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 27 August 2025.

Expected to be completed in the week of March 30. Potential enactment mid-April.

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

Submissions closed February 4.

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.

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.

Committee of the whole House March 11.

Possibly in effect before 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.

Bill introduced March 16.