Watch live: Hairdressing law shake-up announced by David Seymour
Photo:
RNZ / Felix Walton
Separate hairdressing regulations are set to be scrapped, with cabinet agreeing to all four recommendations from a regulatory review into the hairdressing and barbering industry.
The
review, carried out by the Ministry for Regulation along with the Ministry of Health
, looked at the regulations the industry needed to follow and whether any of them were deemed to be unnecessary or holding the industry back.
They included rules prohibiting dogs, other than guide-dogs, from being inside a barber shop and a ban on staff serving their clients refreshments.
Announcing the review in December, Minister for Regulation David Seymour said regulations were not making a practical difference to public health, but were
frustrating business owners and customers
.
David Seymour gets a trim after announcing a review of hairdressing regulations. "Best hair in the coalition," he says.
Photo:
RNZ / Felix Walton
The review has now recommended a full revoke of the Health (Hairdressers) Regulations 1980.
Seymour said compliance with health and safety, building regulations and general public health requirements was required already and there was no need for separate regulation from the 1980s.
"Existing regulations aren't making a practical difference to safety, but the compliance is frustrating and costly. We anticipate that revoking all existing regulations will save the industry a minimum of about $1 million per year," he said.
Seymour said the review also found that existing regulations were often applied inconsistently, with annual registration fees set by local government varying between $140 and $495, depending on location.
"Examples of absurd rules include how far apart salon seats should be, how bright the lights in the business are, whether you can have a 'cuppa' with your cut and whether dogs are allowed in salons. From the end of July now these decisions will be up to the business owner," he said.
The review put forward two options in revoking the existing regulations. One option was to rely on existing mechanisms in other legislation along with new industry guidance. The other was to replace the current regulations with risk-based regulations, focused on health and hygiene practices.
Ultimately, it recommended the first option, with the possibility that more targeted regulations could be introduced at a later date.
The
Ministry for Regulation
will work with the Ministry of Health on hygiene, disinfection, and sanitation guidance, accompanying WorkSafe's existing guidance.
It will also work with the Ministry of Justice to respond to concerns raised by submitters over how alcohol licensing applies to the industry.
Once the regulations are revoked, the Ministry for Regulation will be required to report back in two years to see whether the risks were being appropriately managed by the new regime or whether new risk-based regulations should be introduced.
The review identified some instances of harm still occurring in the industry, such as ACC claims related to non-workers, complaints to the industry body and complaints to the Commerce Commission.
But it said the harm was low-level and existing regulations were not proportionate to the risks.
The review was the third sector-wide regulatory review carried out by the Ministry for Regulation, following reviews into early childhood education and agricultural and horticultural products.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero
,
a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
16 minutes ago
- RNZ News
New Plymouth councillor Murray Chong kicked out after labelling policy ‘racist'
Councilllor Murray Chong makes his "racist" claims at a New Plymouth District Council meeting. Photo: Te Korimako o Taranaki/LDR New Plymouth's mayor has thrown councillor Murray Chong out of a meeting for calling a new policy racist and questioned a Hobson's Pledge founder's motives for stoking division. Would-be mayor Max Brough and running-mate councillor Gordon Brown also faced criticism, after defending Chong at this week's New Plymouth District Council meeting. Kevin Moratti - a founding board member of Hobson's Pledge - last week denounced the council's new buy-local plan as "race-based". Moratti said he wanted the New Plymouth Ratepayers Alliance given access to council decision-making "just as some other unelected parties are". The council's procurement plan aims to save money, while making local economic, social, cultural and environmental gains. Among many goals, it seeks to improve partnerships with iwi, hapū and Māori businesses, so they can supply council alongside other local companies. At Tuesday's meeting, Chong vowed to oppose it. "We do have a racist policy here." Mayoral contender Sam Bennett objected, saying council policies were based on the Local Government Act and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and "are no way race-based". Outgoing mayor Neil Holdom upheld the objection. Chong withdrew the comment, then immediately repeated it. "The reality is, if the word 'race' [sic] and it involves a race, that is racist," Chong said. He accused councillors of following the previous Labour Government's agenda. Holdom ruled that incorrect, banning him from speaking further. "Councillor Chong, it's three strikes and I'm saying you can sit down, because… you've disparaged this organisation." "This is a racist policy," Chong insisted. Holdom ordered him out. Mayor Neil Holdom ordered councillor Murray Chong from the chambers. Photo: Te Korimako o Taranaki/LDR "It's time to go, Councillor Chong." Chong tried to approach Moratti, who was in the audience. For years, the pair have campaigned against specific representation for mana whenua. "Out!" shouted the mayor. Mayoral candidate Brough attempted to explain Chong's concern. "We're going to... be doing this again in a few months, because the government will change the rules," he said. "I think that's Murray's point." Councillor Brown said Chong "just used the wrong words". "I don't think it was his intent, so cut him some slack?" he pleaded. "The oral language not his greatest strength and he's done well over the last 12 years to get where he is." Councillor Dinnie Moeahu said he'd clearly heard what Chong said. "You two try and justify that behaviour… when you say he didn't mean it that way," said Moeahu. "Those who keep questioning our standing in our community, in our country… what are you afraid of and what have you lost? "All I see is finally we're being included." Councillor Harry Duynhoven pointed to the councillors' oath to serve the entire community. "Mr Moratti, I see you laughing," said the former Labour minister. "I'm surprised you're not on the ballot paper, that