KiwiSaver, Jobseeker and more — what's changing---July 1
It's July 1 and believe it or not we're halfway through 2025, which means the Government will roll out several new changes to policies and regulations.
Here are some of the highlights you need to know:
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Healthy Homes standards come into effect
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One big change is mandatory Healthy Homes standards which all rental properties must now comply with.
The rules set basic standards for heating, insulation and ventilation.
Among them:
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Landlords need to provide one or more fixed heaters that can directly heat a home's main living room. These need to meet the minimum heating capacity
Properties need to be insulated in the ceiling and under the floor, unless the design of the home makes this impossible
Every liveable area needs a window or door that opens to the outdoors and can be fixed open
Kitchens and bathrooms need extractor fans
All rental properties also need efficient drainage, guttering and downpipes and any gaps or holes need to be blocked.
There is a tool on MBIE's Tenancy Services website landlords can use to check their compliance.
Parental leave payments
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The maximum weekly rate of paid parental leave will go up as of July 1.
The maximum parental leave payment rate for eligible employees and self-employed people will increase from $754.87 to $788.66 gross per week, Employment NZ said.
The minimum parental leave payment rate for self-employed parents will also increase from $231.50 to $235 gross per week, to reflect the minimum wage increase on April 1.
There have also been changes to broader parental leave requirements which will take effect that will clarify certain details around how leave is counted and who is eligible.
Jobseeker tightens up
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Jobseeker is making changes to how people can get support.
From Tuesday, people will only get Jobseeker Support for 26 weeks — six months — before they need to reapply. Currently, people need to reapply once a year.
Those who are already getting Jobseeker Support may still be on a 52-week reapplication before they move to the shorter period depending on their situation, Work and Income said.
There will also be changes to two groups of people already on Jobseeker - sole parents who are the primary caregiver and whose youngest dependent child is 14-18 years, and people who were "grandparented" and getting benefits before 2013.
KiwiSaver changes
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The Gvernment announced several changes to KiwiSaver in this year's Budget.
As of July 1, the government contribution will drop from 50 cents to 25 cents for each dollar you contribute to KiwiSaver each year, lowering the maximum government contribution from $521.43 to $260.72. You'll need to contribute at least $1,042.86 to get that.
The government contribution will be extended to include 16- and 17-year-olds from July 1 2025, and they will be eligible for mandatory employer contributions as well, from 1 April 2026. The age for auto-enrolment will remain at 18.
Those enrolled in the scheme with an income of more than $180,000 will no longer receive the government contribution. Eligibility for this will be tested according to one of the last two tax years based on the member's income, once their final tax return is finalised.
ACC payments to increase
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ACC has raised some payments starting July 1 as part of their annual review.
Clients who have been receiving weekly compensation for more than 26 weeks will have their payments increased by 2.89%.
The new gross maximum rate of weekly compensation payable will be $2418.55 per week.
Transport fees to increase
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Public transport fees are changing in many locations as councils try to meet a directive from the government to pay more of the cost of delivering the services.
Fares will increase in Waikato, Taranaki, Wellington, Canterbury and Invercargill. Northland's bus fares are going up in August.
Auckland Transport increased its fares in February. The BayBus service around Tauranga and Bay of Plenty increased prices in April, while the Otago Regional Council has agreed to raise prices but it hasn't set out when that will happen.
In Wellington, Metlink fares will rise 2.2% while in Christchurch, fees will also rise.
Check with your own local public transport for details in your area.
Raw milk records
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From July 1, it will be a requirement to keep records of the movement of raw milk to and from farms.
It's part of the National Pest Management Plan for Mycoplasma bovis which aims to prevent the spread of the disease.
Weight loss drug Wegovy available
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The weight loss and diabetes drug Wegovy (also known as Ozempic) which is only available on prescription, should be on pharmacy shelves as of July 1, drug maker Novo Nordisk confirmed.
It ends a years-long wait for the much-hyped medication.
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Today’s Mind-Bender is the Last of the Year! Can You Guess It Before Everyone Else? 🌟🎁🌲
I dance in the sky with green and gold, a spectacle few are lucky to behold; I’m best seen in the south, a celestial sight—what am I, lighting up the New Zealand night?
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Charities turning away high numbers of volunteer applications
Charities are turning away people wanting to volunteer amidst a flood of interest they say is linked to the high rate of unemployment.
It comes as some businesses receive thousands of applications for paid roles and people look for experience anywhere they can.
