Coasties will be keen to hear that another significant step has been made in the ongoing effort to overhaul the Holidays Act 2003.

Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety, Brooke van Velden, announced on Monday that Cabinet has approved the consultation exposure draft of the Bill, set for release next week.

“This Government will improve the Holidays Act with the help of businesses, workers, and payroll providers who will be affected by changes to the Act,” said Ms van Velden.

She emphasised the importance of refining the legislation to allow business owners and workers to focus on their core activities rather than grappling with compliance challenges.

The consultation will involve 100 organisations and individuals, carefully selected by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).

These participants represent a diverse range of perspectives and technical expertise, ensuring that the feedback provided will be comprehensive and balanced.

Ms van Velden noted the overwhelming interest in the consultation process, with over 700 registrations of interest, particularly from small businesses.

“This is encouraging and gives a sense of how important this reform is to New Zealanders,” she stated.

The consultation aims to gather insights from those with hands-on experience in implementing the Holidays Act within payroll and business systems.

Additionally, MBIE will collaborate with public service agencies such as Health NZ and the Ministry of Education, given the historical challenges in these sectors that have necessitated large-scale remediation programmes.

Ms van Velden reassured the public that while not everyone could be selected for this initial consultation, all New Zealanders will have an opportunity to contribute their views when the Bill reaches the Select Committee stage.

The feedback from this targeted consultation will be crucial in shaping the final legislation before it is introduced to Parliament.