Category: New Zealand Government – Business

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New strategic direction for WorkSafe

Source: Worksafe New Zealand

WorkSafe has launched its new strategy, with a focus on making a measurable difference to the most serious harm in New Zealand workplaces.

As the primary health and safety at work regulator, WorkSafe’s role is to influence businesses to carry out their responsibilities – and to hold them to account if they don’t.   

“Ten years on from WorkSafe’s inception, our refreshed strategy is about delivering what New Zealanders expect of their work health and safety regulator. We will work with businesses, workers, and other key players in the system to reduce harm and improve health and safety at work for everyone,” says WorkSafe’s Board Chair, Jennifer Kerr. 

The strategy defines the wider health and safety at work system (te aronga matua) and reflects our role in the system (kawa), how we will undertake that role (tikanga), where we will focus our effort (kaupapa), and how we will measure our impact (mātauranga). 

Every year 50–60 people are killed at work and 400–500 hospitalised with a serious work-related injury (acute harm), and an estimated 750-900 people die because of work-related ill health (chronic harm).   

“While these awful figures have steadily reduced over time, there is a long way to go and much work to do by everyone who can influence health and safety in our workplaces,” says Jennifer Kerr. “We also know that harm does not occur equally, and it is imperative that we remain focused on reducing these unacceptable harm inequities.” 

Read WorkSafe’s strategy

WorkSafe Strategy (PDF 4.7 MB)

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Unsafe machinery costs digits and dollars

Source: Worksafe New Zealand

Courts have imposed more than half a million dollars in penalties since mid-March, in cases where workers have lost fingers on machinery that wasn’t kept safe by businesses.

“Businesses must manage their risks to keep workers safe. In each of these cases there was a failure to follow basic machine safety standards. WorkSafe investigated and prosecuted the cases as part of our role to hold businesses to account when they fall short on health and safety,” says WorkSafe principal inspector Mark Donaghue.

“All three cases are from the manufacturing sector – which has a persistent problem with machine safeguarding and is one of the country’s high-risk industries.”

One worker had two fingers amputated and a third degloved in a punch and shear machine, when the regular machine was out of order at Thompson Engineering in Timaru in January 2022. The business was recently fined $247,500 and ordered to pay reparations of $35,000.

Another worker had three fingers partially amputated while using a punch and forming press at Auckland’s Anglo Engineering in March 2022. In sentencing, Judge Lisa Tremewan referred to “an unintended complacency” and that “it is critical that robust practices are employed by those within the relevant industries”. A fine of $200,000 was imposed, and reparations of $35,337 were ordered.

And a third worker was cleaning a machine when it amputated two fingers and degloved a third at Flexicon Plastics in Auckland in August 2022. The machine’s on/off switch had been knocked into operation because the interlock wasn’t functioning. A fine of $74,392 was imposed, and reparations of $33,000 ordered.

“If you are unsure whether your safeguarding is up to scratch, engage a qualified expert as soon as possible,” says WorkSafe’s Mark Donaghue.

“These sorts of incidents are avoidable. Workers should not be suffering harm like this in 2024, and businesses have no excuse. WorkSafe is notified of machine guarding incidents from across the country every week, and is regularly prohibiting dangerous machinery as part of its proactive and targeted assessments. WorkSafe has a role to influence business to make sure they keep people healthy and safe – that’s why we’re speaking out on this issue.”

Workplaces have been required to safeguard machinery since the Machinery Act 1950 took effect. But more than 70 years later, workplaces still aren’t getting it right, with too many workers in Aotearoa being injured and killed from unsafe machinery.

Read more about safety with power presses
Read more about machinery lock outs

Media contact details

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

Phone: 021 823 007 or

Email: media@worksafe.govt.nz

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Pams plant-based creamy pasta bake recalled

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

New Zealand Food Safety is supporting Foodstuffs Own Brand in its recall of Pams plant-based creamy pasta bake as the product may contain foreign matter (metal).

All batches and all dates are affected by this recall. The affected product is sold at selected Four Square, Gilmours, New World, Pak’n Save, Trents and Raeward Fresh stores nationwide.

Visit New Zealand Food Safety’s recall page for more information about batch details and photographs of the affected product.

