Healthy Homes requirements, KiwiSaver, Jobseeker, parental leave changes and more - What's changing on 1 July
1 July is typically when many new government regulations take effect.
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Explainer
- It's 1 July tomorrow and believe it or not we're halfway through 2025, which means the government will roll out several new changes to policies and regulations.
Here are some of the highlights you need to know:
One big change is
mandatory Healthy Homes standards
which all rental properties must now comply with.
The rules set basic standards for heating, insulation and ventilation.
Among them:
There is a
compliance tool
on MBIE's Tenancy Services website landlords can use to check their compliance.
The maximum weekly rate of
paid parental leave
will go up as of 1 July.
The maximum parental leave payment rate for eligible employees and self-employed people will increase from $754.87 to $788.66 gross per week, Employment NZ said.
The minimum parental leave payment rate for self-employed parents will also increase from $231.50 to $235.00 gross per week, to reflect the minimum wage increase on 1 April.
There have also been
changes to broader parental leave requirements
which will take effect that will clarify certain details around how leave is counted and who is eligible.
Jobseeker is making
changes to how people can get support
.
From Tuesday, people will only get Jobseeker Support for 26 weeks - six months - before they need to reapply. Currently, people need to reapply once a year.
Those who are already getting Jobseeker Support may still be on a 52-week reapplication before they move to the shorter period depending on their situation, Work and Income said.
There will also be changes to two groups of people already on Jobseeker - sole parents who are the primary caregiver and whose youngest dependent child is 14-18 years, and people who were "grandparented" and getting benefits before 2013.
The government announced
several changes to KiwiSaver
in this year's Budget.
As of 1 July,
the government contribution will drop
from 50 cents to 25 cents for each dollar you contribute to KiwiSaver each year, lowering the maximum government contribution from $521.43 to $260.72. You'll need to contribute at least $1,042.86 to get that.
The government contribution will be extended to include 16- and 17-year-olds from 1 July 2025, and they will be eligible for mandatory employer contributions as well, from 1 April 2026. The age for auto-enrolment will remain at 18.
Those enrolled in the scheme with an income of more than $180,000 will no longer receive the government contribution. Eligibility for this will be tested according to one of the last two tax years based on the member's income, once their final tax return is finalised.
ACC has
raised some payments
starting 1 July as part of their annual review.
Clients who have been receiving weekly compensation for more than 26 weeks will have their payments increased by 2.89 percent.
The new gross maximum rate of weekly compensation payable will be $2,418.55 per week.
Public transport fees are changing in many locations as councils try to
meet a directive from the government
to pay more of the cost of delivering the services.
Fares will increase in Waikato, Taranaki, Wellington, Canterbury and Invercargill. Northland's bus fares are going up in August.
Auckland Transport
increased its fares in February
. The BayBus service around Tauranga and Bay of Plenty increased prices in April, while the Otago Regional Council has agreed to raise prices but it hasn't set out when that will happen.
In Wellington,
Metlink fares will rise 2.2 percent
while in Christchurch,
fees will also rise
.
Check with your own local public transport for details in your area.
From 1 July, it will be required to keep
records of the movement of raw milk to and from farms
.
It's part of the National Pest Management Plan for Mycoplasma bovis which aims to prevent the spread of the disease.
The weight loss and diabetes drug Wegovy (also known as Ozempic) which is only available on prescription, should be on pharmacy shelves as of 1 July, drug maker Novo Nordisk confirmed.
It ends a years-long wait for the much-hyped medication.
Read more about the
new medication here
.
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