- Hon Simeon Brown
- Hon David Seymour
The Government is scrapping the 'offensive trades' list under the 1956 Health Act (the Act), ending annual registrations for affected businesses and saving them time and money, Regulation Minister David Seymour says.
"Red tape isn't neutral; it's a tax on productivity and growth. When businesses spend time and money spent on needless compliance it diverts their resources away from things that matter," Mr Seymour says.
"Following a submission to the Ministry of Regulation's Red Tape Tipline we are removing the registration requirement for businesses conducting 'offensive trades' under the Act. That no longer makes sense 70 years later in 2026."
Minister of Health Simeon Brown says the change is overdue.
"So-called 'offensive trades' are things like fish curing, leather tanning, flax pulping, and nightsoil collection which these days can be well managed through environmental and industry‑specific systems, local councils and other powers under the Health Act," Mr Brown says.
"One person's 'offensive trade' is another person's livelihood and where compliance costs are not necessary, they shouldn't exist. These businesses will no longer have to complete registration paperwork or pay registration fees, and councils won't have to administer the regime."
Mr Seymour says the change is expected to deliver up to $2.26 million in savings over 10 years, saving time and money for hundreds of businesses.
"The Red Tape Tipline continues to deliver for Kiwis. If you've got a regulatory problem, we want to hear it and fix it," Mr Seymour says.
"The Ministry for Regulation is in a unique position to take on regulatory costs that make it harder for Kiwis to get on with business. Because these regulations are imposed by so many departments, it takes one ministry with a mandate for doing the dirty work and working with others to cut the red tape."
