Patch 2026.04
April 2026 update
This month, online casinos need licences, alcohol rules ease, rates rebates rise, Pacific visas get cheaper, some licence fees fall, and IDs can prove age.
- Online casino gambling will need licences — Online casino gambling will need a licence, with unlicensed gambling and advertising prohibited. Starts 1 May 2026
- Alcohol sales rules change on restricted days — Licensed premises may stay open during permitted hours on several traditionally restricted days. Starts 3 Apr 2026
- Bigger rates rebates for low-income homeowners — The maximum rates rebate and income limits for low-income homeowners increase. Starts 1 Jul 2026
- Pacific visitor visa fees drop — Visitor visa fees for applicants from Pacific countries fall from $175 to $120 for a 12-month trial. Starts 1 Jun 2026
- Some driver licence fees will fall — Some class 1 licence fees are reduced because certain tests no longer cost part of the fee. Starts 25 Jan 2027
- Digital ID can prove your age — Approved digital identity credentials can be used as evidence of age when buying or being supplied alcohol. Starts 28 May 2026
- Digital identity approval rules change — Rules for renewing digital identity service accreditation and reporting requirements change. Starts 28 May 2026
- Industrial hemp licences are removed — Industrial hemp activities will no longer need a licence, but will follow other drug rules. Starts 28 May 2026
- Hemp is mostly outside medicinal cannabis licensing — Hemp is mostly excluded from medicinal cannabis licensing, with a specific exception for some cultivation activities. Starts 28 May 2026
- Some hemp activities need no licence — Certain hemp growing, processing, selling and supply activities can occur without a licence. Starts 28 May 2026
- Greyhound racing closure starts — The law starts the process of closing New Zealand’s greyhound racing industry. Starts 10 Apr 2026
- Natural gas emissions calculation updated — The emissions factor used for calculating emissions from purchased natural gas is updated. Starts 9 Jul 2026
- Industrial emissions allocations updated — Emissions allocation baselines are updated for New Zealand aluminium, iron and steel producers. Starts 9 Apr 2026
- Some care-home cremations need fewer checks — Some deaths in long-term or palliative care may no longer need a doctor or nurse practitioner to identify the body. Starts 7 May 2026
- Driver licensing rules change — Driver licensing rules change from this date. Starts 7 May 2026
- Some cattle and deer can graze wetlands — Beef cattle and deer that are not intensively grazing no longer have to be excluded from some natural wetlands. Starts 7 May 2026
- More charging infrastructure gets simpler rules — Some electric vehicle charging infrastructure can be built, maintained or operated as permitted activities. Starts 7 May 2026
- Humanitarian payments allowed under Sudan sanctions — Humanitarian financial dealings previously prohibited under Sudan sanctions will have an exception. Starts 7 May 2026
- Côte d’Ivoire removed from diamond trade ban — Côte d’Ivoire will no longer be listed under conflict-diamond trade-ban measures. Starts 7 May 2026
- Humanitarian payments allowed under Lebanon sanctions — Humanitarian financial dealings previously prohibited under Lebanon sanctions will have an exception. Starts 7 May 2026
- Less reporting required for Congo arms shipments — New Zealand will no longer need to notify a sanctions committee about arms shipments to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Starts 7 May 2026
- Somalia arms export rules updated — The rules for exporting arms and providing related military assistance to Somalia will change. Starts 7 May 2026
- Central African Republic arms embargo lifted — The general arms embargo will be lifted, with restrictions remaining for armed groups and associated individuals. Starts 7 May 2026
- Libya arms embargo exceptions expanded — New exceptions will apply to restrictions on arms and related military assistance involving Libya. Starts 7 May 2026
- New sanctions rules cover Haiti arms trade — The rules will prohibit arms exports to Haiti and restrict related shipping, dealings, assistance, and training. Starts 7 May 2026
- Early childhood services face stronger enforcement — Early childhood regulators can record breaches, warn providers, and direct them to fix health and safety risks. Starts 29 Jun 2026
- Auckland housing planning rules change — Rules for planning Auckland housing are changed. Starts 3 Apr 2026
- Government accounts are confirmed — The law confirms and validates government financial matters from earlier financial years. Starts 29 Apr 2026
- Mali sanctions rules are removed — New Zealand removes regulations for sanctions on Mali because the United Nations sanctions have ended. Starts 7 May 2026
- Humanitarian payments allowed under Korea sanctions — A humanitarian exception is added for financial dealings otherwise prohibited by North Korea sanctions. Starts 7 May 2026
- Humanitarian payments allowed under South Sudan sanctions — A humanitarian exception is added for financial dealings otherwise prohibited by South Sudan sanctions. Starts 7 May 2026
- Humanitarian payments allowed under Yemen sanctions — A humanitarian exception is added for financial dealings otherwise prohibited by Yemen sanctions. Starts 7 May 2026
- Government financial management rules change — Rules for managing and reporting government finances change. Starts 1 Jul 2026