New road, visa, boating rules kick in across NZ this October
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A series of new laws and policy changes covering road rules, lifejackets, cholesterol medication and visa applications will take effect across New Zealand in October, 1News has reported.
The changes, which follow Parliament wrapping up for the term, include new requirements for drivers passing cyclists, mandatory lifejackets on smaller recreational boats, wider access to cholesterol-lowering medication and changes to visitor and Parent Resident Visa processes.
Road rules change from October 1
Drivers, cyclists and e-scooter riders will face several changes to road rules from October 1, including new overtaking distances, give-way requirements around buses and expanded access for two-wheeled road users.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop said the changes are intended to clarify the rules and reflect how Kiwis use roads and footpaths.
Motorists will be required to leave a universal 1.5-metre gap when passing cyclists, horse riders and other road users.
The rule was changed from an earlier proposal that would have required a one-metre gap in areas with speed limits below 60km/h and a 1.5-metre gap at higher speeds, after officials decided a single distance would be simpler and safer.
Children aged 12 and under will also be legally allowed to ride bicycles on footpaths when accompanied by an adult.
Drivers will face a new give-way requirement for buses, with motorists required to yield to buses pulling out from bus stops on roads with speed limits of 60km/h or less.
Documents show around half of people already believed this was a legal requirement, despite it not previously being mandated.
E-scooter riders will also be legally permitted to use cycle lanes.
Lifejackets mandatory on smaller recreational boats
Lifejackets will become mandatory on recreational boats up to six metres long when the vessel is underway from October 9.
The skipper will be responsible for ensuring everyone on board is wearing a properly fitted lifejacket, including when a boat is in shallow water or close to shore.
The rules will not apply to surfers, sports events or stand-up paddleboard surfing.
Previously, lifejacket requirements varied between regions and were largely left to the skipper's discretion.
Officials estimate the new rules could save an average of 10 lives a year, with around 17 people dying annually in recreational boating incidents.
Maritime NZ says the initial focus will be on educating boaties about the new requirements rather than punishment, while Coastguard says the change will give more people a chance of surviving an accident on the water.
Wider access to cholesterol medication
Access to rosuvastatin, a medicine used to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, will be widened from October 1 after Pharmac removes eligibility restrictions.
The change means anyone who needs rosuvastatin will be able to access it without meeting specific criteria or requiring their clinician to apply for prior approval.
Pharmac says a lower price secured through its annual tender process has made the change possible.
Around 76,000 people currently use rosuvastatin each year. Pharmac estimates another 81,000 people could access it in the first year, rising to around 108,000 within five years.
Rosuvastatin is a higher-potency statin, meaning it can lower cholesterol effectively at lower doses than some other options.
More visa applications move online
A range of visitor and transit visa applications will have to be submitted online from October 1 as Immigration New Zealand phases out paper applications.
The change will apply to transit visas and several visitor visa categories, including general, business, group, academic, medical treatment, parent and grandparent, sports events and visiting media applications.
Paper applications lodged before October 1 will still be processed, but applications submitted after that date will only be accepted on paper in exceptional circumstances.
INZ said moving online would make it easier for people to "upload documents, track applications and reduce errors and delays".
Parent Resident Visa selection changes
The Government will also change how parents are selected for the Parent Resident Visa from October 5.
Around 90% of expressions of interest will be selected in date order, while the remaining 10% will be chosen by ballot.
The annual cap of 2500 visas will remain unchanged.
Existing expressions of interest will automatically move into the new system and will no longer expire after two years, provided applicants keep their details current.
The first selection under the new system is due to take place on November 10.
A series of new laws and policy changes covering road rules, lifejackets, cholesterol medication and visa applications will take effect across New Zealand in October, 1News has reported. The changes, which follow Parliament wrapping up for the term, include new requirements for drivers passing...
A series of new laws and policy changes covering road rules, lifejackets, cholesterol medication and visa applications will take effect across New Zealand in October, 1News has reported.
The changes, which follow Parliament wrapping up for the term, include new requirements for drivers passing cyclists, mandatory lifejackets on smaller recreational boats, wider access to cholesterol-lowering medication and changes to visitor and Parent Resident Visa processes.
Road rules change from October 1
Drivers, cyclists and e-scooter riders will face several changes to road rules from October 1, including new overtaking distances, give-way requirements around buses and expanded access for two-wheeled road users.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop said the changes are intended to clarify the rules and reflect how Kiwis use roads and footpaths.
Motorists will be required to leave a universal 1.5-metre gap when passing cyclists, horse riders and other road users.
The rule was changed from an earlier proposal that would have required a one-metre gap in areas with speed limits below 60km/h and a 1.5-metre gap at higher speeds, after officials decided a single distance would be simpler and safer.
Children aged 12 and under will also be legally allowed to ride bicycles on footpaths when accompanied by an adult.
Drivers will face a new give-way requirement for buses, with motorists required to yield to buses pulling out from bus stops on roads with speed limits of 60km/h or less.
Documents show around half of people already believed this was a legal requirement, despite it not previously being mandated.
E-scooter riders will also be legally permitted to use cycle lanes.
Lifejackets mandatory on smaller recreational boats
Lifejackets will become mandatory on recreational boats up to six metres long when the vessel is underway from October 9.
The skipper will be responsible for ensuring everyone on board is wearing a properly fitted lifejacket, including when a boat is in shallow water or close to shore.
The rules will not apply to surfers, sports events or stand-up paddleboard surfing.
Previously, lifejacket requirements varied between regions and were largely left to the skipper's discretion.
Officials estimate the new rules could save an average of 10 lives a year, with around 17 people dying annually in recreational boating incidents.
Maritime NZ says the initial focus will be on educating boaties about the new requirements rather than punishment, while Coastguard says the change will give more people a chance of surviving an accident on the water.
Wider access to cholesterol medication
Access to rosuvastatin, a medicine used to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, will be widened from October 1 after Pharmac removes eligibility restrictions.
The change means anyone who needs rosuvastatin will be able to access it without meeting specific criteria or requiring their clinician to apply for prior approval.
Pharmac says a lower price secured through its annual tender process has made the change possible.
Around 76,000 people currently use rosuvastatin each year. Pharmac estimates another 81,000 people could access it in the first year, rising to around 108,000 within five years.
Rosuvastatin is a higher-potency statin, meaning it can lower cholesterol effectively at lower doses than some other options.
More visa applications move online
A range of visitor and transit visa applications will have to be submitted online from October 1 as Immigration New Zealand phases out paper applications.
The change will apply to transit visas and several visitor visa categories, including general, business, group, academic, medical treatment, parent and grandparent, sports events and visiting media applications.
Paper applications lodged before October 1 will still be processed, but applications submitted after that date will only be accepted on paper in exceptional circumstances.
INZ said moving online would make it easier for people to "upload documents, track applications and reduce errors and delays".
Parent Resident Visa selection changes
The Government will also change how parents are selected for the Parent Resident Visa from October 5.
Around 90% of expressions of interest will be selected in date order, while the remaining 10% will be chosen by ballot.
The annual cap of 2500 visas will remain unchanged.
Existing expressions of interest will automatically move into the new system and will no longer expire after two years, provided applicants keep their details current.
The first selection under the new system is due to take place on November 10.
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