The New Zealand Association of Registered Beauty Professionals is the membership organisation for the beauty industry in NZ. We are a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting our members, regulating the industry and achieving a highly qualified, and professional workforce.
Our members have industry verified qualifications, are fully insured and follow strict health, hygiene and safety standards to safeguard consumers, and the future of the industry.
Reminder - Gift card rules are changing
Gift card rules are changing next year. Now is a good time to understand what’s happening and update your systems so that you are ready.
From March 2026, new gift card rules will come into effect in New Zealand. The changes are designed to protect consumer rights and ensure consistency in the gift card market.
What is a gift card?
Under the new law, a gift card includes any card or voucher, whether physical or digital, that is redeemable for goods or services.
Certain exclusions apply, such as cards issued for returned goods, prepaid cards for telecommunications or utilities, and cards used in loyalty programs.
What is changing?
Cards must last at least three years expiry
All gift cards you sell to consumers must have a minimum expiry period of three years from the date of sale. This change brings New Zealand into line with international standards such as Australia’s three-year minimum expiry.
The expiry date must be prominent
The expiry date, or a statement indicating no expiry date, must be clearly printed or shown on the gift card itself.
You could be fined if you don’t follow the rules
If you fail to follow these new regulations you could face a range of fines. Individuals may be fined up to NZ$10,000, while organisations may be fined up to NZ$30,000.
When do the changes happen?
The new rules start from 16 March 2026.
They don’t apply to any gift cards you have already sold, or that you do sell between now and 16 March 2026.
Prepare your business
You can start getting ready for the change now.
The Commerce Commission has more information on its website.
Clarification on Industry Licensing and Regulation
It is disappointing to read a newsletter from another professional organization that contains incorrect information. Misinformation like this only divides the industry rather than fostering collaboration for the benefit of all professionals.
To clarify: there are NO Mandatory National Health Protection Licenses. If such a measure were to be introduced, it would require public consultation and the agreement of every council across New Zealand.
As many of you know, Tanya Morrison and Kim Ryan (Government Regulations portfolio holder) met with Dr. Shane Reti last year to discuss the national registration of Beauty Therapists, Cosmetic Tattooists, and Nail Technicians. Initially, Dr. Reti believed we might fall under the Health Practitioners Competency Act, but after a thorough investigation with Tanya and Kim, it was determined that we do not. For us to be included under this Act, a complete legislative overhaul would be required. Instead, we are better aligned under the Public Health Act.
The NZ Board of Professional Skin Therapies stated in their newsletter:-
Although it’s only the beginning of the year, industry discussions are already intensifying following a contentious submission by the NZ Association of Registered Beauty Professionals. This submission requested that the Ministry of Health and Dr. Reti encourage NZ Local Government (NZLG) to implement a single Health & Hygiene Bylaw nationwide.
To be absolutely clear: we have NOT persuaded Dr. Reti to take this action. Dr. Reti advised that we first work with local councils to establish consistency across the country, as there is currently no capacity within this parliamentary term to introduce new legislation. His suggestion of aligning council regulations was aimed at laying the groundwork for potential future legislation.
At present, all beauty clinics operating in areas with council bylaws are required to be licensed.
Dr. Reti also requested that we provide a framework for councils to follow in order to protect the industry from unqualified and uneducated operators. We have recommended that:
We will be consulting with the industry on this, and we have invited submissions from professionals on any additional considerations that should be included.
This is not a revenue-gathering initiative; it is about protecting both your business and the public. At this time, there is no government proposal for national licensing.
Unfortunately, with Dr. Reti recently being replaced by Simeon Brown, Tanya, and Kim, will need to restart this conversation with the Ministry.
We remain committed to advocating for a safer, more professional industry, free from unqualified operators.
Please be mindful of misinformation, and if you have any questions, Kim is more than happy to discuss this further.
NZARBP February 2025
Update on Regulatory Efforts for Our Industry
This year, the Association has made significant progress in advocating for the introduction of regulations to ensure the safety and professionalism of our industry, particularly to prevent untrained individuals from performing skin therapy.
