ACOP
Also known as: Approved Code of Practice
An Approved Code of Practice is a code approved by the responsible Minister under HSWA s222 and providing practical guidance on how to comply with the Act and Regulations. ACOPs are not strictly binding but a court may take compliance (or non-compliance) into account when deciding whether a duty has been met.
Legal context
ACOPs are NZ's equivalent of the AU model Codes of Practice. They are written by WorkSafe NZ and approved by the Minister under HSWA s222. Current ACOPs cover topics including asbestos surveys and management (2016, with a 2026 update pending), excavation work, demolition, working at heights, dangerous goods, scaffolding, and exposure to hazardous substances. The HSWA Amendment Act 2026 introduces a NSW-style "safe-harbour" framing for ACOPs from its commencement on 1 April 2027 — flagged in the RAE IQ engine as enacted but not in force, and never cited as binding before commencement.
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Related terms
HSWA
HSWA 2015 — the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 — is the primary New Zealand WHS statute, in force since 4 April 2016. It replaced the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 and introduced the PCBU framework largely parallel to the Australian model WHS regime, with WorkSafe NZ as the regulator.
PCBU
PCBU stands for Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking — the primary duty-holder under model WHS legislation in Australia. It is broader than “employer”: a PCBU can be a company, a sole trader, a partnership or an unincorporated association, and the duty applies whether or not workers are paid.
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47 WHS and HSWA terms with legal context, FAQs and regulator references.