractors on state highway projects to shift away from an overly prescriptive Code of Practice which specifies in detail the exact spacing required between road cones, among many other requirements.
“They have instead moved to a far more pragmatic guide which allows contractors to use their experience and common sense to keep everyone safe on a worksite, rather than specifying road cone use down to the centimetre.
“Local roads are owned and maintained by councils. Many of them still use the very prescriptive Code of Practice, which is why we still see ridiculous temporary traffic management measures on local streets, such as quiet cul-de-sacs covered in road cones because of minor work on a footpath.
“This over-the-top traffic management by councils is costing ratepayers money. The Government has got its own house in order by significantly cutting its temporary traffic management costs on state highways. Some councils are also making good efforts in this area – but now all councils will be required to get on board.
“The Government funds local council transport projects to the tune of over $1 billion per year through the National Land Transport Fund, which is administered by NZTA.
“I am pleased to announce that in future, the NZTA Board will require councils to apply the more pragmatic New Zealand guide to temporary traffic management to their local roadworks contracts before approving government funding for those projects.
“By requiring local councils to adopt a risk-based approach, we’ll see more sensible use of temporary traffic management on local roads, keeping road workers and others safe, at a more reasonable cost to ratepayers.
“I’m pleased to see common sense making a return to our roads.”
Notes to Editor:
In New Zealand, NZTA and local councils are the primary road controlling authorities. NZTA is responsible for state highways, while local councils manage local roads.
By 20 December 2025, councils will need to have a plan in place for applying the New Zealand guide to temporary traffic management to their contracts. By 1 July 2026, they must apply it to all new contracts, and by 1 July 2027, the guide must be incorporated into all existing contracts.
Councils will have to report their uptake of the guide to NZTA on a quarterly basis, while NZTA will continue to report monthly on its own temporary traffic management activities.
More information about the new guidance (the New Zealand guide to temporary traffic management) is on the NZTA website: https://nzta.govt.nz/roads-and-rail/new-zealand-guide-to-temporary-traffic-management
Source: Maritime New Zealand
Maritime NZ has established a dedicated Third-Party Oversight Team to work with third-party regulators and provide assurance to the maritime sector that the third-party regulatory system is performing well.
Third party regulators are entities or individuals, not employed by Maritime NZ, who perform regulatory functions under a delegation or other authorisation. Their functions, depending on the specifically stated delegation or authorisation, can relate to equipment, vessels, training, medical fitness, competency, crew conditions, plans etc.
Over recent years, various investigations have recommended stronger oversight of third-party regulators. The establishment of the Third-Party Oversight Team is a direct response to these.
The maritime sector, and the public, rightly expect that all regulatory functions are both efficient and effective, including third-party regulatory functions carried out on behalf of Maritime NZ. Likewise, third party regulators have the right to expect support and clear direction from Maritime NZ.
The new team’s role is to work with third party regulators to understand how well third-party functions are working, identify any issues that may exist, provide leadership on third-party regulation matters, and identify investments that could help to tackle significant issues.
Together proactively identifying where any significant issues may exist, allows actions to be taken before serious harm occurs.
Revenue from maritime levies is funding the new team because effective third-party regulatory functions benefit every participant in the maritime system.
Our priority is to focus on third-party functions of highest strategic importance and where we have evidence that challenges are present. To achieve this, the team has developed a three-year work programme, which focusses on the third-party regulators in priority order.
In the first year the team is focussing on marine surveyors (who carry out a very important safety and environmental protection role). Future work will include focussing on recognised organisations and then training colleges and examiners.
Source: New Zealand Government
From tomorrow, thousands of additional building products including plasterboard, cladding systems, external doors, and windows will all be easier to use in construction sites across New Zealand, Mr Penk says
Our government is laser focused on economic growth, which drives more jobs and increasing wages. We want to see a construction boom, and this is an important step.
Quality overseas building products have been given the green light for New Zealand construction, ending costly monopolies on a small number of products that are currently used in New Zealand, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says.
“It is 50 per cent more expensive to build a standalone home in New Zealand than in Australia. That is frankly outrageous.
“These changes have the potential to reduce total building costs by thousands of dollars when building a home.
“For example, New Zealand has some of the most expensive plasterboard in the world. Kiwis pay around 38 per cent more than Australia for plasterboard, 47 per cent more than the UK, and 67 per cent more than the US for the same products.
“And 97 per cent of the plasterboard that we must currently use is made by one established company. You may recall that in 2022, when that company ran into difficulty, prices for plasterboard soared and some builders were reported to pay six times the normal amount so they could finish the job.
“That changes tomorrow.
“This Government is pulling every lever it has to drive economic growth and building materials is one of many areas where a good dose of competition might do the trick.
