Health and Safety Reform to Boost NZ Innovation, Hydrogen Tech and Lab Research

In a significant move to modernize workplace regulations and foster innovation, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden has announced proposed changes to New Zealand’s health and safety regulations that aim to better support the science, technology, and energy sectors. These reforms are part of a broader agenda to simplify compliance, align rules with international best practices, and enable emerging technologies to flourish without compromising safety.

The proposals specifically target outdated regulations that currently hinder laboratory research and the development of hydrogen technologies—two key areas for New Zealand’s future economy and sustainability goals.

Making Health and Safety Smarter for Science and Tech Labs

Minister van Velden acknowledged that current rules have not kept pace with the evolving realities of modern research environments. Laboratory scientists and university researchers have long highlighted that health and safety regulations often do not reflect the actual risks involved or the operational needs of contemporary science and technology facilities.

“For example,” the Minister explained, “existing rules require laboratories handling flammable substances to be located on the ground floor. But many universities and science institutes place these labs on higher levels for fire safety, better evacuation design, and security purposes. This arrangement is even supported by Fire and Emergency New Zealand.”

Yet the current regulatory framework doesn't permit such a setup, putting labs in the difficult position of either reconfiguring expensive infrastructure or struggling with compliance ambiguity. These discrepancies increase costs, delay research, and discourage innovation.

The proposed reforms will align hazardous substance management requirements with real-world laboratory risk, ensuring that safety rules support—not obstruct—scientific advancement. By mid-2026, the Government plans to finalize updates that enable laboratories to operate safely and effectively under clearer, more flexible guidelines.

Consultations are already underway, particularly with university laboratories and private sector science and tech labs, to ensure any changes are practical and address on-the-ground needs.

Supporting the Hydrogen Economy

In addition to laboratory regulations, the Government is also advancing regulatory changes to unlock the potential of hydrogen technologies—a cornerstone of the Government’s 2024 Hydrogen Action Plan.

Hydrogen has been recognized globally as a clean energy source that can decarbonize sectors such as heavy transport, shipping, manufacturing, and energy storage. But New Zealand’s existing safety regulations were not designed with hydrogen in mind, inadvertently restricting its safe development and use.

“We’re proposing specific updates to remove barriers and support the safe rollout of hydrogen infrastructure, including storage, transport, and distribution systems,” said van Velden. “These updates will be flexible, future-proofed, and aligned with international best practices.”

Key changes under consultation include:

• Enabling hydrogen storage containers already in use in Europe and Asia.

• Establishing safety requirements for cryogenic liquid hydrogen, crucial for mobility and energy applications.

• Introducing safety frameworks for hydrogen filling stations and dispensers, which are essential to scaling up hydrogen-powered transport.

These changes will provide clarity for innovators and investors while ensuring robust safety standards for the public and workers.

A Future-Ready Regulatory Environment

Both sets of reforms—the laboratory safety overhaul and the hydrogen regulation updates—are part of a broader strategy to reduce red tape, lower costs for businesses, and streamline compliance without sacrificing public safety. This modernized regulatory approach is expected to benefit sectors ranging from university research and private science ventures to green energy startups and global hydrogen investors.

“These reforms will save time, reduce compliance burdens, and help New Zealand businesses grow faster,” van Velden emphasized. “When our innovators thrive, it leads to more high-value jobs, stronger exports, and lower prices for all New Zealanders.”

Timeline and Stakeholder Engagement

Targeted consultation with stakeholders is already underway, with broader public engagement now invited. The Government aims to finalize the regulatory updates by mid-2026, ensuring New Zealand’s health and safety rules keep pace with technological change.

“We’re building a smarter, more responsive regulatory environment,” said van Velden. “These changes aren’t just about safety—they’re about enabling a stronger, more innovative, and globally competitive New Zealand.”