Category: Employment Issues

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New guidance for adventure activity and outdoor recreation providers – managing the risks from natural hazards

Source: Worksafe New Zealand

WorkSafe has created new guidance to help adventure activity operators and outdoor recreation providers manage risks from natural hazards such as flooding, landslips, and snowfall.

The guidance is relevant for:

  • Adventure activity providers
  • Outdoor recreation providers like schools and tertiary education providers, sports clubs, and recreation venues.

Adventure activities, like bungy jumping, rock climbing, and white-water rafting, are popular in New Zealand and important to our tourism industry – but they also come with risks. All adventure activity businesses must comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA) and have processes to keep workers, participants, and others safe.

Recreation providers, such as schools, sports clubs, and tertiary education providers, also have duties under HSWA.

The guidance helps businesses and organisations:

  • identify, assess, and manage risks from natural hazards that may affect participants, workers, and others
  • understand their duties under HSWA, the Adventure Activities Regulations, and GRWM Regulations
  • follow good practice for managing natural hazard risks.

​Read more about the adventure activities guidance here Adventure Activities – Managing the risks from natural hazards

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E tū welcomes defeat of Treaty Principles Bill – E tū

Source: Etu Union

E tū, New Zealand’s largest private sector union, welcomes the overwhelming defeat of the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill in Parliament yesterday. The bill, which sought to redefine the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, was rejected by 112 votes to 11.​

E tū President Muriel Tunoho expressed immense pride in the union’s active opposition to the bill:​

“I am extremely proud that E tū took a stand and made submissions to oppose the Treaty of Waitangi Principles Bill too. Thank you all for playing your part in this incredible fightback.​

“It was right to finally see the bill consigned to the past and into the bin. The results show that this is not us.​

“We don’t need to rewrite or re-define the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We just have to live them!”​

E tū National Secretary Rachel Mackintosh highlighted the bill’s potential to undermine the foundational agreement between Māori and the Crown:​

“This bill sought to fundamentally alter the meaning of Te Tiriti o Waitangi by selectively and incorrectly interpreting the reo Māori text. It tried to undermine the separation of powers under the rule of law by using the power of Parliament to change Aotearoa New Zealand’s constitutional foundation, all based on a legal and historical fiction.​

“This bill has done damage. It has given airtime to false and racist ideas.​

“It also galvanised hundreds of thousands of people to stand up – toitū Te Tiriti. More than 90% of the submissions on the bill called for it to be abandoned. E tū and thousands of our members were among the voices in those submissions. The submissions stood up for the truth of Te Tiriti as the foundation on which we can build a society where tāngata whenua and tau iwi take care of each other.​

“Now that Parliament has voted it down, we can start to repair the damage and to build an Aotearoa where we honour Te Tiriti and respect each other.”​

E tū remains committed to upholding the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and advocating for a just and inclusive society.

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NZCTU announce transformative policy vision for Aotearoa

Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi has launched a new policy platform, Aotearoa Reimagined, which has been developed by engaging workers, community leaders and policy experts over the past year.

“Today we are announcing a transformative policy vision that reimagines our society and economy to ensure that Aotearoa New Zealand works for the many, not just the few. We challenge political parties to make a strong commitment to working people by adopting these policies in the lead up to the next general election,” said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff.

“Our country is heading in the wrong direction. We have a broken economy, rising inequality and poverty, soaring unemployment, and stagnating wages. The rich keep getting richer at the expense of ordinary people. We need to do things differently. It’s time for bold change.

“We’ve spent the last year listening to workers who have told us that they are angry at a system that doesn’t meet their needs or aspirations. They fear their children are facing a future of increasing hardship.

“Everyone deserves security, dignity, and to have enough to thrive. Changing the country’s trajectory is possible—we just need to make different choices. We have listened to working people and created a plan to build a society that works for everyone. 

“Our plan would ensure everyone can have good, well-paid jobs underpinned by strong workers’ rights.

“It will deliver world-leading public health and education, a cradle-to-grave care and support system, modern infrastructure, warm dry, affordable homes, clean and publicly owned energy, and low-cost transport.

