# 2026 Tracker — Seniors Relevant Bills | Field | Detail | | ------------------ | ------------------------------------------ | | **Type** | Tracker — current and upcoming legislation | | **Status** | Live tracking template | | **Date** | June 2026 | | **Classification** | Neutral business/campaign intelligence | --- ## Purpose This tracker is designed to monitor **all bills before the House of Representatives that affect older New Zealanders**. It should be updated weekly during sitting periods and reviewed before each select committee submission deadline. --- ## Monitoring Process | Step | Action | Frequency | Tools | | ---- | --------------------------------------------------------- | --------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | | 1 | Scan Parliament website for new bill introductions | Weekly | https://bills.parliament.nz | | 2 | Check Order Paper for upcoming debates | Weekly | https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/order-paper/ | | 3 | Review select committee business for call for submissions | Weekly | https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/make-a-submission/ | | 4 | Track legislative programme for government priorities | Monthly | DPMC quarterly legislative programme | | 5 | Monitor Parliament Facebook/Twitter for urgent items | Daily | @NZParliament | | 6 | Check Beehive for minister bill announcements | Daily | https://www.beehive.govt.nz | --- ## Key Search Terms ``` "seniors" site:bills.parliament.nz "NZ Super" site:bills.parliament.nz "aged" site:bills.parliament.nz "retirement" site:bills.parliament.nz "health" site:bills.parliament.nz "disability" site:bills.parliament.nz "ACC" site:bills.parliament.nz "housing" site:bills.parliament.nz "social security" site:bills.parliament.nz "elder abuse" site:bills.parliament.nz "dementia" site:bills.parliament.nz "pension" site:bills.parliament.nz "superannuation" site:bills.parliament.nz ``` Also check: https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/bills-and-laws/bills-currently-before-parliament/ --- ## Key Sources | Source | URL | What It Provides | | ---------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | | Bills (all types) | https://bills.parliament.nz | Full text, history, progress | | Order Paper | https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/order-paper/ | Daily agenda with bills scheduled | | Legislation Programme | https://www.dpmc.govt.nz | Government's planned legislative agenda | | Beehive — Bill announcements | https://www.beehive.govt.nz | Ministerial statements on new legislation | | Hansard — Bill debates | https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/ | Record of debate, votes | | Select Committee submissions | https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/make-a-submission/ | Current calls for submissions | | Supplementary Order Papers | https://bills.parliament.nz | Late amendments to bills | | NZ Legislation | https://www.legislation.govt.nz | Acts and regulations in force | --- ## Bills Currently Before Parliament Last updated: 9 June 2026 | Bill Title | Type | Member/Minister | Stage | Select Committee | Seniors Relevance | Key Dates | Watch Points | | ---------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | | | Appropriation (2026/27 Estimates) Bill | Government | Hon Nicola Willis (National) — Minister of Finance | Before Parliament (annual Budget legislation) | Finance and Expenditure Committee | 🔴 Critical — authorises all government spending for 2026/27 including Vote Health ($34.2b), Vote Social Development (NZ Super), Vote Housing | Introduced May 2026 | Annual budget cycle; review seniors funding lines including aged care, NZ Super, SuperGold, and health services | | | | Residential Tenancies (Registration of Boarding House Landlords) Amendment Bill | Members' Bill | Hon Jenny Salesa (Labour) | First reading passed 29 Apr 2026; at select committee | Social Services and Community Committee | 🔴 Submission required — boarding houses house many vulnerable older people; lack of registration leads to unsafe conditions | Submissions close 11 Jun 2026 | Directly protects vulnerable older boarding house residents | | | | Retirement Villages Act Amendment Bill | Government | Hon Casey Costello (NZ First) — Minister for Seniors / Hon Cameron Brewer (National) — Commerce and Consumer Affairs | Expected introduction July 2026 | Select committee (to be confirmed) | 🔴 Critical — directly affects all retirement village residents; ORA repayment reform, dispute resolution, enforcement | Expected July 2026 | Most significant RV