Patch 2026.06

June 2026 proposals

This month’s proposed laws would expand arrest powers and penalties, change firearms licensing, enable more remote court participation, and give Community Magistrates more cases.

• More offences and arrest powers proposed — Would expand citizen’s arrest rules, raise some penalties, and create offences including assaults on first responders.
• Firearms licensing rules would change — Would create an independent firearms regulator and change licensing, including new licences for some visitors and museums.
• Courts would use remote participation more — Would make it easier for courts to use remote participation in proceedings, including for people taking part or watching.
• Community Magistrates could handle more cases — Would expand Community Magistrates’ work in bail, criminal and driving cases to help reduce District Court delays.
• Building rules would change — Would change building liability and consent roles to reduce delays, costs and barriers to building work.
• Climate damage lawsuits would be blocked — Would block lawsuits claiming people or government are responsible for climate effects linked to emissions, including undecided existing cases.
• India trade agreement rules would change — Would change export licensing, investment consent thresholds for some Indian investors, and import safeguards to implement the trade agreement.
• Environmental reports would come less often — Would reduce some environmental reports while requiring at least one commentary report each year.
• Workplace safety rules would change — Would focus workplace safety duties on critical risks and reduce some compliance costs for businesses and organisations.
• Proposal to change earthquake building rules — It would focus earthquake-safety requirements on higher-risk buildings in medium and high seismic areas.
• Proposal to simplify infrastructure funding — It would simplify funding and levies for new or upgraded infrastructure projects.
• Proposal to overhaul emergency management — It would set clearer emergency responsibilities and minimum standards while strengthening community and iwi Māori involvement.
• Proposal to strengthen competition rules — It would change competition rules, merger reviews, business collaboration notifications and Commerce Commission powers.
• Some Māori trusts would leave court oversight — Would exempt specified post-settlement entities and some trusts from Māori Land Court supervision, while allowing agreed dispute resolution.
• Government spending would receive interim approval — Would give the Government authority to spend and make capital injections before the main annual spending law passes.
• Nelson settlement land would change hands — Would transfer Crown-held Nelson, Tasman Bay and Golden Bay land to Te Here ā Nuku Trust trustees.