“There are thousands of well-made, high performing products that have been tested against rigorous international standards but have faced barriers for uptake here, purely because they have not been specifically tested against our own standards. From tomorrow it will be much easier to use plasterboard manufactured in New Zealand, Australia, UK, Europe and the United States.
“This Government is serious about lowering the cost of building and helping Kiwis into homes faster.
“Tomorrow we are releasing the first version of the Building Product Specifications document which lists international standards for products like plasterboard, cladding, windows and external doors.
“Later this year additional pathways will go live enabling more high-quality building products to be used including over 200,000 plumbing products through the Australian Watermark scheme.
“This is just the beginning of our work to open the door to more building products, lower the cost of homes and turbo charge the construction sector and there will be more to come.”
Notes to editor:
Source: New Zealand Government
The Government is providing more certainty for the building sector by pausing any new major changes to the Building Code system, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced.
“The building sector has faced significant disruption over the past few years in dealing with the pandemic, supply chain challenges and a boom-and-bust cycle that has made the infrastructure pipeline unpredictable,” Mr Penk says.
“Up until now, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has typically conducted ongoing, rolling reviews of different parts of the Building Code.
“It’s time to bring stability and clarity to the system so the sector can confidently plan and move forward with the construction and infrastructure projects we need to build New Zealand into a world-class nation.
“Builders, designers and developers need a clear runway to plan ahead and invest with confidence, and ad hoc changes to Building Code requirements makes that difficult.
“That’s why we’re pausing any further major changes and moving to a predictable three-year cycle for Building Code system updates.
“This new approach will give businesses the clarity they need to prepare in advance, rather than constantly having to react to unexpected rule changes.
“Designers and builders will have more headspace to focus on their important work of building more homes and delivering infrastructure projects that support better public services, instead of constantly reworking plans or second-guessing what might change next.
“The pause applies only to major changes outside the three year cycle. The Government will continue to consider straightforward updates when needed – especially those that protect life safety and meet New Zealand’s trade obligations. Changes to support energy efficiency, the Building Product Specifications and fire safety will continue as planned.
“Supporting a strong and thriving building sector is an important part of driving the economic growth that benefits all Kiwis.
“This Government has already taken steps to improve productivity – including reforms that will allow trusted professionals to consent their own work, improving access to overseas products to lower building costs, and advancing legislation to make building granny flats easier.
“This next step is about giving the sector time, certainty and space to deliver.”
The first regular cycle of Building Code system updates will take place in 2028.
Note to editors:
New Zealand’s Building Code System includes the Building Code (found in regulations made under the Building Act 2004) and a range of technical compliance documents, including Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods (AS/VMs), and the Building Product Specifications (BPS).
The Minister for Building and Construction is responsible for changes to regulations under the Building Act, and the Chief Executive of MBIE is responsible for any changes to technical compliance documents.
Source: New Zealand Government
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says the completion of a revised accreditation process has removed an unnecessary workforce barrier preventing more than 330 experienced counsellors from working in publicly funded mental health services.
Health New Zealand, in partnership with the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC), has finalised a strengthened accreditation pathway for counsellors.
“This is a common-sense step that unlocks existing workforce capacity at a time of high demand,” Mr Doocey says.
“I’ve been clear from day one, workforce shortages are one of the key barriers to delivering timely mental health support for New Zealanders in their time of need.
“This is a practical and common-sense decision that ensures we’re making full use of the experienced counsellors already working in our communities.”
Previously, counsellors were excluded from publicly funded roles due to a lack of formal regulation. In response, Health NZ, alongside the largest counselling membership and accredited professional body, NZAC, worked on one recognised and robust accreditation pathway.
“With more than 330 counsellors now eligible through this expanded pathway, the move is expected to bolster primary mental health workforce initiatives.
“Driving down mental health and addiction vacancies and making better use of underutilised workforces like peer support specialists and counsellors is common sense.
“We are starting to turn the corner with reducing wait times and increasing the workforce. We have more mental health nurses, psychologists, support workers and addiction counsellors working on the ground, and overall vacancy rates are starting to ease.
“While many challenges remain, this is yet another step this Government is taking to turn the corner on the longstanding mental health workforce vacancies.
“When someone is making the brave step of reaching out to get support, workforce should never be a barrier.”
Source: New Zealand Government
A new outpatient hysteroscopy service launched at North Shore Hospital will help women get faster diagnoses by combining their first specialist assessment and diagnostic procedure into a single visit, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
“This is a practical, patient-focused pathway that means women can get the answers they need sooner, without the stress and delays of multiple appointments or hospital admission,” Mr Brown says.
“Previously, women needing a hysteroscopy would attend an initial specialist appointment and then wait weeks to undergo the procedure in theatre under general anaesthetic. The new approach removes that delay for women suitable to for this treatment model.
“Now, women needing an uncomplicated hysteroscopy procedure can choose to have both the specialist assessment and the procedure in a single outpatient appointment. That means fewer hospital visits, less time off work or away from family, and a much more streamlined experience.