sector reform in decade; Consumer NZ campaign for fair ORA repayment | | | | | Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill | Government | Hon Brooke van Velden (ACT) — Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety | First reading passed (12 Feb 2026) | Education and Workforce Committee | 🟡 Monitor — impacts health and safety in aged care workplaces, staffing ratios, and resident safety | Introduced 8 Feb 2026; submissions closed | Refocuses HSWA on "genuine" risks; may affect aged care sector compliance obligations | | | | | Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Amendment Bill | Government | Hon Matt Doocey (National) — Minister of Health | Introduced 19 May 2026; first reading 26 May 2026 | Select committee (to be confirmed) | 🟠 Monitor — biggest health regulation shake-up in 20 years; Minister gains power to direct health regulators; interim suspension without notice for serious harm risk; removes specific references to Maori cultural competency in regulator standard-setting | Introduced 19 May 2026; first reading 26 May 2026 | Directly regulates doctors/nurses/allied health who serve older people; cultural competency changes significant for kaumatua; new Review Committee can overturn regulator registration decisions | | | | Fair Trading Amendment Bill | | | Commerce (Commerce Commission Reform) Amendment Bill | Government | Hon Scott Simpson (National) | First reading passed | Finance and Expenditure Committee | 🟡 Monitor — Commerce Commission regulates retirement village sector and consumer markets affecting seniors | Introduced Mar 2026; submissions open | Restructures Commerce Commission governance; may impact enforcement of retirement village consumer protections | | | | Disability Support Services Bill | Government | Hon Louise Upston (National) — Minister for Disability Issues | First reading (introduced 18 May 2026) | Social Services and Community Committee | 🔴 Submission required — directly affects disabled older people and those with long-term conditions accessing support services. ⚠️ Clause 11(3) opens door to income/asset testing via regulations; "natural supports" clause redefines family responsibility; deems family carer hours above funded allocation NOT "work" (sidesteps Fleming v AG Supreme Court Dec 2025 ruling) | Submissions close **12 Jun 2026 (1pm)** — URGENT | New legislative framework for disability support; may impact aged care interfaces for older disabled people; older parents caring for disabled adult children into 60s–80s affected | | | | Social Security (Jobseeker Support and Accommodation Supplement) Amendment Bill | Government | Hon Louise Upston (National) | First reading 19 May 2026; submissions open | Social Services and Community Committee | 🟡 Monitor — tightens eligibility for accommodation supplement which affects older renters on low incomes | Submissions close **10 Jun 2026 (11:59pm)** — URGENT | May reduce housing affordability for seniors on fixed incomes who rely on accommodation supplement | | | Regulatory Systems (Social Security) Amendment Bill (No 2) | Government | Hon Louise Upston (National) | Before Parliament; first reading pending | Select committee (to be confirmed) | 🔴 Submission required — amends NZ Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001; makes minor policy changes to super settings | Introduced 2026 | Makes minor policy changes to NZ Super and Retirement Income Act; may affect indexation or eligibility pathways | | | Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Amendment Bill | Government | Hon Matt Doocey (National) — Minister of Health | Introduced 2 Jul 2025; before select committee | Health Committee | 🔴 Critical — restructures health system governance; removes equity provisions; affects aged care commissioning and Maori health services for older people | Submissions closed; committee reported back 2026 | Removes Māori Health Authority; changes Health NZ governance; aged care commissioning pathways may be disrupted | | | Mental Health Bill | Government | Hon Matt Doocey (National) — Minister of Health | Reported back from Health Committee 17 Apr 2025; awaiting second reading | Health Committee | 🟡 Monitor — new legislative framework for mental health; affects older people with mental health conditions including dementia-related behaviours | Reported back Apr 2025; bill stalled | New human rights framework; may affect care of older people with mental health needs in aged care settings | | | Redress System for Abuse in Care Bill | Government | Hon Erica Stanford (National) — Minister for Abuse in Care | Before