ensuring that the Corporation monitors access to the accident compensation scheme by Māori and identified population groups in order to deliver services under this Act in a manner that supports access to the scheme by injured Māori and injured persons in those population groups:

5 Section 6 amended (Interpretation)

In section 6(1), insert in its appropriate alphabetical order:

identified population group means a population group identified by the Corporation as appropriate for the purposes of a report under section 278B

6 Section 262 amended (Functions of Corporation)

After section 262(1)(b), insert:

(ba)

monitor access to the accident compensation scheme by Māori and identified population groups to identify how to improve delivery of services under this Act to injured Māori and injured persons in those population groups; and

7 New section 278B inserted (Corporation to report in each financial year on access to accident compensation scheme by Māori and identified population groups)

After section 278A, insert:

278B Corporation to report in each financial year on access to accident compensation scheme by Māori and identified population groups

(1)

The Corporation must, in each financial year, prepare a report concerning access to the accident compensation scheme by Māori and identified population groups.

(2)

The report must provide analysis of—

(a)

the level of access to the accident compensation scheme in that financial year by Māori and identified population groups; and

(b)

any disparities the Corporation identifies in access to the accident compensation scheme that affect Māori or any identified population group; and

(c)

any barriers the Corporation identifies that affect access to the accident compensation scheme by Māori or any identified population group; and

(d)

the causes of, or factors contributing to, those disparities and barriers, as identified by the Corporation.

(3)

The Corporation must provide the report to the Minister as soon as practicable after the end of each financial year.

(4)

The Minister must present the report to the House of Representatives as soon as practicable after receiving it.

Part 2 Transitional and other matters

8 Schedule 1AA amended

In Schedule 1AA,—

(a)

insert the Part set out in the Schedule of this Act as the last Part; and

(b)

make all necessary consequential amendments.

9 Schedule 1 amended

(1)

In Schedule 1, clause 42(1)(c), replace “5 weeks” with “1 week”.

(2)

In Schedule 1, clause 42(2), replace “5-week period” with “first week of incapacity”.

Schedule New Part 4 inserted into Schedule 1AA

s 8

Part 4 Provisions relating to Accident Compensation (Access Reporting and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2023

12 Interpretation

In this Part,—

2023 amendment Act means the Accident Compensation (Access Reporting and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2023

annual scheme access report means a report prepared by the Corporation under section 278B.

13 First annual scheme access report

(1)

The Corporation must, before preparing the first annual scheme access report, consult with such organisations and people as the Corporation considers appropriate about the methods that it proposes to use in preparing that report, including the methods the Corporation proposes to use to identify—

(a)

the levels of access to the accident compensation scheme by Māori and identified population groups the Corporation proposes to report on in the first annual scheme access report; and

(b)

disparities in access to the accident compensation scheme that affect Māori or any identified population group.

(2)

The Corporation must provide the first annual scheme access report to the Minister as soon as practicable after 30 June 2024.

(3)

Section 278B(2)(c) and (d) does not apply to the first annual scheme access report and subclauses (4) and (5) apply instead.

(4)

The first annual scheme access report must also—

(a)

state that Māori will be reported on in all subsequent annual scheme access reports; and

(b)

describe the identified population groups that the Corporation proposes to report on, in addition to Māori, in the second and third annual scheme access reports; and

(c)

describe the methods that the Corporation proposes to use in preparing the second and third annual scheme access reports.

(5)

The description of the methods referred to in subclause (4)(c) must include,—

(a)

in the cases of the second and third annual scheme access reports, a description of how the Corporation, when preparing those reports, proposes to engage with Māori and the identified population groups that the Corporation proposes to report on in those reports:

(b)

in the case of the second annual scheme access report, a description of the methods the Corporation proposes to use to identify any barriers that affect access to the accident compensation scheme by Māori and the identified population groups that the Corporation proposes to report on in that report:

(c)

in the case of the third annual scheme access report, a description of the methods the Corporation proposes to use to identify the causes of, or factors contributing to, those disparities and barriers.

14 Second annual scheme access report

Section 278B(2)(d) does not apply to the second annual scheme access report.

15 Minimum weekly earnings of earners in full-time employment

The amendments set out in section 9 of the 2023 amendment Act apply only in respect of claimants—

(a)

whose entitlement to weekly compensation arose on or after the date on which section 9 commences; or

(b)

who were receiving weekly compensation before the date on which section 9 commences and remain entitled to receive weekly compensation on or after that date.

Legislative history

22 November 2022		Introduction (Bill 189–1), first reading and referral to Education and Workforce Committee
13 April 2023		Reported from Education and Workforce Committee
		(Bill 189–2)
11 May 2023		Second reading
16 May 2023		Committee of the whole House
1 June 2023		Third reading
6 June 2023		Royal assent

This Act is administered by the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment.

Accident Compensation (Access Reporting and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2023