It is coming up to 6 months since the new government took office.
Irrespective of where you sit on the political spectrum, the current coalition government has set the record for laws being passed ‘under urgency’ in the first 100 days of any MMP government in history. This means, like it or not, that there has been wide sweeping changes to existing legislation, with laws being repealed or new legislation put in place.
What does it mean to have laws being passed ‘under urgency’?
It means a shortening of time available for debate on legislation and to truncate or skip entirely the usual select committee process.
The current government’s action plan wrapped up in March 2024 and resulted in 49 of its action points being checked off. In total, urgency has been declared 8 different times to pass 61 stages of 21 different bills, 13 of which were passed under urgency.
What was top of mind for kiwis leading into the 2023 election?
People using One News Vote Compass in the lead up to the 2023 general election were asked: "What issue is most important to you in this election?"
The top five issues identified through the responses included:
Cost of living (28%)
Economy (17%)
Healthcare (14%)
Crime (9%)
Environment (8%)
With inflation peaking in June 2022, the cost of living became and still remains a nationwide conversation. As a result, a good majority of action points formulated by the government came under this heading
Chart showcasing the trajectory of inflation through to May 2024 - Stats NZ (Source)
Let's wind back to the result of the 2023 General Election
It was the first three party coalition in New Zealand's history - comprising of the National Party (38.08%), ACT Party (8.64%) and the New Zealand First Party (6.08%).
49 action points were agreed upon once the new government was officially sworn in for the first 100 days of the incoming government.
PM Christopher Luxon fires up policy incinerator with new Govt's 100-day plan
What was in, what was out?
The new coalition government embarked on an ambitious 100 day plan. This centered on three core categories:
Rebuild the economy & ease the cost of living
Restore law & order
Deliver better public services
Rebuild the economy & ease the cost of living
In total there were 24 action points that fell under this category.
Stop work on the Income Insurance Scheme.
Stop work on Industry Transformation Plans.
Stop work on the Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme.
Begin efforts to double renewable energy production, including a NPS on Renewable Electricity Generation.
Withdraw central government from Let’s Get Wellington Moving (LGWM).
Meet with councils and communities to establish regional requirements for recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle and other recent major flooding events.
Make any additional Orders in Council needed to speed up cyclone and flood recovery efforts.
Start reducing public sector expenditure, including consultant and contractor expenditure.
Introduce legislation to narrow the Reserve Bank’s mandate to price stability.
Introduce legislation to remove the Auckland Fuel Tax.
Cancel fuel tax hikes.
Begin work on a new GPS reflecting the new Roads of National Significance and new public transport priorities.
Repeal the Clean Car Discount scheme by 31 December 2023.
Stop blanket speed limit reductions and start work on replacing the Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2022.
Stop central government work on the Auckland Light Rail project.
Repeal the Fair Pay Agreement legislation.
Introduce legislation to restore 90-day trial periods for all businesses.
Start work to improve the quality of regulation.
Begin work on a National Infrastructure Agency.
Introduce legislation to repeal the Water Services Entities Act 2022.
Repeal the Spatial Planning and Natural and Built Environment Act and introduce a fast-track consenting regime.
Begin to cease implementation of new Significant Natural Areas and seek advice on operation of the areas.
Take policy decisions to amend the Overseas Investment Act 2005 to make it easier for build-to-rent housing to be developed in New Zealand.
Begin work to enable more houses to be built, by implementing the Going for Housing Growth policy and making the Medium Density Residential Standards optional for councils
Restore law & order
In total there were 8 action points that fell under this category.
Abolish the previous Government’s prisoner reduction target.
Introduce legislation to ban gang patches, stop gang members gathering in public, and stop known gang offenders from communicating with one another.
Give Police greater powers to search gang members for firearms and make gang membership an aggravating factor at sentencing.
Stop taxpayer funding for section 27 cultural reports.
Introduce legislation to extend eligibility to offence-based rehabilitation programmes to remand prisoners.
Begin work to crack down on serious youth offending.
Enable more virtual participation in court proceedings.
Begin to repeal and replace Part 6 of the Arms Act 1983 relating to clubs and ranges.
Deliver better public services
In total there were 17 action points that fell under this category.
Stop all work on He Puapua.
Improve security for the health workforce in hospital emergency departments.
Sign an MoU with Waikato University to progress a third medical school.
By 1 December 2023, lodge a reservation against adopting amendments to WHO health regulations to allow the government to consider these against a “national interest test”.
Require primary and intermediate schools to teach an hour of reading, writing and maths per day starting in 2024.
Ban the use of cellphones in schools.
Appoint an Expert Group to redesign the English and maths curricula for primary school students.
Begin disestablishing Te Pukenga.
Begin work on delivering better public services and strengthening democracy.
Set five major targets for health system, including for wait times and cancer treatment.
Introduce legislation to disestablish the Māori Health Authority.
Take first steps to extend free breast cancer screening to those aged up to 74
Repeal amendments to the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990 and regulations
Allow the sale of cold medication containing pseudoephedrine
Begin work to repeal the Therapeutics Products Act 2023
Establish a priority one category on the social housing waitlist to move families out of emergency housing into permanent homes more quickly
Commission an independent review into Kāinga Ora’s financial situation, procurement, and asset management
What has happened in the 6 months following the election
All 49 points of the above action plan have been delivered on within the first 100 days of government
The inflation rate has fallen towards the target range as the Reserve Bank has continued to put in place measures to curb high inflation rates.
Government department spending has reduced and tax cuts are set to be further deployed by July
Cost of living concerns and higher interest rates remain on many kiwis minds
Upcoming May budget is due out on the 30th May 2024. This is where kiwis will be able to see the books and how the current government is tracking relative to the pledges it has made.
We hope you have enjoyed this guide to New Zealand law changes in 2024.
Canterbury Legal is committed to delivering high quality legal services and support to a wide range of kiwis. With many of the legislation changes over the last year we are well equipped to provide support across a wide range of different legal needs.
Proudly in your corner since 1991.
Canterbury Legal are your expert Christchurch lawyers. Please get in touch to find out how we can support you best with your legal needs.
Ashley Murphy
11 December 2023
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
An excellent team that provide a very professional level of service and expertise
edwin whanau
2 November 2022
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Very helpful and understanding
Rick Connor
6 October 2022
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Very kind and helpful people, they did what I needed in a professional manner at a reasonable cost
Mike Harrington
14 March 2022
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Excellent service! ✅
Olivia Stevens
27 January 2022
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Perfect, easy, friendly and no stress!!!
Allan Dunstan
28 May 2021
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Fast efficiency legal papers sorted in one day. Came to me in hospital. Highly recommended
Canterbury Legal Building Level 2, Durham Street South Christchurch Central 8011
