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2 weeks ago | 
businessdesk.co.nz | Mike Mercer
The recent announcement by the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety signalling a “significant refocus” of WorkSafe New Zealand has generated a good deal of heat – but not nearly enough light.
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2 months ago | 
hcamag.com | Bronwyn Heenan |Mike Mercer
The first change proposed is a carve out for small, low risk businesses from general requirements under the Health & Safety at Work Act (HSWA).
Those businesses will only have to manage critical risks and provide basic facilities to ensure worker welfare.
What defines a “small business” and more importantly what defines a “low-risk business” (along with which obligations they will be exempt from), will be critical to understand.
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Mar 9, 2025 | 
businessdesk.co.nz | Greg Hurrell |Bronwyn Heenan |Mike Mercer |Pattrick Smellie
The Building Research Association of New Zealand has launched a 10-year strategy reset to try and stem the never-ending flow of building failures in NZ.
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Mar 6, 2025 | 
businessdesk.co.nz | Bronwyn Heenan |Mike Mercer |Pattrick Smellie
We have written in this column before about the tragic loss of life and serious injuries suffered by guides and visitors to Whakaari White Island on Dec 9, 2019.
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Mar 3, 2025 | 
lexology.com | Bronwyn Heenan |Mike Mercer
The High Court (Court) has ruled that Whakaari Management Ltd(WML) did not have a duty under section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 to ensure the safety of the walking tour workplace on Whakaari / White Island. As a result, WML’s conviction in the District Court for a breach of section 37 has been quashed. This decision significantly clarifies the health and safety obligations of landowners who allow third parties to access their land for commercial activities.
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Nov 29, 2024 | 
businessdesk.co.nz | Simon Robertson |Peter Griffin |Mike Mercer |Pattrick Smellie
It’s near the end of the year, so it’s probably time to throw some hard balls and get punchy before I quieten down, go soft, and give you my favourite reading, podcast, movie, and music lists going into Christmas.
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Nov 28, 2024 | 
businessdesk.co.nz | John Anthony |Mike Mercer |Maria Slade
A proposed law change will set an income threshold above which workplace personal grievances cannot be pursued.The Cabinet has agreed to introduce an annual threshold of $180,000 for unjustified dismissal of personal grievances, meaning staff earning above that amount will not be able to make a claim.Leadership rolesWorkplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden said the change to the Employment Relations Act would enable employers to ensure they had the right fit for their...
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Nov 27, 2024 | 
businessdesk.co.nz | Peter Griffin |Mike Mercer |Pattrick Smellie |Charles Finny
I’ve long admired the Australian Government’s willingness to apply the blowtorch to Big Tech companies, willing to question their market power and enact legislation to make them accountable for their actions.That certainly comes with some risk.
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Nov 26, 2024 | 
businessdesk.co.nz | Mike Mercer |Riley Kennedy |Maria Slade |Denise McNabb
Former Port of Auckland chief executive Tony Gibson has been found guilty of breaching his due diligence obligation as an officer under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. The decision comes six months after the highly publicised trial.Gibson was an officer under the act because his position as CEO allowed him to exercise significant influence over the management of the Port of Auckland (POAL).
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Oct 15, 2024 | 
cuinsight.com | Randall Smith |Renée Sattiewhite |Mike Mercer |Jill Nowacki
Thank you for tuning in to episode 196 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your host, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight.com. This episode is brought to you by Velera, formerly PSCU/Co-op Solutions, the nation’s premier payments credit union service organization and an integrated financial technology solutions provider.
