Patch 2024.09
September 2024 update
This month, gift cards last three years, vehicle fees rise, gang restrictions tighten, visitor levies increase, and payment, travel, firearms, veterans’ and tree-clearance rules change.
- Gift cards must last at least three years — Most gift cards sold to consumers must have an expiry date at least three years after purchase. Starts 16 Mar 2026
- Motor vehicle licensing fees rise — Motor vehicle licensing fees rise from 1 January 2025, with a second increase from 1 January 2026. Starts 1 Jan 2025
- New restrictions target gang activity — Gang insignia is banned in public, and some gang members may face gathering or association restrictions. Starts 21 Nov 2024
- Some payments no longer count for FamilyBoost — Schedular payments are excluded from FamilyBoost income calculations, including retrospectively from 1 July 2024. Starts 1 Oct 2024
- Visitor levy rises to $100 — International visitors will pay a $100 conservation and tourism levy, up from $35. Starts 1 Oct 2024
- Some travel and ETA rules change — Some visa-waiver and electronic travel authority rules change for people travelling to New Zealand. Starts 24 Oct 2024
- Firearms prohibition order rules change — The law changes rules for firearms prohibition orders involving gangs and organised criminal groups. Starts 2 Mar 2025
- Veterans’ support medical lists updated — Medical-condition references used for veterans’ support claims are updated. Starts 31 Oct 2024
- Trees near some power lines must be cut back — The clearance zone expands for some high-voltage power lines, requiring encroaching trees to be cut back. Starts 17 Oct 2024
- Changes to prison rules begin — Changes to the Corrections Act take effect, with some provisions starting later. Starts 1 Oct 2024
- New rules support charter schools — The law sets rules for charter schools and the organisations that run them. Starts 1 Oct 2024
- Fuel resilience rules updated — Rules for fuel industry resilience are updated. Starts 1 Jan 2025
- Organised crime can increase sentences — Being involved in organised crime can be treated as a factor that makes offending more serious. Starts 21 Nov 2024
- Fishing catch limits and charges change — Catch limits and deemed-value rates change for listed fish stocks from the 2024 fishing year. Starts 1 Oct 2024
- Fossil-fuel climate rules updated — References and covered fuel categories change, including a new marine diesel duties figure. Starts 1 Jan 2025
- Emissions-unit account rules tightened — Some emissions-unit accounts and representative roles are limited to people meeting all qualified-person criteria. Starts 1 Jan 2025
- Unique emissions factors rules updated — Rules about unique emissions factors are updated. Starts 1 Jan 2025
- Synthetic gas levy rules updated — Rules about synthetic greenhouse gas levies are updated. Starts 1 Jan 2025
- Emissions factors change for energy businesses — Default emissions factors change for geothermal fluids and natural gas used in emissions calculations. Starts 1 Jan 2025
- Rules change for destroying greenhouse gases — Sulphur hexafluoride can no longer be treated as a synthetic greenhouse gas for this activity. Starts 1 Jan 2025
- Carbon auction settings change for businesses — Carbon auction collateral calculations, unit limits and price controls change for 2025 and the following four years. Starts 1 Jan 2025
- Some Hawke’s Bay recovery work needs less consent — Certain rural recovery works in Hawke’s Bay can be treated as permitted activities under temporary rules. Starts 20 Sep 2024
- More people and entities face Russia sanctions — Additional Belarusian and Russian people and entities are added to New Zealand’s sanctions regime. Starts 20 Sep 2024
- Some GST adjustment timing changes — GST adjustment rules are changed retrospectively for some assets bought before 1 April 2023. Starts 10 Sep 2024
- Some court appearances can use audio links — Courts can use audio links in some civil cases and for some participants. Starts 3 Sep 2024
- Marine farm permits can last longer — Some coastal permits for marine farms are extended, up to 31 December 2050. Starts 3 Sep 2024
- Councils plan new water arrangements — Councils must prepare water services plans, with new processes for delivering and regulating water services. Starts 3 Sep 2024
- Some property management work costs more — Public Trust or an appointed accountant can charge more for checking certain property-management reports. Starts 3 Oct 2024
- Disability vehicles excluded from clean-car rules — Approved disability vehicles are excluded from the Clean Vehicle Standard, with the definition also changed. Starts 5 Sep 2024 (most 3 Oct)
- Engineer registration charges rise — Charges for chartered professional engineer registration and certificates increase by 8.1%. Starts 1 Jan 2025
- Some immigration fees are removed — Some COVID-19 immigration fees and exemptions, plus the franchisee accreditation fee, are removed. Starts 1 Oct 2024
- Government spending gets temporary approval — The law authorises government spending before the usual yearly spending approval is made. Starts 1 Oct 2024
- Government spending is formally approved — The law approves government spending and investment for the 2024/25 financial year. Starts 1 Oct 2024
- Disabled ministry covered by watchdog rules — The Ministry of Disabled People becomes covered by the Ombudsmen and Official Information Acts. Starts 1 Dec 2024
- Disabled ministry becomes public service agency — The Ministry of Disabled People becomes a public service agency. Starts 1 Dec 2024
- Governor-General’s salary increases 1.8% — The Governor-General’s salary rises by 1.8% for 2024/25. Starts 1 Nov 2024
- Judges’ and coroners’ pay set — Salaries and allowances are set for judges and coroners for the year to 30 September 2025. Starts 1 Oct 2024
- Digital identity trust rules begin — Rules for the digital identity services trust framework start. Starts 24 Oct 2024
- Pacific foundation faces fewer Crown rules — The Pacific Co-operation Foundation no longer has to follow certain rules that apply as if it were a Crown entity. Starts 24 Oct 2024
- New historical abuse response role created — A new public service chief executive role will lead the Government’s response to the historical abuse report. Starts 14 Oct 2024
- Some regional councillors’ pay changes — Northland and Waikato regional council pay arrangements are adjusted after changes to their governance structures. Starts 1 Jul 2024
- Old royal photograph rules revoked — Three old rules about commercial use of royal photographs are revoked. Starts 3 Oct 2024
- Family Court forms updated — Two Family Court forms are updated to reflect new personal and property rights thresholds. Starts 3 Oct 2024
- Personal and property rights rules changed — A new order changes personal and property rights rules. Starts 3 Oct 2024