Food recall: Pams brand plant-based creamy tomato pasta bake

“If you have bought any of the affected product, do not consume it,” says New Zealand Food Safety acting deputy director-general Jenny Bishop. “It can be returned to the place of purchase for a refund. Should you be unable to do this, throw it out.”

“If you or your family member have consumed any of this product and are concerned for your health, contact your health professional, or call Healthline on 0800 61 11 16 for free advice.”

New Zealand Food Safety has not received any notifications of associated injury.

The products have been removed from store shelves and have not been exported.

The products under recall were identified through routine testing, and there have been no reports of associated illness.

“As is our usual practice, New Zealand Food Safety will work with Pams to understand how the contamination occurred and prevent its recurrence,” Ms Bishop said.

The vast majority of food sold in New Zealand is safe, but sometimes problems can occur. Help keep yourself and your family safe by subscribing to our recall alerts. Information on how to subscribe is on the New Zealand Food Safety food recall page.

Recalled food products list

For further information and general enquiries, call MPI on 0800 00 83 33 or email info@mpi.govt.nz

For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328

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Proposed changes to the Seeds for Sowing import health standard

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

Have your say

From 15 May 2024 to 17 June 2024 the Ministry for Primary Industries invites comment on proposed changes to the import health standard for seeds for sowing.

The changes include:

  • adding an option for seeds to be produced in an area where a pest is “absent” according to ISPM 8, for pests that already have “pest free area” as a measure.
  • changing the wording for additional declarations for pests from “not known to occur” to “the seeds are produced in an area where a [pest] is absent”.
  • changing the requirements for importing seeds of New Zealand origin
  • removing some pests from the standard
  • changing the seed testing requirements in the standard
  • adding a species (Rumex sanguineus) to the MPI Plants Biosecurity Index
  • removing the requirement for an importer declaration for Beta vulgaris seeds.

Full details of the proposed changes are in the consultation documents.

Consultation documents

Related document – the current IHS

Seeds for sowing import health standard [PDF, 1.8 MB]

Making your submission

Email your feedback on the draft by 5pm on 17 June 2024 to plantimports@mpi.govt.nz

Make sure you include in your submission:

  • the title of the consultation document in the subject line of your email
  • your name and title (if applicable)
  • your organisation’s name (if you’re submitting on behalf of an organisation)
  • your contact details (for example, phone number, address and email).

While we prefer email, you can send your submission by post to:

Plant Germplasm Imports, Animal and Plant Health Directorate
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140
New Zealand

All submissions received by the closing date will be considered before the amended import health standard (IHS) is issued. MPI may hold late submissions on file for consideration when the issued IHS is next revised or reviewed.

Next steps

After we have considered all submissions there is a 10-day period which provides submitters with the opportunity to examine any changes to the IHS which have resulted from consultation. An independent review (under section 24 of the Biosecurity Act 1993) may be requested in this period if a submitter considers scientific evidence they raised during their submission has not received sufficient consideration. If there is no review, the IHS becomes final after 10 days.

Find out more about the IHS review process

Legal background

MPI must consult with interested parties in accordance with section 23 of the Biosecurity Act 1993 (the Act) and MPI’s consultation policy before issuing or amending (other than of minor or urgent nature) import health standards (IHS) under sections 24A and 24B of the Act.

An IHS specifies import requirements that must be met either in the country of origin or of export, or during transit, before biosecurity clearance can be given for the goods to enter New Zealand. MPI must ensure that these requirements are technically justified and provide an appropriate level of biosecurity protection.

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Taranaki dairy and beef farmer fined $21,000 over hundreds of unregistered cattle and undeclared movements of animals

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

A Taranaki dairy and beef farmer who failed to register and declare the movements of hundreds of cattle into the NAIT system, has been fined $21,000.

The National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) scheme, which maintains a national database of cattle and deer and their location, is a critical part of New Zealand’s ability to respond quickly to biosecurity threats.

Darrell Bernard Hickey (60) was sentenced on 4 charges under the NAIT Act, in the Hawera District Court, following a successful prosecution by the Ministry for Primary Industries.

