REGULATORY STANDARDS BILL - 5 DAYS LEFT TO SUBMIT

Steve from Redwood Valley

If you need information a good start would be to watch the video below:
melanienelson.substack.com...

With a mere 5 days left to submit on the Regulatory Standards Bill (the hard deadline is June 23, 2025, at 1 PM NZST), the "thought of the day" must be a direct appeal to civic duty and the urgent need for action:

"This is it. With only 5 days remaining, the Regulatory Standards Bill stands on the precipice of fundamentally altering New Zealand's legal landscape, with profound implications for environmental protection, democratic accountability, and the very fabric of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Your submission is no longer just an option, but a vital imperative to safeguard the collective future of Aotearoa against a bill widely condemned as dangerous and anti-democratic. Make your voice resonate before the opportunity passes."

Here's why the urgency is paramount:

Final Call for Public Input: The select committee process for public submissions is closing soon. This is the last direct and formal chance for the public to influence the bill's content before it moves closer to becoming law.

A "Treaty Principles Bill 2.0": Legal experts and Māori leaders are explicitly calling this bill "Treaty Principles Bill 2.0" due to its explicit omission of Te Tiriti principles from its "good law-making" criteria. The Waitangi Tribunal has already found the Crown in breach of Treaty principles during its development, making this a deeply concerning blow to the Crown's obligations to Māori.

The "Regulatory Takings" Threat is Real: This clause, which could mandate compensation if regulations "take or impair" property (including potential profits), is a significant risk. It could lead to costly lawsuits against the government, effectively creating a "chilling effect" that discourages vital regulations for public good, such as those protecting waterways from pollution, regulating carbon emissions, or protecting biodiversity. Imagine the cost to taxpayers, or the inability to address pressing environmental crises.

Undermining Democratic Governance: Critics argue the bill aims to centralise power in an unelected Regulatory Standards Board and the Minister for Regulation, imposing a narrow, ideologically driven framework on all future legislation. This could severely limit the ability of future elected governments to respond to the evolving needs and values of New Zealanders, hindering true democratic responsiveness.

Ignoring Overwhelming Public Opposition: A previous consultation period reportedly saw 88% of 23,000 submissions opposing the bill, 11.67% undecided and just 0.33% actually in favour of the Bill. A strong wave of new submissions is crucial to reinforce this widespread public concern to the parliamentary committee.

Don't be deterred by the perceived complexity. Even a brief submission clearly stating your opposition and outlining one or two key concerns (e.g., impact on Te Tiriti, "regulatory takings," or democratic accountability) is valuable.

A very quick submission builder can be found here:
hapai.co.nz...

Thank you