Patch 2024.02
February 2024 update
Wages, benefits, superannuation, student support, tax credits and payments rise; community-card limits increase, pharmacists can sell pseudoephedrine cold medicines without prescriptions, and game-licence rules change.
- Benefit and family tax credit rules change — Benefit rates and the minimum family tax credit change under this Act. Starts 1 Apr 2024
- Minimum wages increase — Adult minimum pay rises to $23.15 an hour, while starting-out and trainee pay rises to $18.52. Starts 1 Apr 2024
- Benefits and superannuation payments increase — A range of benefits, allowances, asset limits and superannuation entitlements increase. Starts 1 Apr 2024
- Pseudoephedrine cold medicines need no prescription — Pharmacists can sell pseudoephedrine-based cold and flu medicines without a customer having a prescription. Starts 21 Mar 2024
- Student allowance support increases — Student allowance rates and income thresholds increase, with some parental-income assessments changing. Starts 1 Apr 2024
- Community services card limits increase — Higher income limits apply when deciding who can get a community services card. Starts 1 Apr 2024
- Several support payments increase — Funeral grants, temporary support, childcare subsidies and home-based care payments increase. Starts 1 Apr 2024
- Game licence rules and fees change — The 2024–25 game season uses updated licence types, fees, forms and habitat-stamp fees. Starts 14 Mar 2024
- More overseas accounts can be reported — Some overseas territories are added as reportable jurisdictions for financial-account information. Starts 31 Mar 2024
- Payments for children in care increase — Minimum weekly board and lodging payments for children in care increase by about 4.66%. Starts 1 Apr 2024
- Some care allowances increase — Annual clothing and weekly personal allowances for residential care and disability support increase. Starts 1 Apr 2024
- New sanctions cover 16 entities and 45 people — Sanctions now apply to 16 entities and 45 individuals supporting Russia’s actions involving Ukraine. Starts 1 Mar 2024
- Social worker rule starts in 2026 — A social worker registration rule will start on 28 February 2026. Starts 28 Feb 2026
- Gas pipeline pressure rules change — The gas operator can lower pressure in parts of the Vector pipeline without breaching the contingency plan. Starts 8 Mar 2024
- Water services entities are disestablished — The water services entities laws are repealed and the Northland and Auckland entity is disestablished. Starts 17 Feb 2024
- Ministry for Regulation joins oversight rules — The Ministry for Regulation becomes covered by official information and Ombudsman rules. Starts 1 Mar 2024
- Ministry for Regulation joins public service — The Ministry for Regulation becomes a public service agency under the Public Service Act. Starts 1 Mar 2024
- Governor-General’s allowance increases — The Governor-General’s tax-exempt allowance rises to $39,656 a year for personal expenses while doing the job. Starts 1 Oct 2023
- Productivity Commission is disestablished — The New Zealand Productivity Commission is disestablished and its governing law is repealed. Starts 29 Feb 2024