Parliament; select committee stage | Select committee (to be confirmed) | 🔴 Critical — establishes redress system for survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care; many older survivors may be eligible | Introduced 2025/2026 | "Charlotte's Change" amendment extends redress scope; affects older people who experienced abuse in psychiatric and aged care settings | | | | Modern Slavery Bill | Members' Bill | Co-sponsored National/Labour MPs | First reading passed 29 Apr 2026; at Education and Workforce Committee | Education and Workforce Committee | 🟠 Monitor — aged care supply chains (PPE, food, equipment, staff) captured; director liability; providers above $100M revenue threshold affected | Introduced 10 Feb 2026; report back due 31 Aug 2026; target Royal Assent before Nov 2026 election | Mandatory modern slavery reporting; criminal fines up to $200K; civil up to $600K; Crown money ban for non-compliant providers — affects publicly-funded aged care | | | | Employment Leave Bill | Government | Hon Brooke van Velden (ACT) — Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety | Introduced 9 Mar 2026; before Parliament | Education and Workforce Committee | 🟡 Monitor — replaces Holidays Act 2003; affects aged care/home support workforce leave entitlements (annual, sick, public holidays) | Introduced 9 Mar 2026; submissions called | New leave framework for ~60,000 aged care/home support workers; NZNO and E tū monitoring implications for care workforce conditions | --- ## Bills at Select Committee Stage Last updated: 9 June 2026 | Bill Title | Committee | Submissions Close | Seniors Issues | Recommended Action | Date Submitted | | ---------- | --------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --- | | | | Residential Tenancies (Registration of Boarding House Landlords) Amendment Bill | Social Services and Community Committee | **11 June 2026 (11:59pm)** — URGENT | Boarding houses house many vulnerable older people; lack of registration leads to unsafe conditions | 🟠 Consider making a submission on older tenants' protections | --- | | | | Disability Support Services Bill | Social Services and Community Committee | **12 June 2026 (1pm)** — URGENT | Framework for disability support affecting older disabled people and those with long-term conditions. ⚠️ Clause 11(3) opens door to income/asset testing via regulations; "natural supports" clause shifts responsibility to families; deems family carer hours above allocation NOT "work" (sidesteps Fleming v AG Dec 2025 Supreme Court ruling) | 🔴 Submission recommended before deadline — key concerns: means testing door, carers rights, family responsibility redefinition | --- | | | | Modern Slavery Bill | Education and Workforce Committee | Closed 28 May 2026 | Aged care supply chains (PPE, food, equipment, staff) captured for providers >$100M revenue; director liability; Crown money ban for non-compliance | 🟡 Monitor — report back due 31 Aug 2026; track sector submissions | --- | | | | Commerce (Commerce Commission Reform) Amendment Bill | Finance and Expenditure Committee | Open (to be confirmed) | Commerce Commission enforcement of retirement village consumer protections | 🟡 Monitor — track submissions from Consumer NZ and Grey Power | --- | | | | Fair Trading Amendment Bill | Select committee (to be confirmed) | **16 July 2026** | Misleading pricing and scams disproportionately affect older consumers | 🟠 Consider making a submission on seniors consumer protections | --- | | | | Social Security (Jobseeker Support and Accommodation Supplement) Amendment Bill | Social Services and Community Committee | **10 June 2026 (11:59pm)** — URGENT | Tightens accommodation supplement eligibility; affects older renters on fixed incomes | 🟠 Consider submission — housing affordability for seniors | --- | | | | Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Amendment Bill | Health Committee | Closed (submissions previously called) | Health system restructuring; removal of equity provisions; aged care commissioning | 🔴 Monitor committee report and SOPs | --- | | | | Mental Health Bill | Health Committee | Closed (reported back Apr 2025) | New framework affects older people with mental health conditions including dementia | 🟡 Track second reading timing | --- | | | | | Redress System for Abuse in Care Bill | Select committee (to be confirmed) | Open (to be confirmed) | Redress for older survivors of abuse in state/faith-based care | 🔴 Submission highly recommended for senior survivors advocacy groups | --- | | | | | Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Amendment