“This was hundreds of animals, and it only takes one animal to potentially cause a biosecurity problem, as we have learned from our experience with Mycoplasma bovis,” says MPI regional manager animal welfare and NAIT compliance Joanna Tuckwell.

Records showed that between August 2022 and October 2023, 142 of Mr Hickey’s cattle left 3 separate NAIT locations without being registered in the NAIT system. During the same period, Mr Hickey failed to declare the movement of 323 animals onto and off his NAIT locations.

Mr Hickey had been reminded about his NAIT obligations as early as 2019, along with being sent educational advice in 2020, a warning letter in 2020, and infringement notices in 2021 and 2022.

“People in charge of animals must ensure they’ve tagged and registered their NAIT animals. If they’re going off-farm, or if the animals are coming onto the farm, they must declare these movements to NAIT within 48 hours.

“The NAIT tag and registration system is only as effective as the information provided. If you are unsure about what you need to do, reach out. There is plenty of information, advice and support available,” says Joanna Tuckwell.

Information, advice and support – OSPRI

For further information and general enquiries, call MPI on 0800 00 83 33 or email info@mpi.govt.nz

For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328

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Information Release: Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax and Remedial Matters) Bill

Source: Inland Revenue Department –

Documents in this information release

  1. CBC-24-SUB-0012 – Paper: Proposed changes to the 39% trustee tax rate – 25 January 2024 
  2. CBC-214-SUB0012 – RIS: 39% trustee rate Changes to the Multinational Tax Bill – 17 January 2024
  3. CBC-24-MIN-0012 – Minute: Proposed changes to the 39% trustee tax rate – 25 January 2024
  4. IR2023/291 – Report: 39% trustee tax rate – recommended changes to the Multinational Tax Bill – 20 December 2023
  5. IR2023/221 – Report: Departmental Report on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 202324, Multinational Tax and Remedial Matters) Bill – 20 December 2023
  6. IR2023/261 – Report: Setting Effective Dates for Global Anti-Base Erosion Tax (“GloBE Rules”) – 20 December 2023
  7. IR2023/178 – Report: Platform Economy: Remedial measures for inclusion in current Tax Bill – 23 June 2023
  8. IR2023/259 – Report: Disposals of trading stock at below market value – 20 December 2023
  9. ECO-24-SUB-0004 – Paper: Disposals of trading stock at below market value – 21 February 2024 
  10. ECO-24-MIN-0004 – Minute: Disposals of trading stock at below market value – 21 February 2024 
  11. IR2023/273 – Report: Interest deductibility phasing options – 30 November 2023
  12. BN2023/284 – Briefing note: Confirmation of fiscal estimate for interest limitation changes – 6 December 2023 
  13. IR2023/279 – Report: Tax policy options for Mini Budget – 5 December 2023 
  14. IR2024/015 – Report: New bright-line test and removing building depreciation – 13 February 2024
  15. IR2024/027 – Report: Restoring interest deductibility for residential property – 1 February 2024
  16. CAB-24-SUB-0054 – Paper: Restoring interest deductibility for residential property – 28 February 2024
  17. ECO-24-MIN-0011 – Minute: Restoring interest deductibility for residential property – 28 February 2024
  18. CAB-24-MIN-0054 – Minute: Restoring interest deductibility for residential property – 4 March 2024
  19. IR2023/296 – Report: Options to regulate and tax online casino gambling – 18 December 2023
  20. IR2024/061 – Report: Further information on online casino gambling – 16 February 2024
  21. IR2024/029 – Report: Online Casino Gaming Duty and Regulation Cabinet paper – 23 February 2024 
  22. CAB-24-SUB-0072 – Paper: Online Casino Gaming Duty and Regulation – 11 March 2024 
  23. ECO-24-MIN-0018 – Minute: Online Casino Gaming Duty and Regulation – 6 March 2024 
  24. CAB-24-MIN-0072 – Minute: Online Casino Gaming Duty and Regulation – 11 March 2024 
  25. IR2024/071 – Report: Platform Economy: Transitional GST rule – 27 February 2024