The advocacy organisation Volunteering NZ has been tracking the trend. Spokesperson Margaret McLachlan said there has been a considerable rise in applications for volunteer roles across a range of charities.
Many application forms asks people to divulge if they are job hunters.
"Over the last year or so, they are seeing more people coming in who are saying they are in that category. They are looking for work but doing volunteering while that process is taking place."
"As unemployment increases and the cost of living, times are tougher for everybody."
At the same time, she said community organisations supporting social services were busier and needed more helpers.
McLachlan said depending on the organisation, they might want to do a police check, a reference check and an interview.
"In some cases it can be a process to go through and not always, and that can take some time.
"It's actually the same barriers that a person might find in finding a job, can also apply to volunteering. It's not always a easy option."
SPCA had 120 op shops and animal rescue centres across the country in which volunteers worked.
General manager of retail Cathy Crichton said they received about 1300 extra applications for volunteer roles, a 32 percent increase, from June to November 2025, compared to 2024.
"There's definitely a nudge forward which is very exciting and we're very grateful."
But it meant they were not accepting any more volunteers in some areas.
"Because the applications are up it's a unique scenario. But at this point in time, in smaller locations, we've actually got a hold in 19 locations in New Zealand where we are at capacity - and that's very rare and it's a very new trend."
Crichton said anyone seeking volunteer work should think creatively about what skills they can offer - it could be in administration or marketing.
"We'd love to welcome as many people as we could because the more hands on deck the more we can do and the more we can contribute to the community."
She said people were self-motivated to apply for volunteer work.
The unemployment rate rose to 5.3 percent in the September quarter, meaning 160,000 people were jobless. The next quarterly figures are out in February.
"There's a willingness to give back and contribute to the community. Unemployment being high really does encourage people to engage with the workforce and get experience," Crichton said.
"It really is about staying connected with the community and meeting others."
She said they had also seen an increase in young people seeking volunteer work experience.
"It's a great opportunity to get work experience and a reference and there's an appeal there as an employer...I really do think it adds value to a CV."
Stats NZ data showed over half of New Zealanders, 53 percent, volunteered during March 2025 and of those, 27.6 percent volunteered through an organisation and 40.8 percent volunteered directly for another person.
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The best board games to play (and gift) this summer
Over the holiday period, the right game can make all the difference. So which board games should you try out – and which ones should you gift?
1. Sushi Go Party
This colourful, fast-paced game has great art, and a "menu" that can be changed depending on the number of players (up to eight) and their familiarity with the game.
Players win the game by creating the best combination of cards, depending on what's available, by rotating the cards from player to player like a sushi train. It's easy to learn and relatively cheap.
2. Wavelength
In this party game, teams have to try and guess the location of a hidden target on a spectrum, using a clue from one "psychic" team member. The ends of the spectrum reflect two binaries, such as hot–cold or optional–mandatory, and the target falls somewhere in between.
The closer the team gets to where the psychic thinks the target should go, the more points they score. Wavelength is one of those games where no matter if your team gets it right or wrong, you can expect people to give their two cents.
3. Mysterium and Mysterium Park
In these team games, players play mediums seeking the counsel of another player – a ghost – who gives them clues to important information about murders in the house, including the ghost’s own murder.
The ghost offers the other players tarot cards with abstract artwork with which they must attempt to discern the murder weapon, location and culprit.
4. The Quacks of Quedlinburg
This game sees players take the role of potion makers at the local fair, who must push their luck by drawing ingredients out of a bag to make the best potions without them blowing up in their face. It’s simple to teach and hilarious when someone else blows up their cauldron (although arguably less when it’s you).
5. Modern Art
This is one of the most celebrated games from board game designer luminary Reiner Knizia. Players are art dealers auctioning off beautiful paintings done by five professional artists. Players might even forget to play as they get caught up in simply admiring the pieces they are auctioning off.
Modern Art remains a fiendishly clever game that is easy to learn but hard to master.
6. Heat: Pedal to the Metal
This strategic racing game is based on 1960s Formula 1 racing. The base game boasts four tracks on two gorgeous boards, and lovely little cars that pass each other and risk spinning out around corners.
7. Nemesis
By far the most expensive (and complicated) game on this list, Nemesis can best be described as Alien: the board game.
Players have to move through a spaceship, discovering rooms and items as they go, taking care not to alert the horrific extraterrestrials that have managed to get onto the ship – represented by amazingly designed pieces. It’s a truly tense and fun experience for a full afternoon.
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