# Latest HSWA guidance release now available for businesses

Date: 30 Oct 2026
Released by: WorkSafe New Zealand

## MediaRelease.co Summary

WorkSafe New Zealand has published a third tranche of guidance for businesses ahead of Health and Safety at Work Act changes taking effect on 1 April 2027. The new material explains occupational disease hazards, which events must be notified, how approved codes of practice offer a safe harbour, and managing seismic risk in buildings. One more release, on overlapping legislation and recreational access, is due in November.

## Original release

WorkSafe has released its third set of guidance to help businesses prepare for changes to the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) coming into force on 1 April 2027. This release covers occupational diseases, events WorkSafe needs to be notified of, what approved codes of practice (ACOPs) are, and seismic risk. It builds on the guidance already published on critical risk, business size, officer duties and overlapping duties. Our final guidance release in November will cover overlapping legislation and recreational access where duties only apply to landowners where work and recreation overlap. The ACOP guidance sets out standards for how specific work can be done safely and how following an ACOP can be treated as compliant with the law (also known as ‘safe harbour’). The guidance also outlines what businesses need to do if a notifiable event occurs, how to identify hazards that may lead to an occupational disease, as well as managing structural seismic risk in buildings. The guidance is now available on the WorkSafe website: - Hazards that can cause occupational diseases - What events need to be notified? - What is an approved code of practice? - Seismic risk in buildings Businesses can use the guidance available now to help them understand the changes and prepare for 1 April 2027. WorkSafe will continue to provide supporting information, tools, and educational resources over the coming months. In addition, a comprehensive marketing campaign will be launched towards the end of the year to help raise awareness among all businesses both large and small.

## Key details

- Issued by: WorkSafe New Zealand
- Published: 30 Oct 2026
- Publisher country: New Zealand
- Subject country/region: New Zealand

Original source: https://www.worksafe.govt.nz/about-us/news-and-media/latest-hswa-guidance-release-now-available-for-businesses/
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