There has been condemnation of Simon Bridges' plan to cut health and safety red tape.

The National Party leader wants a "common sense" test for all health and safety practices, and Bridges says there's a hundred regulations his party would axe in the first six months of governance.

It includes some relating to hairdressers, electricity prices, engine drivers' exams, gates and cattlestops, and fire extinguishers.

But Trade Union Council President Richard Wagstaff says it would see practices go backwards.

He told Heather du Plessis-Allan there needs to be more leadership in getting people to take health and safety seriously.

"By taking the foot off the pedal on that, which is exactly what's happening with this announcement, we're really signalling we've given up on that and we want to go back to the way we were, and I just don't think that's tolerable."

• Simon Bridges wants a 'common sense' test applied to all red tape
• Why National's 'common sense test' faces challenges