Peters: NZ First will change health and safety law after election, despite voting for it now
Winston Peters says NZ First will undo the Government's new health and safety laws after the next election — even though the party is voting to pass them in Parliament right now.
On 23 June 2026, Peters said he finds it "very unfortunate" that he has to support the Bill, and that NZ First is "looking very hard" at the changes, according to RNZ. He made clear he plans to try to change the law if NZ First gets back into government after the election.
The law being debated changes how WorkSafe — the government body that checks workplace safety — does its job. The Government has released details about what these changes mean.
This shows disagreement inside the Government. NZ First is part of a three-party coalition, which means it has agreed to vote the same way as the other parties on laws they all signed up to. Peters has to vote for this law — but he is publicly saying he does not like it, and plans to change it later. This is an unusual thing to do.
When politicians say in advance that they will undo a law they are voting for right now, it sends a message: this law may not stick around. That matters for the other parties who backed it, National and Act. It tells voters — and other politicians — that Peters is thinking ahead to the next election.
Other workplace laws were also recently changed. The Government introduced new health and safety rules for hydrogen work in 2024, which came into effect in mid-2025. There is also a separate law making changes to keep children, young people, and adults in care safer — this came from the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care.
Peters' complaint is about the WorkSafe changes only. He has not said which specific parts of the law he wants to change.
Peters appears to be getting NZ First ready for the next election campaign. He wants to show that his party is different from his coalition partners, especially on rules for businesses. NZ First voters have often wanted simpler rules that are easier for small companies to follow. What actually happens to this law depends on who wins the election and gets into government.
