Introduces a plain packaging regime for tobacco products modelled on Australia’s legislative package for tobacco plain packaging, modified to fit New Zealand circumstances. The bill is drafted to be brought into force either by Order in Council or, at the latest, 18 months after receiving Royal Assent. This is to allow detailed regulations to be drawn up. Introduced Dec 17 2013 and received first reading on Feb 11 by 118 to 1 with John Banks opposing. NZ First indicated support limited to select committee at this stage only. Bill referred to Health Committee, however Govt has indicated it will not pass into law until legal action in Australia against similar legislation is completed. Submissions closed March 28. Reported back from select committee on August 5, 2014 with a number of minor changes including a name change to the Smoke-free Environments (Tobacco Standardised Packaging) Amendment Bill. NZ First expressed opposition to the bill. Second reading debate completed on June 30, 2016 by 108 to 13. The Government said it would finalise regulations under the Bill after consultation ended at the end of July. Labour and the Greens said the Government had moved too slowly. NZ First and ACT opposed. Completed its committee stage on August 24 changes included a new name from the Smoke-free Environments (Tobacco Plain Packaging) Amendment Bill to the Smoke-free Environments (Tobacco Standardised Packaging) Amendment Bill. Third reading completed on Sept 8 opposed by NZ First and ACT. Ministers expressed confidence any legal action would be successfully defended.   Smoke-free Environments (Tobacco Plain Packaging) Amendment Bill

Introduced on June 21. The bill significantly limits the number of retailers able to sell smoked tobacco products; aims to prevent young people from taking up smoking by prohibiting the sale of smoked tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009; and aims to make smoked tobacco products less appealing and addictive. First reading on July 26 with Act opposed and National expressing concerns about some parts of the bill. Sent to the health committee. Reported back on Nov 28 with a large number of technical amendments many around the process to decide who will be allowed to sell tobacco products with licensed premises reduced to 600. Second reading completed on Dec 6 with National and Act opposed. Committee stage completed on Dec 8. Third reading on Dec 13 with National and  Act opposed.

Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Bill

Introduced on Feb 24 it regulates the sale of vaping and e-cigarettes market. Proposes no sales to under-18-year-olds, no advertising and sponsorship of vaping products, no vaping or smokeless tobacco in smokefree areas. Regulates vaping products – including devices, flavours and ingredients. First reading on March 11 with ACT opposed. Sent to the Health Committee. Reported back on June 2 with a large number of amendments and a report by the Attorney General saying the restrictions proposed on advertising were a breach of the Bill of Rights Act. Second reading on July 22 supported by all parties. Remaining stages completed under Urgency on Aug 4 with all parties in support though National expressed disappointment its amendments were rejected and it will pursue them if it forms a government.

Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Bill

Introduced under Urgency on Feb 27. The bill removes the changes made by the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act 2022 that relate to retail reduction, limiting nicotine levels in smoked tobacco products, and introducing a smokefree generation. All stages completed on Feb 27 with National, Act and NZ First in support.

Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Amendment Bill

Introduced under Urgency on May 30 and passed through all stages opposed by National and ACT. The Bill brings mandatory annual adjustment of main benefits by the percentage of any increase in net average weekly earnings, and removes the obligation of beneficiaries to name liable parents.
Social Assistance Legislation (Budget 2019 Welfare Package) Amendment Bill

Introduced and passed through all stages following the May 21 Budget. It creates a ministerial direction power to enter into tailored agreements with social housing providers. Among other things, ministerial directions could allow the agency to purchase social housing places into the future, to fund vacant social housing that may be under repair or awaiting an urgent placement, to pay more or less than the income-related rent subsidy, and generally to enable arrangements that respond to social housing need. Supported by National, Maori Party, ACT and United Future. Those opposed said it would benefit private developers through the sale of state homes and erode  the state’s responsibility to provide social housing. Social Housing Reform (Flexible Purchasing and Remedial Matters) Bill

Introduced on July 1 the bill will give ministers  the authority to transfer Housing NZ Corporation properties and act on the behalf of the corporation or any of its subsidiaries. Received its first reading on August 18 and sent to the Social Services Committee. Strongly opposed by Opposition Parties on grounds of “privatisation” and exemptions for housing sales from the Public Works Act and other “offer back” provisions. Report due by February 18. Reported back on December 14 with minor amendments. Strongly opposed by Labour, the Greens and NZ First saying it gave ministers “extraordinary and unprecedented powers to directly negotiate the terms of the disposal of publicly owned assets”. Second reading completed on February 16 and remaining stages on February 18. Still opposed by Labour, the Greens and NZ First. Social Housing Reform (Transaction Mandate) Bill

Introduced on Nov 22 under urgency and passed through all stages with all parties in favour. The bill clarifies eligibility for, and the rate of, an accommodation supplement for a community spouse or partner who is not receiving long-term residential care in a hospital or rest home and whose spouse or partner is receiving long-term residential care.

Social Security (Accommodation Supplement) Amendment Bill

Introduced on May 26, the bill ensures a payment received by a person under the COVID-19 Income Relief Payment Programme is treated as the person’s income for the purposes of the Social Security Act. Passed under Urgency through all stages. National and ACT opposed as they argued the income relief payment created a two tier welfare system. Social Security (COVID-19 Income Relief Payment to be Income) Amendment Bill

Introduced on March 4. The Bill corrects drafting errors and retrospectively validates payments to some beneficiaries last year and ensures they are eligible this year. First reading on March 7 and referred to the Social Services and Community Committee, to be reported by April 1. National opposed to the short process. Reported back on March 27 with second reading on April 4, committee stage April 9 and third reading April 10. National and ACT voted against throughout. Social Security (Winter Energy Payment) Amendment Bill