Additional information

  • The Cabinet paper Proposed changes to the 39% trustee tax rate (CBC-24-MIN-0012) was considered by the Cabinet Business Committee on 25 January 2024 and confirmed by Cabinet on 30 January 2024.
  • The Cabinet paper Disposals of trading stock at below market value (ECO-24-SUB-0004) was considered by the Cabinet Economic Policy Committee on 21 February 2024 and confirmed by Cabinet on 26 February 2024.
  • The Cabinet paper Restoring interest deductibility for residential property (ECO-24-MIN-0011) was considered by the Cabinet Economic Policy Committee on 28 February 2024 and confirmed by Cabinet on 4 March 2024.
  • The Cabinet paper Online Casino Gaming Duty and Regulation Cabinet paper (ECO-24-MIN-0018) was considered by the Cabinet Economic Policy Committee on 6 March 2024 and confirmed by Cabinet on 11 March 2024.
  • The Cabinet paper Fiscal Management: Mini Budget, Budget 2024 and the Fiscal Sustainability Programme (CAB-23-MIN-0490) which was considered by Cabinet on 11 December 2023. This paper will be separately released by The Treasury as part of their mini-budget release, however, some of the key advice reports are included in this release

The following Regulatory Impact Statements are not included in this information release as they are publicly available:

  1. Reducing the bright-line period for taxing residential property, 8 December 2023
  2. Reintroducing interest deductibility on residential investment property, 8 December 2023
  3. Removing building depreciation, 7 December 2023
  4. Disposals of trading stock at below market value, 20 December 2023
  5. Online Casino Taxes, 21 February 2024
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Death puts apprentice safety in focus again

Source: Worksafe New Zealand

WorkSafe New Zealand says urgent action is needed by the trades to take better care of apprentices, after the second court sentencing this year for a trainee killed on the job.

Josh Masters was fixing the hydraulics on a log loader when the vehicle’s boom fell and crushed him at Balmoral Forest in North Canterbury in January 2022. Mr Masters had nearly completed his diesel mechanic apprenticeship with Button Logging Limited – which has now been sentenced for health and safety failures.

The 23-year-old was told to position the loader’s forks vertically to gain access for the repairs, but the boom fell when the forks collapsed.

A WorkSafe investigation found the company didn’t have an effective procedure for the repairs, and when Mr Masters asked for help on how to proceed, he was given inadequate instruction and supervision.

“It was Button Logging’s responsibility to set down its expectations for working under a raised boom, and they had to ensure all workers, including apprentices, had knowledge of and were properly trained to meet those expectations,” says WorkSafe’s acting national investigations manager, Casey Broad.

”This tragic case is about the failure to manage a critical risk – it was utterly preventable and avoidable. As a result of that, a family is now deprived of a son, grandson, brother, and partner.”

Businesses must manage their risks, and WorkSafe’s role is to influence businesses to meet their responsibilities and keep people healthy and safe.

“Although Mr Masters was nearing the end of his apprenticeship, he didn’t have decades of experience to his name and deserved better when he sought direction,” says Mr Broad.

The sentencing of Button Logging follows another in late January, over the death of 19-year-old apprentice builder Ethan Perham-Turner in Bay of Plenty.

“Apprentices are the future generation, and companies that take on apprentices need to recognise they have a responsibility to look after them as they do with their own employees and put health and safety first,” says Mr Broad.

Read about the recent WorkSafe prosecution over the death of Ethan Perham-Turner

Background

  • Button Logging Limited was sentenced at the Christchurch District Court on 9 May 2024.
  • A fine of $302,500 was imposed, and reparations of $278,000 ordered
  • Button Logging Limited was charged under sections 36(1)(a) and 48(1) and (2)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
    • Being a PCBU having a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers who work for the PCBU, including Josh Masters, while the workers were at work in the business or undertaking, namely repairing a wheel loader, did fail to comply with that duty, and that failure exposed a person to risk of death or serious injury from being struck or crushed by the wheel loader’s boom.
  • The maximum penalty is a fine not exceeding $1.5 million.
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Work-related health newsletter – May 2024

Source: Worksafe New Zealand

Read our May 2024 work-related health update.