Our first meeting with Dr. Shane Reti took place in July, where we had an open and productive conversation about the current state of the industry. Kim Ryan, our Government Regulations portfolio holder, along with Tanya Morrison from the Environmental Protection Association (EPA), provided Dr. Reti with a comprehensive overview of the industry's situation. Dr. Reti agreed that regulation was necessary and suggested that it might fall under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (HPCAA).
Following this meeting, Kim and Tanya were tasked with presenting a supplementary report covering the following key areas:
They met with Dr. Reti again on November 7th, where he confirmed their findings that the industry does not fully fall under the HPCAA (documentation on this is available for anyone interested). Instead, our industry is more appropriately governed by the Health Act 1956. Dr. Reti supported this conclusion and acknowledged that, unfortunately, there is no room for new legislation in this term of government. However, this is not the end of the road.
Dr. Reti has asked us to draft a comprehensive bylaw that addresses the needs of our industry. He has committed to endorsing this bylaw and will advocate for its adoption by local councils as an interim solution. This bylaw will serve as a stopgap until we can push for full legislation in the next government term.
Next Steps
Kim, Tanya, and other key stakeholders, will now work on revising the bylaws, using the Dunedin City Council's framework as a template. The updated bylaw will include the following key provisions:
If you have any specific suggestions or additional points you'd like to see included in the bylaw, please reach out to Dee so we can incorporate them. This is a crucial opportunity to have your voice heard and contribute to shaping the future of our industry.
The biggest challenge now is ensuring that all councils are on board with the same bylaws. Achieving consistency across councils will give us the momentum needed to move toward national legislation. Dr. Reti has requested another meeting in the first quarter of next year to review the bylaw and assist with its rollout.
Thank you for your continued support and engagement as we work towards meaningful regulatory change.
NZARBP Advisory:
Caution Regarding Non-Compliant Equipment Purchases
The New Zealand Association of Registered Beauty Professionals (NZARBP) strongly advises all members to exercise caution when purchasing equipment for their professional use.
Recent reports have highlighted issues with equipment that:
Such equipment poses potential risks to both practitioners and clients, including:
What You Should Do:
By prioritizing compliant and safe equipment, you not only protect your clients and your business but also uphold the high standards of professionalism that the NZARBP represents.
For further guidance or questions, feel free to contact the NZARBP team.
THE BEAUTY NZ ASSOCIATION AWARDS 2024
Saturday, 24 February 2024
Tote on Ascot, Ellerslie Events Centre, Auckland
What a fantastic night to celebrate our industry. Photos will be in the next issue of our magazine, due out in March. For a full list of winners click on our Awards tab.
Clinic of the Year - DOUBTLESS BEAUTY RETREAT
Therapist of the Year - ARLENA PHILLIPS
Spa of the Year - FACE|BODY & BEAUTY
Student/Apprentice of the Year - ANGEL MARSHALL
Cosmetic Tattooist of the Year - CHERIE AYRTON
Nail Technician of the Year - MELODY HATCH
Contribution to the Association - OONAGH KIRKPATRICK
Contribution to the Industry - FLORENCE BARRETT-HILL
Photographed above are the Executive Committee and Office Manager.
Left to right - Dee Clothier-Office Manager, Emma Fraser-President, Larissa Whitman, Louise Gray - Vice President, Kim Ryan, Cris Amaral, Elysa Sollis
BECOME A MEMBER
Be part of a supportive community that cares about you and the future of the industry!
You are invited to join The New Zealand Association of Registered Beauty Professionals, the membership organisation for the beauty industry in NZ.
As a member, you get recognition as a qualified, registered beauty professional, access to resources, exclusive benefits from partner companies and so much more!
Join us today or contact us to find out more.
HEALTH, HYGIENE & SAFETY STANDARDS
UPDATED STANDARDS AVAILABLE NOW
The Association strives to continually encourage consistently high professional and ethical standards, thus protecting the public, clients, staff, and the future of our industry.
The Health, Hygiene & Safety Standards are based upon internationally accepted best practice taken from allied and medical fields. As new research and evidence is continually developing together with advances in beauty care, these guidelines will continue to evolve to ensure we remain at the forefront of safe, hygienic practice.
Contributions from qualified beauty professionals are essential to maintain continued relevance of these guidelines to the industry and as such are invited for consideration in future editions. The recommendations for best practice in these guidelines are included to encourage higher standards of hygienic and safe practices. Find out more.
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