Expected to be enacted in the spring
The Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill was introduced into Parliament on 8 February 2026 and passed its first reading on 12 February 2026. It is currently before the Education and Workforce Select Committee. Submissions closed at the end of March and the committee is scheduled to report back to Parliament by 12 June 2026. It is anticipated that the Bill will be passed before the election (early November).
If enacted, the Bill will represent the most significant reform of health and safety law in New Zealand since the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) was passed in 2015.
Purpose of Bill
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister, the Hon Brooke van Velden, said that the Bill is intended to reduce compliance obligations, focus on preventing serious harm and clarify businesses’ obligations under the HSWA.[1] The key proposed changes in the Bill are:
- Increased focus on preventing serious harm
- Reducing compliance obligations for small businesses
- Clarification of the health and safety obligations of landowners, and
- Clarification of the relationship between health and safety legislation, and other legal requirements.
Introducing ‘critical risk’
The Bill introduces a new defined term of ‘critical risk.’ Small businesses must focus on avoiding critical risks. All other businesses must manage all risks but are required to ‘prioritise’ critical risks.
The Bill defines a ‘critical risk’ as a risk associated with one of the matters specified in Schedule 1A of the Bill; this lists a number of specific high-risk activities such as working with asbestos and other hazardous substances. A critical risk also includes any hazard that is likely to result in death, a notifiable injury or illness, a notifiable incident or an occupational disease listed in Schedule 2 of the Accident Compensation Act 2001.
Identifying what the critical risks are for a particular business is likely to be one of the more challenging aspects of the new legislation.
The impact on small to medium-sized businesses
The most significant change contained in the Bill is the narrowing of the duties of small to medium-sized businesses, referred to as ‘small PCBUs,’ to risks that are defined as critical risks under the Act.
This does not mean that small businesses have no obligations in relation to other risks. They are still required to provide adequate facilities to ensure the safety of their employees.
A small PCBU will be defined as a business with fewer than 20 employees. Businesses that have a fluctuating workforce will qualify provided that they have fewer than 20 employees for at least nine months of the year. This change is likely to have a significant impact on the compliance obligations of businesses in New Zealand, given that approximately 97% of businesses would qualify as a small PCBU.[1]
Obligations of landowners and recreational activities
Potential exposure to prosecution under health and safety legislation in New Zealand has long been a concern for landowners who wish to make their land available for recreational activities.
In the past, this has been a particular concern for rural landowners who have often avoided providing access to their land due to such concerns. It has also discouraged public landowners, such as schools and councils, from allowing their land to be used for recreational activities.
The potential liability of landowners was recently highlighted by the prosecution of the owner of Whakaari/White Island following the eruption in 2019, which resulted in the deaths of 22 people. The landowner was initially convicted in the District Court under the HSWA, despite not directly operating the tours to the island.[2] The High Court overturned this conviction on appeal.[3]
The passing of the Bill would mean that landowners would not generally owe health and safety obligations to people using their land for recreational activities.
The Health and Safety at Work Act and other legislation
The Bill would clarify the relationship between general health and safety legislation, and other legislation that applies to specific industries such as the aviation and maritime sectors.
In the past, there has been confusion as to whether or not businesses in industries covered by specific legislation have additional duties under the HSWA. The Bill clarifies that compliance with industry-specific legislation or approved industry codes of practice is also compliance with the HSWA, so there are no additional obligations.
The Bill also states that the owners of earthquake-prone buildings do not need to take additional steps under the HSWA, provided that they comply with the requirements of the Building Act 2004.
The Bill is intended to reduce the compliance work that is required by businesses under current health and safety legislation, which has become an expensive ’tick-box’ exercise for many. However, it will still be important for small businesses to identify the ‘critical risks’ in their businesses and to take steps to mitigate them.
If you have any concerns about the impact that this proposed legislation may have on your business, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
[1] New Zealand business demography statistics at February 2025, Statistics New Zealand.
[2] WorkSafe New Zealand v Whakaari Management Ltd [2023] NZDC 4149.
[3] Whakaari Management Ltd v WorkSafe New Zealand [2025] NZHC 288.
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