Independent Commissioner for Animals and end of animals' property status
What it actually does
Would strengthen the Animal Welfare Act to recognise animal sentience, establish an independent Commissioner for Animals with investigative and enforcement powers, and begin removing the legal classification of animals as property.
Source: NZ Law Society (LawTalk Election 2026 feature) · 2026-10
The Trump take
“A Commissioner for Animals? I had a dog once. Didn't need a commissioner. Very nice dog, very loyal, more loyal than some people I could name.”parody
Why it scored this way
Big government
Creates a new independent commissioner's office
-1
Dislikes it
Red tape
New legal protections and enforcement for animals
-1
Dislikes it
On the same topics
Budget 2024 income tax cuts and landlord interest deductibility
Budget 2024 delivered income tax relief averaging about $3.7 billion a year and restored the ability of residential landlords to deduct mortgage interest. The government said it funded the package partly through public service savings and cancelling some previous programmes.
Fast-track Approvals Act
Passed in December 2024 along party lines, the Act created a one-stop consenting process for listed infrastructure, housing, mining and energy projects. Final approval decisions sit with expert panels rather than standard resource consent processes.
Fast-track Approvals Act 2024
Creates a one-stop consenting regime for listed infrastructure, housing, energy and mining projects, with expert panels deciding applications and ministers holding a role in referrals. Passed its third reading on 17 December 2024 on coalition votes and received royal assent in December 2024.