In this edition of our work-related health newsletter you’ll find useful information about:  

  • the latest guidance on controlling dust
  • accelerated silicosis in the engineered stone industry
  • the role of work factors in suicide
  • using SafePlus to tackle health and safety issues
  • musculoskeletal risk assessment workshops
  • proposed changes to workplace exposure standards and biological exposure indices
  • recent changes to the Health and Safety Association New Zealand (HASANZ) register
  • health and safety at ports
  • 10 most viewed work-related health pages on our website
  • upcoming learning opportunities.

Read the full newsletter(external link)

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Proposed temporary fishery closure East Coromandel

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

Have your say

Fisheries New Zealand invites written submissions in response to the request from anyone who has an interest in the species concerned or in the effects of fishing in the area concerned.

About this consultation

We are seeking feedback on a request from Ngāti Hei for a temporary fishery closure in East Coromandel to prohibit the harvest of tipa (scallops).

The requested closure would not apply to the taking of scallops that have washed shore (‘beachcast scallops’).

Download a copy of the closure request [PDF, 704 KB]

Ngāti Pāoa, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, Ngāti Tamaterā and Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea support the request as part of the Pou rāhui, pou tikanga, pou oranga: reigniting the mauri of Tīkapa moana and Te Moananui-ā-Toi project.

Proposed temporary fishery closures in the Hauraki Gulf

The temporary fishery closure has been requested under section 186A of the Fisheries Act 1996. While the Pou rāhui request is for a period of 6 years, the Act limits temporary closures to up to 2 years.

Area boundaries of the proposed closures

Map of the proposed East Coromandel temporary closure [PDF, 510 KB]

Related information

Section 186A of the Fisheries Act 1996 allows the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries to temporarily close an area, or temporarily restrict or prohibit the use of any fishing method in respect of an area, if satisfied that the closure, restriction, or prohibition will recognise and provide for the use and management practices of tangata whenua in the exercise of non-commercial fishing rights.

Find out more about temporary closures

Making your submission

The closing date for submissions is 5pm, on Friday 7 June 2024.

State in your submission which area or areas you are referring to.

Email your submission to FMSubmissions@mpi.govt.nz

While we prefer email, you can post your submission to:

Spatial Allocations
Fisheries Management
Fisheries New Zealand
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140.

Public notice

A public notice about the call for submissions is scheduled to appear in the following papers:

  • Waikato Times on 8 May 2024.
  • Coromandel Informer on 14 May 2024.
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Recalled peanuts mistakenly released for sale

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

Anyone who bought Value Pack Roasted Salted Peanuts since 11 April is urged to check whether they are part of a batch that was recalled on 5 April.

“Prolife Foods recalled specific batches of products containing peanuts last month over concerns that they could contain levels of aflatoxins above the allowable level in New Zealand,” says New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle. 

“Disappointingly, some of these recalled products have been released for sale in error by Prolife.

“NZFS is investigating how this could have happened. We will be reviewing Prolife’s recall system to find out what went wrong, and to prevent it happening again.

“Please check your pantry for any of these peanuts. Don’t consume them and return them to the place of purchase for a refund.”

The products affected by today’s recall are:

  • Value Pack (VP) Roasted Salted Peanuts (400g) with best-before dates of 08 OCT 2024 and 15 OCT 2024

The affected products were sold at selected New World, FreshChoice, Pak’nSave and Four Square stores nationwide.

Visit New Zealand Food Safety’s recall page for more information about batch details and photographs of the affected product here:

Prolife Foods Value Pack and Refill Pack Products Containing Peanuts

“Aflatoxins are naturally occurring in many food products and are produced by a group of moulds that grow on foods produced in hot and tropical climates,” Mr Arbuckle says.

“Levels of aflatoxin in the New Zealand diet are usually very low and don’t represent a health risk, however, consumption of food products with increased levels of aflatoxin over an extended period of time can be harmful.

“But despite the health risk being low in this case, any release of recalled products is of concern.”

New Zealand Food Safety has not received any notifications of associated illness.

If you have consumed any of this product and are concerned for your health, contact your health professional, or call Healthline on 0800 61 11 16 for free advice.

The vast majority of food sold in New Zealand is safe, but sometimes problems can occur.  Help keep yourself and your family safe by subscribing to our recall alerts. Information on how to subscribe is on the NZFS food recall page.

Recalled food products list

For more information please email: NZFoodSafety_media@mpi.govt.nz