Bill | Select committee (to be confirmed) | Open (to be confirmed) | Biggest health regulation shake-up in 20 years; Minister gains power to direct health regulators; new Review Committee can overturn registration decisions; removes Maori cultural competency references | 🟠 Monitor — may affect regulation of aged care health workforce; consider submission on cultural competency and aged care provisions | --- | --- ## Bills Recently Passed / Royal Assent Last updated: 9 June 2026 | Bill Title | Royal Assent Date | Commencement | Key Provisions for Seniors | Business Impact | | ---------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | Customer and Product Data Act 2025 | 29 March 2025 | Phased — open banking from 2025; broader sectors designated through 2026 | Establishes consumer data right — enables older consumers to access and share their data (banking, utilities, insurance) to get better deals | Major reform; gives consumers (including seniors) more power over their financial data; may help older people find better utility and insurance rates | | | Taxation (Annual Rates for 2025–26, Compliance Simplification) Act 2026 | 2026 (recent) | Tax year 2025–26 | Sets annual income tax rates; compliance simplification measures affect seniors managing tax affairs | Minor impact — compliance simplifications may help seniors with tax obligations | | | Appropriation (2025/26 Estimates) Act 2025 | 2025 | 1 Jul 2025 | Annual budget authorisation; includes health funding for aged care services, NZ Super payments | Annual budget cycle — review seniors funding lines each year | | | Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024 | 2024 | Phased 2024–2025 | Reintroduced no-cause termination for periodic tenancies (90-day notices); affects older renters' housing security | Major impact — older tenants face increased risk of displacement; Age Concern and CAB raised concerns | | | | Social Security (Modernisation) Amendment Act 2026 | 27/29 May 2026 (third reading passed under urgency) | Awaiting commencement | Enables automated decision-making for NZ Super and welfare; reduces human interaction in benefit processing — concerns raised by Labour, Greens, and Te Pati Maori re Robodebt parallels, digital exclusion of seniors, and redacted Regulatory Impact Statement | --- ## Government Bills in Development Last updated: 9 June 2026 | Bill Title | Lead Minister | Expected Introduction | Seniors Issues | Advocacy Target | | ---------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | Retirement Villages Act Amendment Bill | Hon Casey Costello (NZ First) — Minister for Seniors / Hon Cameron Brewer (National) — Commerce and Consumer Affairs | Expected July 2026 | Directly affects older people living in or considering retirement villages — ORA reform, dispute resolution, code of practice updates | 🔴 Critical — Consumer NZ campaign for fair repayment; RVA and Grey Power engaging | | | | Budget 2026 — Appropriation (2026/27 Estimates) Bill | Hon Nicola Willis (National) — Minister of Finance | Introduced May 2026 | Annual Budget Bill authorises all government expenditure including Vote Health ($34.2b), NZ Super, and housing | 🔴 Critical — sets seniors funding for 2026/27 financial year | | | | Better Later Life (EPOA Reform) Bill | Hon Casey Costello (NZ First) — Minister for Seniors | Possible 2027 | Enduring Powers of Attorney reform — Law Commission recommendations; elder abuse prevention | 🟠 Monitor — Law Society and Public Trust have advocated for reform | | | Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 | Hon Chris Bishop (National) — Minister for Housing | Introduced (in development) | National rent registration database; affects older tenants' data and rent affordability tracking | 🟡 Monitor — privacy implications for older tenants | | | Housing Supply and Affordability Bill | Hon Chris Bishop (National) — Minister for Housing | Expected 2026 | Medium-density residential standards expansion; affects seniors housing choice and downsizing options | 🟡 Monitor — may improve supply of smaller homes suitable for older people | | | Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Further Amendment Bill | Hon Matt Doocey (National) — Minister of Health | Possible 2027 | Additional health system restructuring; may further change aged care commissioning | 🟡 Monitor — sequel to current Pae Ora amendment | | | Digital Identity and Trust Framework Bill | Hon Judith Collins (National) — Minister for Digitising Government | Under development | Digital ID system; seniors may face barriers to adoption or be vulnerable to digital