National Environmental Standards for Electricity Transmission and Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Activities

These regulations will change the Resource Management (National Environmental Standards for Electricity Transmission Activities) Regulations to expand their application to include electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

The key changes will include:

• updating the title of the regulations to reflect the inclusion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure
• introducing permitted activities for the construction, maintenance, operation, upgrade, replacement, and removal of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Draft introduced

Open for submissions

Submissions closed

New national standard gazetted

Estimate of timing

Will come into force on May 7

Impact on Council

Some limited impact on administering placement of charging stations.

Resource Management (Stock Exclusion) Regulations 2020

These regulations will change the Resource Management (Stock Exclusion) Regulations.

The key changes will include:

• clarifying that the exclusion of stock from natural wetlands that support a population of threatened species doesn't apply to beef cattle and deer that are not intensively grazing
• making related changes to ensure consistency with infringement offence provisions.

Draft introduced

Open for submissions

Submissions closed

New national standard gazetted

Estimate of timing

Will come into force on May 7

Impact on Council

No BAU impact

Rates Rebate (Specified Amounts) Order 2026

This order will change the Rates Rebate Act. It will:

• increase the maximum rate rebate from $805 to $830
• increase the income threshold in relation to a rates rebate for:
  • a ratepayer who holds a SuperGold Card, from $45,000 to $46,400
  • for any other ratepayer, from $32,210 to $33,210.

Upcoming

Bill introduced

First Reading

Select Committee (including submission period)

Second Reading

Committee of the Whole House

Third Reading

Royal Assent

Estimate of when Bill will receive Royal Assent

Order comes into force July 1

Impact on Council

The changes will be applied to Council’s systems.

Proposed changes to Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation

The Government is reviewing 23 laws that refer to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, except where they relate to existing Treaty settlements.

As part of this review, the Government is proposing to:

• introduce a more consistent approach to Treaty clauses across legislation
• standardise references so that decision-makers are generally required only to take into account the principles of the Treaty
• replace or remove existing provisions that set different or higher obligations, such as give effect to or have regard to
• remove Treaty principles clauses from some legislation.

The Government will introduce a Bill to implement these changes before the next general election.

Upcoming

Bill introduced

First Reading

Select Committee (including submission period)

Second Reading

Committee of the Whole House

Third Reading

Royal Assent

Estimate of when Bill will receive Royal Assent

Bill introduced before election in November

Impact on Council

Several Acts relevant to Council may be impacted. The extent of the impact is not yet known and is subject to further information.

Modern Slavery Bill

This Member’s Bill proposes to establish a statutory framework to strengthen and coordinate New Zealand’s response to modern slavery.

The Bill would:

• require entities operating in New Zealand, with consolidated revenue of more than $100 million in a reporting period, to report on how they identify, address, mitigate, and remediate modern slavery risks and incidents (including trafficking in persons) in their operations and supply chains
• require modern slavery statements to be published on the reporting entity’s website and on a central public register
• create offences for failing to comply, with fines of up to $200,000
• require the Minister to report annually to Parliament on progress in combating modern slavery
• change the Public Finance Act to prevent Crown funding being paid to entities convicted or penalised under the Bill.

Upcoming

Bill introduced

First Reading

Select Committee (including submission period)

Second Reading

Committee of the Whole House

Third Reading

Royal Assent

Estimate of when Bill will receive Royal Assent

Members bill – unsure of progress timing

Impact on Council

Staff will monitor progress of the Bill; engaging with other local authorities (including the Waikato Procurement Managers Working Group) to support a co-ordinated sector approach; and will provide advice, as appropriate, as this legislation develops.

Open for submissions

Relevant items that are currently open for submission or coming up

Item

Description

Submission status

Closing date

Proposed updates to the Code of Practice for Firefighting Water Supplies

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is updating its Code of Practice to set clearer benchmarks and guidance for firefighting water supply, ensuring coordinated planning and resilient infrastructure so growing communities have adequate water for emergencies.

Staff submitting as subject matter experts

Closing date for submissions extended to April 29

Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Improving Alcohol Regulation) Amendment Bill

The Government is proposing changes to the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act to simplify licensing, modernise and clarify rules (including digital ID and delivery), changing who can serve and sell alcohol (such as hairdressers and takeaways), updating rules for events and changing licence requirements for community clubs.

Draft submission scheduled for Council on 29 April 2026

Closing date for submissions May 14

Progress tracker

Status updates on relevant items as they progress past submissions

Item name

Description

Council response

Status

Local Government Systems Improvements Bill

The Bill amends the Local Government Act to refocus councils on delivering core infrastructure and services, while removing references to the four aspects of community well-being. It also introduces new financial management and performance frameworks, reduces regulatory requirements, and gives the Secretary for Local Government authority to issue codes of conduct and standing orders for elected members.

