New Zealand’s Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) has announced changes to its Accredited Employers Program (AEP) from April 2025.  

There are 459 employers in the program covering 21% of New Zealand’s workforce.  

The changes introduce stronger measures to keep employers accountable, with a focus on outcomes for workers whose injury claims are handled by their employers rather than through ACC directly. 

“Not all employers in the program are doing a consistently good job and we need to fix that,” Minister for ACC Peeni Henare said. 

“The stronger requirements and measures we are putting in place mean injured workers will be better supported by their employers and find the process easier.  

“Accredited employers will be given better insights into their performance, more support and guidance to help them improve their worker's experience and be recognised for top performance."   

The changes include improved assessment of claims and injury management, a new performance monitoring model recognising top performers and addressing poor performance faster, and an updated health and safety audit process and a new option of certification. 

Updated pricing options will also be available with more choices under the Partnership Discount Plan to allow employers to take on longer claims management periods, providing workers with complex injuries more continuity of support. 

ACC says it will more quickly identify employers who are not doing well and act faster to help them improve – or remove them if they continue to perform poorly.  

“I want workers to have confidence their employers are being held to account and that their experience during the claims process is being more actively monitored,” Mr Henare said. 

Under AEP, accredited employers take on ACC’s role to assess and manage claims for work injuries. In return they get a large reduction in their ACC levy.