3211 (2026). Hon Jan Tinetti to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety

Written Question

Published date: 19 Feb 2026

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	3211 (2026)
Question asked:	04 Feb 2026
Member asking:	Hon Jan Tinetti
Portfolio:	Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety
Minister replying:	Hon Brooke van Velden
Answer received:	15 Feb 2026
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_03211_2026
Document guid:	a2607a93-dc40-4efc-8aaa-2504a7565668

3211 (2026). Hon Jan Tinetti to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: What analysis, if any, has been undertaken on the potential impact of shifting from prosecution as a “primary tool” to greater use of alternative enforcement options on serious harm statistics in high‑risk industries?

Hon Brooke van Velden: Changes to WorkSafe New Zealand's enforcement policies to enable a greater use of alternatives to prosecution were required to align with updated Solicitor-General Prosecution Guidelines. I have not been provided with any analysis on how this change will affect serious harm statistics in high‑risk industries. However, I do not expect serious harm to increase as a result of WorkSafe being able to use a greater range of enforcement options.