Since our August 2024 newsletter, it’s been a relatively quiet couple of months for law changes. However, the coalition government’s Q4 Action Plan indicates we’re in for a busy end to 2024 with the introduction and passing of a number of legislative changes.

What laws have changed recently?

Below is a summary of some of the key changes since our August 2024 newsletter. Please note that this isn’t necessarily a complete list of all law changes relevant to your organisation.

To get full clarity about legislative changes affecting your organisation, dial up the ‘clarity of change’ function in your ComplyWith Obligations Register.

While you’re there, turn on law change notifications for yourself and remember that in the ComplyWith Admin module you can set up tailored law change notifications for anyone in your organisation who will benefit from being kept up to date about law changes relevant to their role.

Key changes for all sectors

  • On 3 September 2024, the requirement in the Resource Management (Measurement and Reporting of Water Takes) Regulations 2010 to keep records measuring the volume of water taken under a water permit in each 15-minute period was extended to water permit holders with a consented take of 10 litres/second or more.

Key changes for local government

  • On 1 October 2024:
    • Section 49(6) of the Local Government Electoral Legislation Act 2023 came into force and made permanent the requirement to count local government members attending meetings remotely as present for a quorum (provided remote attendance is permitted under standing orders).
    • The Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 came into force and made land owned or used in relation to a not-for-profit charter school non-rateable under the Local Government (Rating) Act.
  • On 30 September 2024, the Building (Minor Variations) Amendment Regulations 2024 came into force and clarified when the substitution of a comparable product is a minor variation to a building consent. 
  • On 14 September 2024, the National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land 2022 Amendment No.1 clarified the consenting pathway for activities on highly productive land relating to specified infrastructure, and intensive indoor primary production and greenhouse activities.
  • On 3 September 2024: 
    • The Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Act 2024 established a new framework for water services delivery and the preliminary arrangements for a new water services system. 
    • The Resource Management (Extended Duration of Coastal Permits for Marine Farms) Amendment Act 2024 extended existing marine farm coastal permits by 20 years (but not beyond 31 December 2050) and introduced obligations for regional councils in relation to these permits.

Key changes for the electricity industry

  • On 1 September 2024, changes to the System Operator Rolling Outage Plan came into force to clarify how the Plan works in practice and strengthen coordination between distributors, directly connected participants, and the system operator.

Key changes for the health sector

  • On 1 October 2024, the Infectious and Notifiable Diseases Order 2024 added invasive group A streptococcal infection to the list of notifiable infectious diseases and removed COVID-19 from the list of quarantinable infectious diseases in the Health Act.

What’s coming up?

The coalition government’s Q4 Action Plan identifies that the following legislative changes will be passed before the end of 2024:

  • The Fast-track Approvals Bill
  • The first Resource Management Amendment Bill (focused on farmers and the primary sector)
  • Legislation to:
    • complete the removal of agriculture from the emissions trading scheme
    • reverse the ban on oil and gas exploration
    • extend deadlines for earthquake-prone buildings
    • allow lotteries for non-commercial purposes to operate online
    • tighten controls on youth vaping, including a ban on disposable devices.

Other upcoming law changes are:

  • On 17 October 2024, the Electricity (Hazards from Trees) Amendment Regulations 2024 come into force.
  • On 27 October 2024, the remaining provisions of the Financial Sector (Climate-related Disclosures and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2021 come into force.  
  • On 30 October 2024:
    • The Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2024 will replace the Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2022.
    • The Electricity Industry Participation Code Amendment (Hedge Disclosure Obligations) 2024 will come into force.
  • On 15 December 2024, the remaining provisions of the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 2021 come into force.
  • On 1 January 2025:
    • The Land Transport (Motor Vehicle Registration and Licensing) Amendment Regulations (No 2) 2024 will increase the fees payable for licensing motor vehicles (further fee increases will come into effect on 1 January 2026).
    • Changes to various regulations made under the Climate Change Response Act 2002 come into force.
    • Further provisions of the Electricity Distribution Information Disclosure (Targeted Review 2024) Amendment Determination 2024 come into force.
    • Further provisions of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Act 2024 come into force.
    • Provisions in the Hazardous Substances (Importers and Manufacturers) Amendment Notice 2024 come into force. 
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