“For women with a high suspicion of cancer, this pathway can reduce the diagnostic timeline by two to six weeks compared to traditional models. That time could make all the difference.”
North Shore Hospital expects to deliver around 60 outpatient hysteroscopy clinics over the next 12 months, with approximately 240 procedures.
“Every outpatient procedure frees up valuable theatre space and clinical teams for patients who require more complex surgery. That’s better for patients, and better for the whole system.”
This means that a significant proportion of uncomplicated hysteroscopies that would have otherwise been performed in theatre under anaesthesia can now be done safely as outpatient procedures.
The new service follows similar successful models already operating in Auckland, Counties Manukau, and Waikato.
“This is part of a regional effort to improve the quality, timeliness, and experience of care for women undergoing investigation for gynaecological cancers. It will also play an important role in meeting our faster cancer treatment target by speeding up diagnosis and helping women start treatment sooner.
“We’re focused on what matters: putting patients first, getting people seen sooner, and delivering a health system that works better for patients,” Mr Brown says.
Source: New Zealand Government
Hamilton City and Waikato District Councils have delivered the first multi council water services delivery plan, an achievement that will be welcomed by all ratepayers, says Local Government Minister Simon Watts.
“We have been very clear that local government needs to focus on core business and I am delighted that these two councils are the first to embrace the benefits to ratepayers of collaboration under Local Water Done Well.
“Not only does this mean safe and reliable drinking and wastewater, it means cost increases necessary to fund vital infrastructure are more affordable for ratepayers.
“This collaboration means 280,000 New Zealanders served by the combined local organisation will be assured of the ongoing financial sustainability of their water services at affordable cost.
“Investing in infrastructure is critical for our communities’ success and critical for growth. This plan significantly boosts investment in Hamilton and Waikato District’s water services infrastructure over the next decade, supporting new housing, businesses and improved service quality.
“The cost of delivering water services has been a driver of higher rates across the country. By getting water services on a stable footing and making critical investment now, councils keep rate increases down.”
This increased investment is supported by better access to finance from the Local Government Funding Agency.
“Mayors Paula Southgate of Hamilton and Jacqui Church of Waikato District have done a great job in getting this result and I congratulate them on working in the best interests of their respective ratepayers to establish this new joint water services organization,” Mr Watts says.
“I am also pleased that both councils are willing to consider forming a larger regional model with other Waikato councils over time.
“I look forward to other councils following the example of Waikato and Hamilton in delivering excellent locally-directed services that benefit their communities.”
Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
Glass, spare tyres, metal sheets and poles, building materials, furniture, hay bales – these are just some of the objects causing obstruction on South Island state highways and needing to be cleared daily by contractors.
Reports of the obstructions come into New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) each day as contractors are dispatched to remove these items that can cause a hazard by blocking or interfering with traffic flows.
“Sometimes it is as simple as tree branches falling onto the highway, or road cones having been shifted; but often we are talking about heavy items that have fallen from vehicles that weren’t properly secured or became dislodged in accidents,” says NZTA system manager Mark Pinner.
“It underlines the need for vehicles such as trucks, or lighter vehicles towing trailers, to ensure that any loads are well secured. The Road Code does state that motorists must not drive an unsafe vehicle or a vehicle with an unsafe load which isn’t tied down, could fall from the vehicle, or is dragging on the ground.”
“Sometimes the reports that come in from road users about items on the road are quite vague and we don’t really know what we are dealing with until the contractors arrive onsite to deal with them.”
“The risk is not only that items or material that fall onto the roads may disrupt traffic, but it can also potentially lead to injury if there is a collision or evasive action is taken by drivers. This is why we act fast to clear the obstruction, or we may put in place closures or traffic management if needed to keep people safe while the object is cleared.”
People can report objects and obstructions 24/7 on the state highway network by calling 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49).
Source: New Zealand Government
The Government is trialling new technology which will help clamp and seize cars of people evading paying court fines, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says.
“If you haven’t paid your court fines, you may soon find yourself walking home or needing a lift.
“Bailiffs are now trialling handheld devices which scan the number plates of parked cars, and determine whether the owners have overdue court fines or reparations.
“If they do, the car may be clamped or towed away. It’s that simple.
“This is first being trialled throughout streets nationwide, and will be present at some breath testing stations this weekend alongside police.
“We promised to find new effective ways to force people to pay their court fines. That’s exactly what we’re delivering. We know wheel clamping is already a successful enforcement tool and we want to build on that.
“Those who have suffered emotional harm or have had their property lost or damaged by an offender’s actions should not be left out of pocket.
“Victims are our priority, and their needs underpin all our work to restore law and order, which we know is working.
“There’s been a long-standing slackness when it comes to bringing in fines and I’ve given very strong instructions to the Ministry of Justice to find ways to collect them.”