Patch 2025.08

August 2025 proposals

Bills would set tax rates and change KiwiSaver, loans and child support, allow busy-time road charges, update transport rules, and target disruptive protests near homes.

• Proposal setting next year’s tax rates — The bill would set income tax rates for 2025–26 and make wider changes to tax, KiwiSaver, loans and child support.
• Proposal for time-of-use road charges — Some local areas could charge motor vehicles at busy times to manage traffic and fund local transport improvements.
• Proposal updating transport regulations — Transport regulators would get updated powers, with more digital services and changes to licences, fines and safety rules.
• Proposal targeting disruptive protests near homes — A new offence would cover targeted and disruptive demonstrations near residential premises.
• Proposal to cover striking defence staff — The Armed Forces would be allowed to do some civilian defence staff work during industrial action in limited situations.
• Proposal allowing four-year Parliaments — A Parliament could last up to four years in specified circumstances, instead of the usual maximum of three years.
• Proposal creating a referendum framework — The bill would create rules for holding government-initiated referendums alongside either or both of the next two general elections.
• Proposal for Hauraki Gulf marine protection — The bill would change marine protection arrangements in the Hauraki Gulf.
• Proposal changing critical infrastructure rules — The bill would change rules for public works involving critical infrastructure.
• Proposal changing clean-car rules — Vehicle suppliers would get more flexibility in meeting clean vehicle targets, which could reduce costs for suppliers and consumers.
• Proposal officially recognising more veterans — More former Defence Force members would officially be recognised as veterans, without changing other legal entitlements.
• Proposal to limit forestry on farmland — Would limit registering exotic forestry on some productive farmland in the emissions trading scheme.
• Proposal to change resource-consent rules — Would change resource-consent rules and other parts of the resource-management system.
• Proposal to change water-service rules — Would change how local water services are governed.
• Proposal to repeal water-service rules — Would repeal and change laws about local water services.
• Proposal returning Kororipo Pā — Kororipo Pā would be renamed and transferred to Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rēhia Trust as part of a future settlement.
• Proposal to wind up Carter Trust — Would enable the Carter Trust to be wound up and let the Carter Society change its rules without Health Minister approval.