“The plan would ensure that Aotearoa meets its climate obligations and guarantees a just transition for the workers and communities who will bear the brunt of the climate crisis and technological change.

“We are also calling on politicians to reject the politics of division and honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi by implementing it in law and in our constitutional frameworks.

“We can fund the transformative change we desperately need by rebalancing the tax system, taxing capital gains and ensuring that the wealthy pay their fair share.

“The union movement is challenging political parties to make this vision a reality and create an Aotearoa that works for the many, not just the few. It’s time for a new approach,” said Wagstaff.

Read the full policy platform here.

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Brooke van Velden ramps up her war on working people

Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi is dismayed that Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden has launched another attack on workers’ rights by removing employment protections for workers when they start in a new role.

These protections include being provided information about the role and function of unions and that, for the first 30 days, new employees must be employed on the same (or better) terms with any onsite collective agreement while they decide whether to join a union.

“In yet another announcement from Brooke van Velden, workers’ rights are being eroded and unions undermined,” said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff.

“Currently workers in a new role have protection for 30 days, to weigh their options and settle in without being disadvantaged. The Minister clearly wants to disrupt this period and encourage employers to create division among workers – between those who have a union agreement and those who don’t.

“Make no mistake, this is a deliberate attempt to undermine the role of unions in workplaces and prevent working people from securing good pay and conditions when they take on a job in a new workplace.

“When workers start a new job, they are in a vulnerable position and can’t be expected to assert their rights in terms of trade union coverage.

“The Minister has no experience of unions or collective bargaining, and she refuses to engage with unions to understand the issues. In less than two years in the role, she already has the worst record in the portfolio in decades.

“Workers are sick and tired of this Government and their continued disdain for ordinary people who work hard every day to keep this country running.

“Across the country workers are organising to stand together and fight back against this Government, which is actively hostile to their interests,” said Wagstaff. 

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Safety alert: Duties of importers and suppliers of safety net systems

Source: Worksafe New Zealand

This safety alert highlights the serious health and safety risks for workers when using safety net systems that may not have been tested to a recognised standard by an accredited testing body.

What we know

Safety net systems are used in residential and commercial construction as a control to reduce the likelihood of harm if a worker falls from height.

The Health and Safety at Work Act places a duty on importers and suppliers of safety net systems to ensure that the nets that they are importing and supplying have been tested to ensure that it performs. WorkSafe New Zealand accepts testing to a recognised safety net standard, such as BS EN 1263.1, and that all reasonably practicable steps are taken to ensure that this testing has been undertaken by an accredited testing body.

WorkSafe notes that the testing and resulting documentation provdied by overseas testing bodies can be difficult to verify and, in some instances, be fraudulent.

What are your duties as an importer or supplier of safety net systems?

In addition to your primary duty of care, under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 you must also:

  • make sure the safety nets you import do not create health and safety risks to the people that use them
  • make sure the safety nets you import have been tested to a recognised standard, such as BS EN 1263.1, so they are safe for use in a workplace
  • give the following information to those you provide your safety nets to:
    • the results of calculations and tests
    • any general and current relevant information or conditions about how to safely use, handle, store, install, inspect, maintain, repair, or otherwise work with the products you have imported.

WorkSafe advice

Ensure that you have completed all necessary due diligence on the safety net and safety net manufacturer from which you are importing from.

Ensure that any testing and certification of the safety net is carried out in accordance with BS EN 1263.1, or an equivalent standard that gives similar or better outcomes for safety, by an accredited testing body.

If you have any doubt regarding the testing or certification of the safety net, including verification, engage the services of a New Zealand based reputable third party to undertake additional testing to demonstrate conformance with a recognised safety net standard.

Guidance

Safe use of safety nets
This best practice guideline outlines safety net requirements and the safe use of safety nets

Working at height in New Zealand
This good practice guide will provide practical guidance to employers, contractors, employees and all others engaged in work associated with working at height.

