New Zealand government rolls out lab safety and firearms regulatory reforms

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden announced changes to New Zealand's hazardous substances regulations for research, testing and teaching laboratories. The new pathway allows labs to meet obligations through a risk‑management plan tailored to flammable and oxidising substances, reducing compliance costs that were previously estimated at up to NZ$3 billion. An Approved Code of Practice will guide institutions on the revised safety standards.

Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee introduced the most significant overhaul of New Zealand's firearms legislation in decades. The reforms replace the previous one‑size‑fits‑all system with a risk‑based framework, simplifying licensing, streamlining compliance and giving police resources to focus on high‑risk individuals while retaining strong penalties for illegal possession and misuse. Both reforms aim to make regulations more practical while maintaining public safety.