Patch 2025.04
April 2025 update
This month, Oranga Tamariki’s partnership duty ends; rates rebates rise, camping transition extends, LIMs add hazard details, passport fees rise, and physician associates are regulated.
- Oranga Tamariki partnership duty changes — The law repeals section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. Starts 8 Apr 2025
- Rates rebates become slightly more generous — Low-income homeowners can qualify with higher income and receive a larger maximum rates rebate. Starts 1 July 2025
- Freedom-camping transition extended — The transition period for self-contained vehicles is extended until 7 June 2026. Starts 15 May 2025
- Natural hazard details added to LIMs — LIMs must include more structured information about natural hazards for prospective property buyers. Starts 17 Oct 2025
- Passport application fees increase — Fees for passport and other travel document applications increase. Starts 2 May 2025
- Physician associates become regulated — Physician associate services become a regulated health profession under the health practitioners law. Starts 30 May 2025
- Investment reporting exemptions renewed — Some discretionary investment managers keep exemptions from certain financial reporting requirements, under updated categories. Starts 5 Jun 2025
- Climate reporting assurance exemption continues — Certain climate-reporting entities remain exempt from assurance requirements for some greenhouse-gas information. Starts 28 Apr 2025
- Law Society governance rules change — Rules for appointing and running the Law Society board change. Starts 1 Jul 2025
- Streaming levy rules stay in force — The existing levy on commercial video-on-demand services remains in force while it is reviewed. Starts 30 May 2025
- Wellington Water disclosure powers added — Wellington Water can be required to disclose information about its water, stormwater and wastewater networks. Starts 15 May 2025
- Some podiatrists can prescribe medicines — Registered podiatrists meeting training and competence requirements can prescribe specified medicines. Starts 15 May 2025
- Building product rules change — Rules for overseas building products, standards and certification schemes change, with some parts starting later. Starts 8 Apr 2025
- Some tax interest rates decrease — Interest rates decrease on unpaid tax and on tax refunds paid by Inland Revenue. Starts 8 May 2025
- Lower tax rate for work loans — The interest rate used for fringe benefit tax on employment-related loans decreases. Starts 8 May 2025
- Architect registration charges increase — Registered architects will pay higher charges for initial registration and registration certificates. Starts 1 July 2025
- Some councillors’ pay arrangements change — Changes are made to remuneration arrangements for some local government elected members. Starts 28 Aug 2024
- Some Russia sanctions are removed — One individual and a related group are no longer covered by New Zealand’s Russia sanctions. Starts 11 Apr 2025