Patch 2025.03
March 2025 update
This month, drug-driving tests, taxes, immigration, unpaid wages, customer data, aviation levies, veterans’ claims and Waikato River fishing rules change.
- Drug-driving testing rules change — New rules for drug-driving tests and samples will apply to drivers. Starts 15 Dec 2025
- Tax rules updated for 2024–25 — This law sets annual tax rates and makes emergency-response and other tax changes. Starts 30 Mar 2025
- Employers can face theft charges for unpaid wages — Intentionally not paying employment money owed, without a reasonable excuse, can be theft. Starts 14 Mar 2025
- Immigration and work rules updated — This law changes immigration and workforce rules, with some changes starting on 1 April and 1 July. Starts 30 Mar 2025
- More access to some customer data — In some sectors, customers and authorised third parties will get better access to customer and product data. Starts 30 Mar 2025
- Some international passengers lose levy exemption — Some international passengers will no longer be exempt from the aviation security levy. Starts 1 May 2025
- Veterans’ medical condition list updated — The medical conditions used for veterans’ support claims are updated. Starts 10 Apr 2025
- Waikato River fishing rules clarified — Waikato-Tainui river-fishing rules now take priority over other fisheries secondary legislation. Starts 10 Apr 2025
- Insurance conduct rules technically updated — Some insurance-related financial conduct rules are updated to match the new Contracts of Insurance Act. Starts 7 Apr 2025
- Potato industry levy takes effect — A new potato industry levy takes effect. Starts 10 Jun 2025
- Avocado growers face a levy — A levy applies to New Zealand-grown avocados sold fresh in New Zealand or exported. Starts 10 Jun 2025
- Onion industry levy rules change — A levy applies to New Zealand-grown onions for processing, local fresh sales, or export. Starts 13 May 2025
- Pukerua project approval details change — Pukerua Property Group Limited Partnership becomes the authorised person for the listed Mt Welcome project. Starts 4 Apr 2025
- International fishing rules updated — International fishing permits and related fisheries rules change for some commercial fishers. Starts 29 Sep 2025
- Social worker registration rules updated — This law changes social workers’ registration and disciplinary rules, with some provisions starting later. Starts 30 Mar 2025
- Dairy export licence rules change — Dairy exporters face updated eligibility and allocation rules for licences in designated markets. Starts 1 May 2025
- Shooting club and range rules change — Shooting clubs and ranges must follow updated approval, certification, and operating rules. Starts 29 Jun 2025
- Sentencing rules updated — This law changes sentencing rules, including how guilty pleas and other factors are described. Starts 29 Jun 2025
- Economic rules change in stages — This law changes several economic regulations, with different parts starting on different dates. Starts 30 Mar 2025
- Approved vehicle surveillance equipment rules — Rules for approved vehicle surveillance equipment change. Starts 29 Apr 2025
- Some commercial fishing catch limits rise — Catch limits increase for CRA7 red rock lobster and TOR1 Pacific bluefin tuna stocks. Starts 31 Mar 2025
- Some aviation decisions can be reviewed — People can apply to review specified aviation decisions and must pay the prescribed application fee. Starts 5 Apr 2025
- Plastic produce-label transition extended — The transition period for selling certain plastic produce labels now ends on 30 June 2028. Starts 1 May 2025
- Industrial emissions figures updated — Official emissions figures are updated for aluminium, steel and iron-sand production. Starts 17 Apr 2025
- Bail absences need clear purposes — Courts must state why and when a person on electronic-monitoring bail may leave their address. Starts 13 Mar 2025
- More pet dental procedures allowed — Veterinary nurses and others may perform certain cat and dog dental procedures under veterinarian-approved anaesthesia. Starts 10 Apr 2025
- Methoxychlor prohibited in farm compounds — Methoxychlor may no longer be used as an agricultural compound or ingredient. Starts 14 Mar 2025
- Exports of three chemicals restricted — Three additional chemicals are added to the list of chemicals with export restrictions. Starts 14 Mar 2025
- Use and storage of three chemicals restricted — Use and storage of Dechlorane Plus, Methoxychlor and UV-328 are restricted. Starts 14 Mar 2025
- AANZFTA goods qualification rules updated — Rules for deciding which goods qualify under the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand trade agreement change. Starts 21 Apr 2025
- Commercial spearfishing banned in areas — Commercial fishers may not use spears in the defined Southland and sub-Antarctic areas. Starts 10 Apr 2025
- New fines for customary fishing breaches — Breaching South Island customary fishing bylaws can attract infringement fees of $250 or $500. Starts 10 Apr 2025
- Spearfishing restricted for commercial fishers — Commercial fishers cannot use spears in defined south-east areas, and some tagging breaches become offences. Starts 10 Apr 2025
- Fish purchase invoices need new details — Fish buyers must list each species separately by weight and use specified reporting codes on purchase invoices. Starts 10 Apr 2025
- New fines for breaching river fishing bylaws — Breaching specified river fishing bylaws can lead to infringement fees of $250 or $500. Starts 10 Apr 2025
- Fish receivers face licence conditions — Licensed fish receivers can have licence conditions changed and face fines of up to $20,000 for breaking them. Starts 10 Apr 2025
- New fines for breaching customary fishing bylaws — Breaching specified customary fishing bylaws can lead to infringement fees of $250 or $500. Starts 10 Apr 2025
- More fisheries breaches can mean instant fines — More breaches of commercial fishing, recordkeeping, and reporting rules can be dealt with as infringement offences. Starts 10 Apr 2025
- Commercial fishing rules change — Commercial fishers no longer need one written notice and scallops are added to rules on underwater breathing equipment. Starts 10 Apr 2025
- Commercial scallop diving restricted — Commercial fishers cannot use spears in defined Challenger areas or dive for scallops in specified circumstances. Starts 10 Apr 2025
- Spearfishing restricted in central areas — Commercial fishers cannot use spears in defined central-area waters. Starts 10 Apr 2025
- More drugs added to controlled lists — New controlled drugs and precursor substances are added to drug schedules, with some new presumed-supply levels. Starts Date to be set
- International airports pay processing costs — Airports starting or restarting international operations must pay processing setup costs incurred by government agencies. Starts 12 Mar 2025
- Overseas custodians can use overseas checks — Some overseas custodians can use checks from listed countries instead of a New Zealand auditor’s check. Starts 14 Mar 2025
- New civil aviation offence rules — Rules covering civil aviation offences take effect. Starts 5 Apr 2025
- Some council pay arrangements changed — Pay arrangements for some Northland and Otago regional councillors changed. Starts 21 Nov 2024
- Former Governor-General annuity set — The annual payment rate for a former Governor-General is set for the year to 31 March 2026. Starts 1 Apr 2025
- Rules clarified for Tauranga ward election — The order sets rules for the unfinished Tauranga City Council Te Awanui Māori ward by-election. Starts 1 Apr 2025
- One more District Court judge allowed — The maximum number of District Court judges increases from 182 to 183. Starts 13 Mar 2025
- Historical claims settlement recorded — The law records the Crown’s acknowledgements and apology and gives effect to the settlement of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua claims. Starts 13 Mar 2025
- Germany joins extradition arrangements — New Zealand applies extradition proceeding rules to Germany. Starts 10 Apr 2025
- Watercare planning arrangements begin — Preliminary arrangements for the Watercare Charter begin. Starts 1 Apr 2025