Source: Radio New Zealand
VNP/ Daniela Maoate-Cox
After a stop-start beginning to the year, MPs are back in Wellington for a two-week sitting block. Most of the first sitting week was taken up by debate on the Prime Minister’s Statement. There are still four and a half hours of that debate remaining, but it is no longer the main event. The House is turning its attention to government business.
That business is a hodgepodge of bills at different stages of their legislative journey. Here are the bills from the first week, and then for this week.
From the first week: Legislation on legislation, and two completed bills
The Legislation Amendment Bill completed its second reading. It is an omnibus bill (amending multiple laws), that seeks to improve the accessibility of legislation – both finding it and understanding it. The bill has near-unanimous support, though the Green Party are against it, citing provisions that would expand the powers of revision bills.
Two bills completed their legislative journeys last week and have received Royal Assent from the Governor-General, meaning they are now law. The first was the Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Government Agency Registration) Amendment Act 2026, legislation aimed at improving the registry system so offenders can more easily comply with it.
The second was the Ngāti Hāua Claims Settlement Act 2026, which contains cultural and financial redress and an apology from the Crown for historical grievances against the iwi, who are based around the Taumarunui area.
New contractor law
The first bill debated this week was the Employment Relations Amendment Bill, continuing on from the previous sitting week. The bill introduces a salary threshold for personal grievance claims for unjustified dismissal and scraps the ’30-day rule’, which currently requires new employees to be covered by a collective employment agreement for their first 30 days. All three opposition parties are strongly opposed. The government hopes to complete all remaining stages of the bill this week.
That bill is one of many at the second reading stage this week. Second readings give MPs the opportunity not only to consider any changes recommended by the examining select committee, but also to reflect on what the public had to say during the submissions process.
Other second readings this week
The Public Service Amendment Bill’s most notable, and politically divisive change relates to DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion). Among other things, it removes the expectation that the public service should “reflect the communities it serves”. Removing diversity provisions in favour of entirely merit-based appointments was a coalition agreement between National and New Zealand First. Opposition parties are against the bill, with Labour expressing disappointment at the lack of any attempt at bipartisan collaboration.
The 1966 Anzac Day Act lists specific conflicts that Anzac Day commemorates, with the list ending chronologically at the Vietnam War. The Anzac Day Amendment Bill would extend that recognition to all who have served New Zealand in conflicts, peacekeeping operations, and other deployments. The bill has unanimous support.
The Public Finance Amendment Bill amends the 1989 Public Finance Act which mandates fiscal transparency. If passed, it would require governments to publish a tax expenditure statement, increase the minimum forecasting period for economic and fiscal forecasts and, relevant to this year, bring forward the publication window for the pre-election economic and fiscal update, giving voters an earlier snapshot of the government’s books. It also removes the requirement for Treasury to produce a wellbeing report, a change Labour opposes.
The Patents Amendment Bill is more esoteric. It seeks to align the treatment of patent divisional applications so that applications made under the 1953 Patents Act receive the same examination process as those under the 2013 Act. Opposition parties were happy to support the bill through to select committee stage; whether that support continues at second reading will become clear this week.
The Online Casino Gambling Bill would regulate the online gambling industry by introducing a licensing regime for platforms wishing to operate in New Zealand. While opposition parties agree with the principle of regulation, they disagree with its execution, particularly the proposed number of 15 licences.
The government is refining key arrangements and functions of Health New Zealand through the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Amendment Bill, which also places greater emphasis on the entity’s infrastructure responsibilities. All three opposition parties are opposed, citing particular concerns about the role of Māori voices in the health sector.
Two brand new bills
The Armed Forces Discipline Legislation Amendment Bill should get a first debate this week. It makes a series of changes to the Defence Force’s internal justice system including establishing a minor disciplinary regime for low-level offences, along with new powers relating to searches on defence areas and drug testing of personnel. Bills of this nature are broadly uncontentious, though parties may seek technical amendments.
The other first reading this week is the Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill, which seeks to realign workplace safety systems toward critical risks, focusing on the more dangerous end of risk, while reducing the bureaucratic and financial burden on businesses associated with complying with regulations.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