Submitted on August 27, 2025

No progress expected until after Anzac Day. There will be no public release of information on the new groups of activity regulations until passage of the Bill. Not expected to become law until June/July.

Proposals to control rate rises and introduce rate capping

The Government will introduce a rates cap limiting most council rate increases to 2–4% per capita annually, covering general and targeted rates but excluding water and non-rates revenue, with any increases above the cap requiring central Government approval.

Submitted

The Minister has indicated that the legislation will be introduced – but not passed – before the election.

Emergency Management Bill (No 2)

This Bill will strengthen community and iwi Māori involvement, makes mayors primarily responsible for local emergency declarations, requires better identification of high-risk communities, and allows the Minister to set national rules and minimum standards for emergency management.

Submitting as part of Waikato CDEM

Submissions closed February 15

Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill

Together, these Bills will replace the Resource Management Act and establish a new planning and natural environment framework governing land use, development, and environmental protection. They introduce simplified activity categories and a permit system, combined regional plans with environmental limits, clearer roles for regional and territorial authorities, and requirements to balance environmental regulation with landowners’ reasonable use of land.

Submitted

Select Committee report due June 26

Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Bill

This Bill will amend the Building Act and Building (Dam Safety) Regulations by replacing earthquake ratings with tiered risk-based mitigation requirements, narrowing the earthquake-prone building system to high-risk buildings in medium and high seismic zones, removing low-risk areas and building types from the regime, allowing longer compliance extensions, and reclassifying parts of Otago and Stewart Island as medium seismic zones.

Did not submit

Submissions closed February 16

Select Committee Report due June 16

Simplifying Local Government / Proposed changes to regional councils and local government structure

The Government is proposing reforms to the local government system alongside its resource management changes, including abolishing elected regional councils and replacing them with Combined Territories Boards made up of regional mayors. These Boards would oversee regional planning, infrastructure, and environmental management, and be required to develop reorganisation plans that could include shared services, council mergers, or restructuring into unitary authorities.

• Waipā DC Submitted
• Waikato councils made submission via Mayoral Forum

Submissions closed February 20

Infrastructure Funding and Financing Amendment Bill – Development levies

The Government is proposing to replace development contributions with a new development levies system through the draft Local Government (Infrastructure Funding) Amendment Bill. The new system would separate levies by infrastructure type, define larger levy areas, allow extra charges in high-cost locations, and require a standardised methodology for calculating growth-related infrastructure costs.

Submitted

Submissions closed February 20

Expected in the third quarter of 2026.

Hospitality sector review

Review covers regulation affecting, restaurants, bars, cafés, food stalls at markets, food trucks, catering businesses and hotels. Gambling regulations are out of scope.

Early expert feedback provided

Early feedback closed February 11.

Proposed changes to lane use and road safety

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is proposing updates to the Land Transport (Road User) Rule to improve lane safety and efficiency, including allowing children under 12 to ride bikes on footpaths, setting a minimum passing gap, permitting e-scooters in cycle lanes, requiring drivers to give way to buses leaving stops, and clarifying berm-parking signage rules.

Submitting under delegated authority. Report to be presented to Service Delivery Committee in April.

Submissions closed March 25

Building and Construction Sector (Strengthening Occupational Licensing Regimes) Amendment Bill

The Bill proposes changes to key building and trade legislation to strengthen disciplinary and enforcement powers, introduce codes of ethics, streamline licensing, and reduce oversight for low-risk work.

Staff submitted in their role as subject matter experts.

Select Committee Report March 19

Expected in the third quarter of 2026.

Sale and Supply of Alcohol (sale of Alcohol on the morning of Anzac Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday and Christmas Day) Amendment Bill

The Bill proposes to allow licensed businesses already permitted to open on ANZAC Day morning, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Christmas Day to sell alcohol under their usual licence conditions.

Did not submit.

Bill in effect for Easter 2026

Proposed changes to alcohol licensing and sales rules/ The Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Participation in Licensing Decisions) Amendment Bill

The Government is proposing changes to the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act to simplify licensing, modernise and clarify rules (including digital ID and delivery), changing who can serve and sell alcohol (such as hairdressers and takeaways), updating rules for events and changing licence requirements for community clubs.

Awaiting further information.

Select Committee Report due October 2

Proposed changes to the Dog Control Act

The Government is ordering a review of the Dog Control Act to address issues with roaming and uncontrolled dogs.

The review will:

• look at whether the Act is outdated and limiting councils’ ability to manage dog control effectively
• consider potential changes that include stronger enforcement powers, updated penalties, and desexing requirements.

Likely to submit

Opportunity to provide feedback on draft guidelines expected before mid-2026.