At the time of writing, the coalition agreements between National, ACT and NZ First have just been released.

The 100-day plan, which includes 49 initiatives, is ambitious, albeit focused more on repealing existing laws than enacting new policy. Outside parliament, the new government will face significant economic headwinds and a challenging global environment of economic and geopolitical uncertainty. There is no doubt that it is going to be a busy few months.

Top three priorities

Accessible health care, quality education, and law and order were the top priorities identified by CA ANZ members in our survey in the lead-up to the election and, unsurprisingly, these form key planks in the new government’s plan.

In health care, focus is on progressing the third medical school with the University of Waikato, setting five major targets for the health system and disestablishing the Māori Health Authority.

In education, the plan includes an hour per day of mandatory reading, writing and maths; the banning of cellphones in schools; a redesign of the English and maths curriculum; and the disestablishment of Te Pūkenga. Time will tell whether these initiatives will lead to better long-term educational outcomes.

In law and order, areas of focus include removing the prison population reduction plan, doubling down on gang activity and serious youth offending, and repealing and replacing parts of the Arms Act 1983.

What happens after 100 days?

The coalition agreements outline the direction the new government will take New Zealand in. There are a few key areas we’ll be watching closely.

Tax is a natural area of focus in the agreements. Interest deductibility for rental properties will be restored in stages, with 100% deductibility restored from the 2025–2026 income year. Additional funding will be provided to IR to enhance its audit function, but National’s manifesto commitment of a ‘taxpayer’s receipt’ will not be progressed. The ban on foreign buyers will not be repealed. Marginal tax bracket adjustments largely benefiting the ‘squeezed middle’ remain on the agenda but an increase in the Working for Families abatement rate threshold that would have benefited low-income families has been dropped to help fund the tax cuts.

Immigration settings will change at the periphery. The Accredited Employer Work Visa will be revised and median wage requirements will be removed from Skilled Migrant Category visas. Like many other sectors, the accounting profession continues to experience significant talent shortages and immigration settings remain critical.

Agricultural emissions are also a focus, with the planned adoption of standardised farm-level reporting and allowing sequestration to be offset against on-farm emissions. The agreements also commit to reduce and review farming regulation.

CA ANZ will be watching the new Ministry of Regulation and its sector reviews with interest, as well as the commitment made in the agreements to evaluate government expenditure against the principles of ‘public goods, social insurance, regulating market failure and political choice’.

What is CA ANZ’s role?

Regardless of the make-up of the government, ideology or policy, we will continue to measure policy and law reform proposals against the five principles of fairness, efficiency, transparency, certainty and prosperity.

We’ll be looking for robust and thorough consultation, evidence-based policy development and post-implementation reviews. Our role remains one of a publicgood advocate, engaging with ministers and spokespeople across the house on issues important to the profession and the wider community.

CA ANZ will be watching the new Ministry of Regulation and its sector reviews with interest...