you haven't actually put yourself up there and gone for it, because you think you can do it better." Like similar groups nationwide, the New Plymouth Ratepayers Alliance is aligned with the Taxpayers' Union, which forbids members standing for office. Chong and Brough set up the ratepayer group with Moratti, but stepped aside to get elected. Councillor Anneka Carlson Matthews said they didn't represent all ratepayers. "They are racist and outdated, and I'm happy to call that out." Mayor Holdom made her withdraw the racism allegation. Councillor Bryan Vickery urged Moratti and others to read the "pretty impressive" procurement strategy. "I don't see this in any way as being separatist. In fact, the tenor of this document is being fair to all - but inclusive." Holdom said councillors ought to lead inclusivity. "It's disappointing, when people come into the organisation and try to divide us," he said. "It's shadow-boxing, the fear of something that doesn't exist. "It's a fear that somehow being inclusive… comes at a cost to someone else. "Just be aware of the people that want to do this and what are their agendas, because it's clear to me that they are not acting in this community's best interest, so what are they trying to achieve?" Businessman Brough favours local contracting, so voted for the procurement strategy at last week's finance committee, but backtracked on Tuesday and abstained. With Chong expelled, Brough was the sole councillor not in favour. Moratti has been an Act candidate for parliament, while Chong has stood for NZ First and the New Conservatives. Last week, Moratti said he'd not been a Hobson's Pledge member for 10 years, but as recently as 2021, confirmed he was a trustee. On Tuesday, he refused questions, saying the LDR story revealing his demand for decision-making influence was biased. "We will not give it any more energy." - LDR is local body journalism funded by RNZ and NZ on Air Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
38 minutes ago
- RNZ News
Greyhound racing industry takes court action
Racing Minister Winston Peters has ordered a halt to greyhound racing from August 2026. Photo: PHOTOSPORT Lawyers for the Greyhound Racing Association have told the High Court in Wellington that the ban on greyhound racing will have a devastating effect on the livelihoods of more than 1000 people. Last December, Racing Minister Winston Peters announced the sport would be banned from August 2026. On Thursday, the association argued in court that the work of a ministerial advisory committee tasked with implementing the ban should be stopped, until a judicial review of the legislation was heard. Lawyer Chris Finlayson said the government had erred in directing the industry to monitor and improve animal welfare standards, only to ignore the results in cabinet's decision-making process. The court was told the racing industry had engaged with three reviews of the sport in just over a decade and had consistently shown willingness to comply with directives to improve animal welfare, and controls surrounding injuries and deaths, as well as track standards and rehoming initiatives. He said the cabinet paper - on which the decision to ban the sport was based - was "misleading" and a "very selective characterisation" of the key issues facing cabinet, which he argued was the industry's animal welfare standards, not the erosion of public license - society's acceptance of the practices of the sport. Finlayson said the government - after directing the industry to undertake a statutory process and then "blandly ignore it" - contradicted its obligation to consider the expertise of the industry in legislating towards the sport. Lawyers for the Greyhound Racing Association (left to right) Chris Finlayson KC and Jonathan Kaye at the High Court in Wellington. Photo: RNZ/Bill Hickman "The standard of animal welfare of greyhound racing is high," Finlayson said. "It aligns with the standards in other jurisdictions and is applied with significantly more rigour than pet dogs." Finlayson said the uncertainty over the recommendations of the ministerial advisory committee's plan to wind down the sport was resulting in members of the industry leaving the country before the ban, a collapse in breeding numbers and serious mental-health issues in participants of the industry. He argued, after the ban, New Zealanders could still bet on Australian dog races, which had "equal or lesser" animal welfare standards than Aotearoa's racing industry. Counsel for the Attorney General - acting on behalf of the Minister of Racing - said interim relief application was "fundamentally premised on a need to stop the legislation". Lawyer Katherine Anderson said the action, if successful, "would frustrate the introduction of the bill to Parliament". She said it was "undeniably clear" the court could not make an order to prevent the introduction of a bill. "It's very clear that the applicant fundamentally [says] the decision is wrong and is attempting to draw you in." She said it was up to the Minister to decide "how and if" parties would be consulted before the bill was put to Parliament. Lawyers for the Attorney General - acting on behalf of the Minister of Racing - (left to right) Katherine Anderson and Emma Dowse at the High Court in Wellington. Photo: RNZ/Bill Hickman "There's no straight jacket on the minister to go to the racing industry saying, 'Is there a ban on greyhound racing that's required on welfare grounds?'. "They've been elected to make policy decisions and, if people don't like it, they can be un-elected," Anderson said. Throughout proceedings, Judge Dale La Hood pressed the Greyhound Racing Association's counsel to clarify how the action would benefit the industry, if it's success was not to prevent the ban. "You need to explain to me... what you're seeking to have... stopped, other than preventing a ban on greyhound racing. I don't know if I understand what the benefit of interim relief would be to your client, if it doesn't halt the ban. "That's crucial to my decision on whether you've got a case," La Hood said. Finlayson said he would undertake to clarify his client's intent in a memorandum to the judge after the day's proceedings. Judge La Hood reserved his decision. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
The Panel with Jennie Moreton and Sue Kedgley Part 1
Photo: SERGIO HANQUET Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Jennie Moreton and Sue Kedgley First up, new figures show the amount of Kiwisaver funds that bought into weapon companies increased by 40 percent this year: is your Kiwisaver invested in weapons involved in the war in Gaza? And they discuss microplastics, specifically the Global Plastic Treaty talks which are in danger of collapsing
