Consultation on proposed changes to on-farm health and safety rules recognise what rural families have been saying for years – farms are not just workplaces, they are homes and family businesses too.

“The Government’s review reflects the real lives of many rural families and the fact the farm is a home where children grow up immersed in the rhythms and responsibilities of farming life,” says Rural Women New Zealand National President Sandra Matthews.

Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) has consistently argued that health and safety frameworks must be developed in consultation with rural communities to ensure they reflect the realities of life on the farm.

“It is critical that rural voices are at the forefront of farming safety, so we are particularly pleased to see the Government’s commitment to consult farmers directly and have industry groups work alongside WorkSafe to develop new codes of practice,” Matthews says.

“Reforms that clearly define the role of children on farm are essential to strike the right balance between common sense, keeping children safe and preserving the valuable learning experiences that come from being involved in farm life. They will also provide confidence to farming parents.”

RWNZ also supports continued restrictions on higher-risk tasks without supervision and welcomes the shift toward a more flexible and context-aware regulatory framework, particularly the new model where compliance with Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs) can demonstrate that health and safety duties are being met.

“Rural women, who often juggle roles as caregivers, farmers and business operators, have long understood that farms are both a business and a family home,” Matthews says. “It is impossible to divorce the two and the Government’s reforms appropriately recognise this.”

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