Patch 2025.10
October 2025 update
This month, Tribunal claim limits rise; pet rental rules, ACC support, vocational education and drug rules change; Hauraki Gulf protections expand; some youth gain childcare help.
- More claims can go to Disputes Tribunal — Claims up to $60,000 can go to the Tribunal, with a $468 fee for claims over $30,000. Starts 24 Jan 2026
- New rules for pets in rentals — Tenants need landlord approval for pets, but landlords may refuse only for reasonable reasons and may require a pet bond. Starts 1 Dec 2025
- ACC travel and accommodation payments increase — ACC will pay more for eligible travel and accommodation, including a new option to stay with family or friends. Starts 27 Nov 2025
- ACC review cost payments increase — People challenging ACC decisions may receive higher contributions towards review costs and expenses. Starts 27 Nov 2025
- Vocational education system changes — The vocational education and training system changes, with some parts starting on 1 January 2026. Starts 22 Oct 2025
- New protected areas in Hauraki Gulf — New marine reserves and protected areas are created in the Hauraki Gulf, affecting activities there. Starts 25 Oct 2025
- Drug classifications and supply rules change — Some drugs and precursor substances are added to controlled lists, with amounts set for presuming supply. Starts 27 Nov 2025
- Some young people can get childcare help — Flexible childcare assistance may be paid directly to or for some young people. Starts 17 Nov 2025
- Some fraud-sharing firms get exemptions — Approved Fraud Intelligence Exchange participants are exempt from certain anti-money-laundering rules until 1 November 2030. Starts 1 Nov 2025
- Data-sharing accreditation levies begin — Some accredited data requestors must pay levies under the customer and product data system. Starts 1 Dec 2025
- Data-sharing accreditation fees set — Applicants and renewing accredited data requestors must pay prescribed accreditation fees. Starts 1 Dec 2025
- Work hearing-test rules updated — Rules for occupational hearing assessments are updated to use a current testing standard. Starts 27 Nov 2025
- More work-related diseases recognised — Nine more diseases and changes to two others can qualify as work-related injuries under ACC rules. Starts 27 Nov 2025
- More Russia sanctions take effect — Additional entities, people and ships are brought under New Zealand’s Russia sanctions regime. Starts 30 Oct 2025
- Rules for small stand-alone homes change — Changes affecting small stand-alone dwellings begin in stages. Starts 15 Jan 2026
- Customary marine title rules change — The law changes how customary marine title applications are dealt with. Starts 25 Oct 2025
- Child-care worker rules change — Rules for some people working with children change, with further parts starting on dates the government sets. Starts 25 Oct 2025
- New Hauraki Gulf fishing offences — The regulations create infringement offences relating to marine protection in the Hauraki Gulf. Starts 1 Dec 2025
- Ring-net fishing gets new limits — Authorised ring-net fishers may operate from March to August and target only kahawai, grey mullet and trevally. Starts 1 Dec 2025
- Heavy electric vehicles avoid road charges longer — Heavy electric vehicles remain exempt from road user charges until 30 June 2027. Starts 1 Jan 2026
- Broadcast advertising time limits removed — Rules limiting when broadcasters may show advertising are removed. Starts 17 Oct 2025
- Fishing overages get corrected rates — Corrected deemed-value rates apply when catches of specified mackerel and gemfish exceed entitlements by 10% or less. Starts 30 Sep 2025
- Forestry emissions rules are updated — New rules cover land assessments and mapping for registering forests in the emissions trading scheme. Starts 31 Oct 2025
- Customer and product data rules begin — New regulations set general requirements for customer and product data. Starts 1 Dec 2025
- Bank data rules begin — New regulations set designations for banking and other deposit-taking businesses under customer and product data rules. Starts 1 Dec 2025
- Energy-using product rules change — Rules for energy-using products are changed. Starts 1 May 2026
- Gas safety rules change — Gas safety and measurement rules are changed. Starts 13 Nov 2025
- Electricity safety rules change — Electricity safety rules are changed. Starts 13 Nov 2025
- Wind turbine parts added to levy list — Wind turbine tower parts are added to goods covered by the heavy engineering research levy. Starts 13 Nov 2025
- Iran sanctions rules updated — New regulations set rules for United Nations sanctions on Iran. Starts 18 Oct 2025