Workplace safety laws changing

Focus on critical risks.

In February, the Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill was introduced into Parliament, amending a number of different laws and regulations.

A significant change is a shift away from a requirement for persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) to consider all risks, to a focus on preventing serious harm.

The Bill introduces a new definition of ‘critical risk’. This includes any hazard covered by specific existing regulations (such as asbestos or hazardous substances) and a hazard of any kind that is likely to result in death, a notifiable injury, illness or incident, or an occupational disease

PCBUs will need to assess how the new requirements apply to their own operations

30 March 2026

 

 

EECA solar advice revamped

Good design crucial.

EECA’s new home solar hub explains typical costs and savings in rooftop solar electricity generation systems on a home, and the installation process. ECCA says that most New Zealand households can save more than $1,000 a year off their power bills by installing a solar system.

However, in other news items a number of homeowners who have installed solar says it is not bringing down their energy supplier bills in the way they expected. In some cases they say their home appears to be using grid electricity even in the middle of very sunny days. In most cases the problem comes down to poor design, specification and/or installation of the system.

In one case the problem was a wrong cable. A 5kW cable from the solar panels to the inverter would overload and shut down so the household was not collecting any solar power. It was replaced with an 8kW cable and the problem was solved. In other cases there may be an issue when the house has a three-phase connection. A house may export electricity on the phase connected to the solar panels while at the same time importing from the grid on another phase that most household load is connected to.

Grid-connected inverter systems should comply with AS/NZS 4777.1:2024 Grid connection of energy systems via inverters, Part 1: Installation requirements.

30 March 2026

 

 

New tool for lower power bills

Publicly owned.

There is a new tool for consumers to compare the costs of different electricity plans and find a cheaper option. The tool Billy was recently launched by the the Electricity Authority.

The new tool joins the established Powerswitch tool operated by Consumer New Zealand, which until recently received government funding support. Consumer says it will continue running Powerswitch and stresses its complete independence. Other comparison tools include Glimp.

While the Electricity Authority is a government entity and a number of power retailers are also government-owned, the Authority says it does not receive commissions or promote any particular power company.

30 March 2026

 

 

Seismic resilience pays off

Costs covered.

In its 2025 Resilience Highlights Report, Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake (NHC) finds that buildings designed to higher seismic resilience standards can recover their higher upfront costs over about 10 to 15 years.

Projected gains are attributed to reduced repair costs, shorter periods of disruption, fewer cases of displacement, and fewer carbon-intensive rebuilds following earthquakes.

NHC’s public surveys have also identified a gap between the minimum life-safety objectives in the Building Code and what many homeowners expect. Owners often assume their properties will suffer less damage and be usable sooner than current minimum standards are intended to achieve. Designing for resilience is therefore a better match for homeowner expectations than designing just to meet Building Code minimum requirements.

Another useful resource, NHC’s Pre-event Land Use Planning Methodology, released in 2025, sets out an approach for councils to consider recovery pathways and potential relocation options before a major event. The report shows how evidence-based investment in resilience can reduce long-term costs, improve safety outcomes, and help New Zealanders recover faster.

30 March 2026