Safety alert – safety nets
This safety alert highlights the serious health and safety risks for workers when using poorly installed safety nets.

Download safety alert

Duties of importers and suppliers of safety net systems – safety alert (PDF 153 KB)

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Health and Safety changes driven by ACT party ideology

Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

Health and Safety changes driven by ACT party ideology, not evidence said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff.

Changes to health and safety legislation proposed by the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden today comply with ACT party ideology, ignores the evidence, and will compound New Zealand’s dismal health and safety performance.

“It’s disappointing to see the Minister has ignored the widespread consensus on what New Zealand needs to do to improve its poor track record and instead has chosen to carve out small businesses from good health and safety practices,” Wagstaff said.

“Exempting small businesses from best practice health and safety makes no sense when we know that small business are riskier and need more support.

“The Government seems to think the biggest obstacle to our poor productivity and health and safety outcomes is too many road cones. It’s no wonder New Zealand can’t get ahead when our leaders in Government seem so out of touch, and have no credible responses to these challenges.

“Given the massive challenge we have as a country to improve our health and safety performance, it’s astounding the Minister would target the use of road cones and expect WorkSafe to focus its scarce time and energy on creating a hotline.

“The Minister has been quick to cut support for important issues like modern slavery, and sat on her hands on other important health and safety concerns, like banning engineered stone. It would seem that this Government is more concerned about road cones than either of these issues.

“What’s worse is that these changes are being justified on the basis of cutting red tape for economic growth. Good business know that proper health and safety is not a compliance cost.

“On average there is a workplace fatality every week, another 20 are killed from occupational disease, and thousands more are incapacitated by injuries. Nothing in these proposals signals an intent to improve these numbers,” said Wagstaff. 

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Fraudulent asbestos removals catch up with industry veteran

Source: Worksafe New Zealand

Solid ethics and legal compliance must underpin the asbestos industry, WorkSafe New Zealand says, after an unlicensed asbestos remover was sentenced for pocketing more than $20,000 by misrepresenting his employer.

Barrie John Crockett was in a project management role at Demasol Limited. Between December 2021 and June 2022, Mr Crockett used Demasol’s name and letterhead to invoice three customers who paid into his personal bank account for work totalling $21,938. A dissatisfied customer contacted Demasol, leading to an investigation that revealed the illegal activity following Mr Crockett’s redundancy in May 2022.

As Demasol was not involved in the work, it cannot give any assurance that the asbestos removal was carried out in line with the regulatory requirements. It also remains unclear exactly where the removed asbestos was disposed.

“Not only is this dangerous work for an unlicensed person to do, but someone like Mr Crockett who had worked in the industry for over 25 years should have known far better. This type of criminal behaviour is not worth the risk because offenders will be held responsible,” says WorkSafe’s Head of Authorisations and Advisory, Kate Morrison.

Most asbestos removals need to be carried out by a licensed asbestos remover, and the work must be notified to WorkSafe under the under the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016.

“Licensing exists for a reason and removal work is tightly regulated to ensure safety. Circumventing the rules is both reckless and deceitful when the harm done by asbestos exposure is well known. An estimated 220 people die each year from preventable asbestos-related diseases in New Zealand. A system with trained and qualified people to remove this dangerous material is critical to better safety for workers and all New Zealanders,” says Kate Morrison.

Asbestos fibres can be blown a long way from a poorly managed removal site. The airborne fibres are so small they’re invisible to the naked eye, and can cause harm when breathed in. There are no safe levels of exposure, so there are no excuses for not managing asbestos safely.

High-risk activities including asbestos removal are a priority focus within WorkSafe’s new strategy. We are focusing particularly on high-risk sectors and high-risk activities which may result in acute, chronic or catastrophic harm.

Read about WorkSafe’s priority plan for Permitting
Read WorkSafe’s latest guidance on managing asbestos

Background

  • Barrie Crockett was sentenced at Auckland District Court on 21 March 2025.
  • An order to pay $15,000 in reparations was imposed, alongside a sentence of 140 hours community work.
  • Barrie Crockett was charged under sections 240(1)(a) and 241(a) of the Crimes Act 1961
    • By deception and without claim of right, obtained possession of a pecuniary advantage, namely $21,938.75
  • The maximum penalty is seven years imprisonment.

