Resetting the Culture at WorkSafe: What New Changes Mean for Canterbury Businesses

A major cultural and structural shake-up is underway at WorkSafe, with the government announcing sweeping changes to refocus New Zealand’s health and safety regulator.

Resetting the Worksafe Culture

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says WorkSafe will shift from a reputation as a punitive enforcer to an agency that prioritises early engagement, practical guidance, and risk-based advice.

“A culture where the regulator is feared… is not conducive to positive outcomes in the workplace,” the Minister said, citing extensive feedback from businesses and workers during nationwide consultation.

So What is Changing?

Key reforms to WorkSafe and the wider health and safety landscape include:

1. New Letter of Expectations: WorkSafe must now treat health and safety guidance as a core role alongside enforcement.

2. Updated Guidance Materials: 50+ outdated documents have already been removed, with refreshed, relevant guidance underway.

3. Road Cone Hotline: A new ‘tipline’ lets the public report excessive or unnecessary temporary traffic management — part of a push to curb over-compliance.

4. Financial Restructure: WorkSafe’s budget will be split into four new categories to boost transparency and track the impact of its work:

   1. Supporting work health and safety practice

   2. Enforcing compliance

   3. Authorising and monitoring activities

   4. Energy safety

5. Legislative Changes Ahead: A Health and Safety at Work Reform Bill is expected later this year to formally cement these changes.

From “Last Resort” to “First Port of Call”

The changes mark a deliberate cultural reset — one welcomed by Business Canterbury and the broader business community.

“This was the logical next step,” says Chief Executive Leeann Watson. “Businesses have battled with a heavy-handed, inconsistent regulator for years. A shift to proactive, practical engagement is long overdue.”

Watson said local businesses were able to feed their experiences directly to the Minister during a Health and Safety Roadshow held at Business Canterbury last year, and it's clear that feedback has helped shape this reform.

Business Canterbury supports the move to refocus WorkSafe’s attention on critical risks, not all risks, and to provide businesses with clear advice — not just compliance notices without solutions.

What to Watch

While the announcements are significant, businesses will be watching closely to see how this filters through to frontline interactions.

A key test will be whether WorkSafe inspectors arrive not just with a clipboard, but with a collaborative mindset.

Bottom Line

These reforms could signal a new era for health and safety in New Zealand — one where guidance, clarity, and trust form the foundation of safer workplaces.

Business Canterbury will continue monitoring how these changes roll out and advocating for a system that supports good practice and real outcomes — not red tape for its own sake.

Our View 

Read the Business Canterbury Media Release in relation to this change, for our views and reaction here.

More Information

You can also read more about the changes and government updates below - 

• 3 June 2025 Media Release: www.beehive.govt.nz/release/worksafe-makes-significant-shift
• 4 April 2025 Media Release: First set of changes for health and safety reform