Patch 2026.05

May 2026 proposals

Bills would change taxes, tolls and welfare, expand police move-on powers, require rental curtains, set disability-support rules, strengthen consumer protections and punish major road disruption.

• Proposal to change tax and Working for Families — would change donation tax credits, some aircraft taxes, shareholder loan tax, and Working for Families rules.
• Proposal to change tolls and road charges — would change tolling rules and help move light vehicles from fuel excise duty to road-user charges.
• Proposal to expand police move-on powers — would let Police order people showing specified disorderly or disruptive behaviour in public to leave and stay away temporarily.
• Proposal to automate more welfare decisions — would allow wider automated welfare decisions and require medical evidence in some cases for medical benefits.
• Proposal to tighten some benefit support — would tighten jobseeker support eligibility for some young people and accommodation supplement support for some homeowners.
• Proposal to require curtains in rental homes — would require landlords, where practicable, to provide insulated curtains, blinds, or equivalents in rental homes.
• Proposal to set disability support rules — would set a legal framework for government-funded disability support services.
• Proposal to strengthen consumer protections — would change penalties and enforcement, support scam disruption, and update product safety rules.
• Proposal to punish major road disruption — would create an offence for damaging or seriously obstructing major roads, bridges, or tunnels, with possible prison or fines.
• Proposal to require more gas market information — would let regulations require gas industry participants to provide market information for government or publication.
• Proposal to reform education and training — would reform the education and training system.
• Building and Construction Sector (Self-certification by Plumbers and Drainlayers) Amendment Bill —
• Proposal to ban new mining on conservation land — would ban new exploration, prospecting and mining on conservation land and waters, while keeping customary Māori access.
• Proposal for a humanitarian aid medal — would create a medal for New Zealanders serving in humanitarian aid or disaster relief activities.
• Proposal to house young people leaving care — would require support and suitable accommodation for certain young people leaving Oranga Tamariki care.
• Proposal to create abuse redress system — would create a redress system for abuse in care.
• Proposal to change health practitioner oversight — would increase ministerial oversight of health regulators and allow reviews of some registration and practice-scope decisions.
• Proposal to change consumer credit rules — would change rules for credit contracts and consumer finance.
• Proposal to simplify farm product approvals — would change approval processes for agricultural and horticultural products.
• Proposal to change hazardous product approvals — would streamline hazardous substance and new organism applications and change related levy rules.
• Proposal to change overseas adoption rules — would establish an enduring system for international and overseas adoptions.
• Proposal to change telecoms rules — The proposal would require large providers to join a dispute scheme and make other changes to fibre and telecoms regulation.
• Proposal to regulate overseas telecoms providers — The proposal would make overseas telecoms providers explicitly subject to relevant New Zealand obligations.
• Proposal to change conservation land rules — The proposal would change conservation land management, concessions, development, land transfers and possible charges for access.
• Proposal to change land acquisition rules — The proposal would change how public agencies acquire land, handle objections and set compensation for infrastructure projects.
• Proposal to approve extra government spending — would authorise the listed government spending and investment for the year ending 30 June 2026.
• Proposal to approve 2026/27 government spending — would authorise the listed government spending and investment for the year ending 30 June 2027.
• Proposal to give councils more control — would give local authority governing bodies more direction and supervision over chief executives.
• Proposal to settle Whanganui claims — The proposal would put parts of a settlement with Ngā Hapū o Te Iwi o Whanganui into law.