Media contact details

For more information you can contact our Media Team using our media request form. Alternatively:

Email: media@worksafe.govt.nz

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Notification: E tū Special Conference – E tū

Source: Etu Union

E tū is calling for a Special Conference to be held online on Thursday, 26 June 2025, at 6:00 PM.

Purpose of the Special Conference

E tū is required under the Incorporated Societies Act 2022 to register a new set of rules. The National Executive established a Constitutional subcommittee in late 2023 to review and draft a new Constitution. This draft was subsequently approved by the National Executive.

The goal of this review is to ensure compliance with legislative requirements while maintaining the existing powers and obligations under our current rules. Notable changes required by law include:

  • A register of interests for governance members,
  • Inclusion of a National General Meeting, and
  • A disputes-resolution process.

To finalise the adoption of these new rules, E tū will hold a special conference on 26 June 2025, where delegates will vote on the draft constitution.

Who is eligible to attend?

Only delegates who attended the 2024 E tū Conference are eligible to participate in this special conference. This includes:

  • Delegates who were physically present at the 2024 Conference.
  • Delegates who were elected but were unable to attend the 2024 Conference.

Eligible delegates will be contacted by email with more information, including the links to attend the online Special Conference, closer to the time.

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Recession ends – Economic challenges remain

Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

Figures released by Statistics New Zealand today showed that the economy grew by 0.7% ending the very deep recession seen over the past year, said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney. “Even though GDP grew in the three months to December, our economy is still 1.1% smaller than it was in December 2023. Unemployment is up. Annually, business Investment is falling. We are still very far away from being back on track.”

“While any economic growth is welcome, this data further demonstrates the compelling need for an actual economic plan, not just a few slogans. One based upon growing both public and private investment. One based upon growing wages and household incomes. Many might celebrate this economic signal, but that one note needs to be put in context. Unemployment is up. Child Poverty is up. Homelessness appears to be rising. Our economic challenges are still very much here and worse than they were a year ago,” Renney said. 

“The GDP data now shows that our GDP per capita fell 2.2% from last year. GDP per capita is lower than it was in 2021. On quarterly basis, it increased by 0.4%, not enough to offset recent falls. Real household spending on durable goods, which is a key measure of consumer confidence, was 2.6% lower than December 2023.

“GDP data also shows that the wages rose far less quickly than profits – asking questions about where the benefits of this growth are going. Across the economy, the broad measure of wages (compensation of employees) rose 1.7% last year. The broad measure of profit (Gross operating surplus and gross mixed income) rose 5.7% – or 3.3 times the rate of wages. If there is a recovery, it’s not yet ending up in workers pockets,” said Renney.

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Government must act decisively and ban engineered stone

Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi have reiterated their call for Government to protect workers by banning engineered stone in a submission on MBIE’s silica dust consultation.

“If Brooke van Velden is genuine when she calls for an evidence-based approach to this issue, then she must support a full ban on engineered stone products,” said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff.

“Processing engineered stone is extremely harmful to health. A ban will save lives.

“Engineered stone is not an essential building product and many safe alternatives exist. We should not be putting workers’ lives at risk for a trendy kitchen.

“The Government needs to act now. We cannot wait for more workers to be harmed, or killed before they realise decisive action is necessary,” said Wagstaff.

The NZCTU is also among those calling for stronger regulation of all work involving silica to protect workers from the deadly lung disease silicosis.

WorkSafe estimates that 80,000 workers are working in conditions where the workplace exposure standard for silica dust is regularly exceeded, showing the need for better protections against exposure.

“Workers need the certainty that their health is being protected at work. Stronger regulations will provide businesses with the clarity needed to ensure this is being provided,” said Wagstaff.

“We also add our voice to those calling for the establishment an occupational lung disease registry to support exposed workers with treatment and effective follow-up.”.