963 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety

963 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: What was the budget approved for the Road Cone Digital Hotline prior to its establishment, and how does that budget compare with the final cost of the programme?

Hon Brooke van Velden: I am advised WorkSafe New Zealand originally allocated a budget of $395,000 for a 12-month pilot. As at 31 December 2025, following the conclusion of the pilot, WorkSafe had spent $227,570 excl. GST on costs associated with the road cone digital hotline pilot. This expenditure also reflects investment in improvements to WorkSafe that will endure beyond the hotline, such as lifting inspector capability and improving feedback systems.