Following a review undertaken by the Ministry for Regulation and the Ministry of Health, Cabinet has decided to remove the list of offensive trades contained in Schedule 3 of the Health Act 1956.
As a result, from 10 September 2026, businesses previously classified as offensive trades will no longer be required to register annually with their local authority or pay an offensive trade registration fee.
The review concluded that the registration requirements were outdated and that the public health risks associated with these activities can be adequately managed through existing regulatory frameworks, including:
- The wider power available under the Health Act 1956
- Environmental legislation, including the Resource Management Act 1991
- Industry-specific legislation such as the Animal Products Act 1999 and other sector-based regulatory regimes.
The Minister for Regulation and Minister for Health have released a joint statement on the changes at Red tape tipline continues fixing the problems no one else will | Beehive.govt.nz.
At this stage, please be aware that offensive trade registration will cease from 10 September.
