Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill

Changes have been proposed to the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, the WorkSafe New Zealand Act 2013, and the Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016, with the aim of streamlining the way Aotearoa’s workplace health and safety system operates.

However, the Bill risks weakening protections by narrowing small businesses’ responsibilities to only manage “critical risks”, which may exclude protecting workers’ mental health and wellbeing. Psychosocial risks (like bullying, burnout, and overwork) may not meet the “critical” threshold but can still cause serious harm, with the burden falling on workers, their whānau, and our health system.

This would affect most businesses in Aotearoa, as around 97% are small businesses – meaning the impact of reduced obligations could be widespread.

Mentally healthy workplaces are good for business. Investing in wellbeing improves productivity and reduces costs like absenteeism and turnover. We recommend supporting small businesses by providing them with practical, accessible guidance to manage risks, not removing their responsibilities.