Van Velden Launches Farm Safety Reforms to Reflect Realities of Rural Life

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden has announced a series of major reforms aimed at reshaping New Zealand’s rural health and safety rules to better reflect the lived experiences of farmers and agricultural workers. Central to the reforms is a push to reduce regulatory red tape while maintaining strong protections for those living and working on farms.

The reforms are the result of widespread engagement with farmers, forestry workers, and agricultural contractors, many of whom have expressed frustration that current laws fail to reflect the practical, day-to-day realities of farming life—especially when the farm is not only a workplace but also a family home.

Family Farms and Child Involvement: Changes to Risk Regulations

A major component of the reform is a proposed amendment to the General Risk and Workplace Management Regulations. The change would formally recognise that young people can undertake light, low-risk chores on family farms, such as collecting eggs, feeding small animals, and watering plants.

“Farmers know their farms and the risks that come with farming life better than anyone,” Minister van Velden said. “They’ve told me the law needs to recognise that the farm is often both their workplace and their home.”

She stressed that age-appropriate participation in farm life is a key part of rural culture, and that the reforms would provide legal clarity and peace of mind for families. While light tasks would be permitted, higher-risk activities—such as those involving heavy machinery like hay balers—would remain restricted. As children mature, more complex work like supervised tractor driving could become acceptable under clearly defined guidelines.

Industry-Led Codes of Practice: WorkSafe to Lead With Sector Input

The Government is also empowering WorkSafe New Zealand to develop two new Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs) in close consultation with the agriculture sector. These codes are designed to provide farmers with clear, reliable guidance to meet their legal obligations without unnecessary bureaucratic burden.

Currently, compliance with ACOPs is voluntary, but Minister van Velden intends to strengthen their legal standing. “I am making a change to the ACOP model to reassure people that if they comply with an ACOP, they have done enough to meet their health and safety duties,” she said.

The first ACOP will focus on clarifying roles and responsibilities on farms, especially around overlapping duties and Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) requirements. This is particularly relevant for contractors working alongside farm owners. For instance, if a fencing contractor is working on a property, both parties are responsible for managing risks such as moving vehicles or exposure to chemical sprays.

The second ACOP will provide practical advice on the safe use of farm vehicles and machinery. It will include guidance for:

• Quad bikes

• Tractors

• Side-by-side utility vehicles

• Two-wheel motorbikes

• Other machinery used in agriculture

This comes in response to the high rate of injuries and fatalities—particularly involving quad bikes—in rural New Zealand. “Too many people are killed or seriously injured in quad-bike related incidents,” van Velden acknowledged, while also noting the variation in practices across farms.

Making Rules Work for Farmers, Not Against Them

A consistent theme of the reform is the emphasis on workability and common sense. Van Velden said she expects WorkSafe to consult closely with the sector to ensure new guidance is not only safe but also usable in real-world farm environments. “It is important that farmers who know their work best are able to help shape the rules that will help keep them safe,” she said.

The reforms are part of a broader deregulatory push by the Government to reduce compliance costs and make it easier to operate small and medium-sized businesses. Van Velden reiterated the importance of enabling business success without compromising safety. “These changes will save time and costs for businesses and workers as we cut red-tape to make it easier to do business,” she said. “When our Kiwi businesses thrive, there are more jobs and lower prices for all New Zealanders.”

What’s Next: Consultation and Rollout

The Government will now undertake a targeted consultation process with rural communities, farmers, agricultural workers, and industry associations. This process will help set appropriate thresholds for what kinds of chores children can do and ensure the ACOPs reflect modern farm operations.

The farming community is being encouraged to take part in the consultation process, which will be crucial in shaping practical, forward-thinking regulations that promote both farm safety and rural family life.