ID fraud | 🟠 Consider submission — digital inclusion for older people | --- ## Member's Bills of Interest Last updated: 9 June 2026 | Bill Title | Member | Ballot Status | Seniors Relevance | Support/Oppose | | ---------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | Residential Tenancies (Registration of Boarding House Landlords) Amendment Bill | Hon Jenny Salesa (Labour) | Drawn from ballot; first reading passed 29 Apr 2026; at select committee | Seniors are disproportionately represented in boarding houses; registration provides oversight and safety protections | 🟢 Support — protections for vulnerable older tenants | | | Anzac Day Amendment Bill | (Member's Bill) | At select committee | Affects older veterans and their families | 🟢 Support — recognition of service | | | Summary Offences (Move-on Orders) Amendment Bill | (Member's Bill) | First reading passed | May affect older people's use of public spaces | 🟡 Monitor — potential impact on seniors' mobility in public areas | | | Retirement Villages (Fairer Repayments) Amendment Bill | Ingrid Leary (Labour) | In biscuit tin ballot — not yet drawn | Proposes 3-month ORA repayment (10% within 5 working days); would apply to existing and new residents; Consumer NZ backs the bill | 🟢 Support — aligns with Consumer NZ campaign for fair repayment; pressures government to strengthen proposed 12-month rule | --- ## Regulatory Changes (Secondary Legislation) Last updated: **\*\***\_\_\_**\*\*** | Title | Agency | Status | Seniors Impact | Effective Date | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------ | --------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------- | | Residential Care and Disability Support Services Amendment Regulations 2026 (SL 2026/39) | Ministry of Health / Health NZ | Made — in force | Amends means assessment and subsidy regulations for residential care under RCDSSA 2018; affects financial contribution calculations for older people in aged residential care | 1 April 2026 | | | | | | | | | | | | | --- ## Issue-Specific Bill Watch ### NZ Superannuation | Trigger | What to Watch | Source | | ----------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------- | | Any bill proposing age change | National commitment for 67 from 2044; NZ First non-negotiable 65 | Party profiles, coalition agreement | | Annual indexation regulations | April rate adjustment | MSD regulations | | NZ Super Fund settings | Contribution rate changes | Budget decisions | ### Retirement Villages | Trigger | What to Watch | Source | | ----------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------- | | RV Act amendment bill | Currently in development — expected 2026-2027 | Minister Brewer announcements | | Consumer NZ campaign response | Government response to Fair Repayment campaign | Consumer NZ, beehive | ### Health and Aged Care | Trigger | What to Watch | Source | | ----------------------------- | -------------------------------- | ----------------------------- | | Health funding legislation | Budget appropriations for health | Budget documents | | Aged care quality regulations | Audit and certification changes | Health NZ, Ministry of Health | ### Elder Abuse and Protection | Trigger | What to Watch | Source | | -------------------------- | -------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------- | | Family Violence amendments | Enhanced protections for older victims | Ministry of Justice | | EPA law reform | Enduring Powers of Attorney changes | Law Commission, Ministry of Justice | --- ## Tracking Conventions | Symbol | Meaning | | ----------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ | | 🟢 **No action needed** | Bill has no significant seniors impact | | 🟡 **Monitor** | Bill may affect seniors — track progress | | 🟠 **May require submission** | Bill directly affects seniors — consider making a submission | | 🔴 **Submission required** | Critical impact on seniors — must make a submission | | ✅ **Complete** | Action taken / submission made | --- ## Notes - Update this tracker every Monday and Thursday during sitting weeks - Check for Supplementary Order Papers (SOPs) which can introduce late amendments - Track members' bills — these can gain momentum if drawn from ballot - Budget legislation (Appropriation Bills) passes annually — review seniors funding lines - Regulations Review Committee can scrutinise secondary legislation affecting seniors --- _Part of the NZ Seniors Knowledge Base — Political & Campaign Intelligence layer_ _Last updated: June 2026 (9 Jun 2026 — Prompt 14B2 scan complete: 1 new bill, 3 tracker updates)_