Regulatory Standards Bill – A Dangerous Bill

Steve from Redwood Valley

The Regulatory Standards Bill is so potentially damaging, please listen to the video or audio below and submit on this bill:
substack.com...

With 16 days left to submit on the Regulatory Standards Bill (the deadline is June 23, 2025, at 1 PM NZST), a "thought of the day":

"The Regulatory Standards Bill, despite its stated aim of improving 'good law-making,' carries a significant risk of creating a chilling effect on future governments' ability to regulate in the public interest. Consider how the 'regulatory takings' clause might empower corporate challenges to regulations protecting our environment, health, and cultural heritage, and voice your concerns."

The bill is a high-stakes piece of legislation with strong criticisms, particularly regarding:

A) "Regulatory Takings" and Compensation: A key concern is the provision that could require the government to compensate individuals or corporations if new regulations "take or impair" their "property" without consent, even if those regulations are for the collective good (e.g., environmental protection, public health). This could lead to costly lawsuits and deter future governments from enacting necessary regulations.
B) Exclusion of Te Tiriti o Waitangi: The bill has been criticised for not explicitly including Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) as a principle of good law-making, which many see as undermining the Crown's obligations to Māori and potentially impacting Māori rights and interests. The Waitangi Tribunal has already found breaches of Treaty principles in the bill's development due to a lack of consultation with Māori.
C) Shift in Power and Democratic Accountability: Critics argue that the bill gives significant power to an unelected Regulatory Standards Board and the Minister for Regulation, potentially reducing the democratic accountability of elected governments to legislate freely in the public interest.

This is a critical time for public engagement. Making a submission is an important way to make your views known.