Regulatory Standards Bill submission workshops underway

Waatea Team 16062025 Paakiwaha | Huhana Lyndon

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Huhana Lyndon is in Māngere and off to the Regulatory Standards Bill submission writing workshop at Te Whare Kura o Māngere. And its scrutiny week.

Aotearoa New Zealand is once again at a pivotal moment in how laws are made, scrutinised, and held to account. The Regulatory Standards Bill, currently before Parliament, has sparked both interest and concern across legal, business, iwi, and civil society sectors. If passed, the Bill would impose new standards on government regulations – but critics warn it could have far-reaching implications for Te Tiriti o Waitangi, social protections, and Māori governance. The Regulatory Standards Bill aims to improve the quality and transparency of government regulations by setting clear principles that all new laws and regulations must meet. It requires that laws be:

• Clear and accessible
• Based on robust evidence and proper consultation
• Respectful of property rights
• Consistent with common law and constitutional principles

Supporters argue that this will reduce red tape and hold governments accountable for poor regulation. Critics, including constitutional scholars, warn that it may create legal uncertainty, give more power to the courts, and undermine legislative flexibility, particularly around social policy and Treaty commitments.

One of the key concerns about the Bill is that it may limit the ability of future governments to pass laws that give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi or address historical and structural inequities. There is also a risk that Māori regulatory frameworks, tikanga-based laws, or tikanga Māori principles could be sidelined or held to Western legal standards.

Māori academics and legal experts have pointed out that the Bill lacks adequate protections for Treaty principles, and its strong emphasis on “property rights” could conflict with collective or customary Māori interests in land, water, and resources.

Submissions on the Regulatory Standards Bill are now open through Parliament’s select committee process. Anyone can make a submission – individuals, iwi, hapū, Māori organisations, businesses, and community groups.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Visit the New Zealand Parliament website:
   Go to https://www.parliament.nz and search for the “Regulatory Standards Bill.”
2. Read the Bill and Explanatory Notes:
   Make sure you understand the purpose of the Bill and what it proposes to change. Consider how it could affect your community, whānau, or organisation.
3. Click “Make a Submission”:
   This will take you to a form where you can submit your views either as text or as a document upload.
4. Clearly state your position:
   Say whether you support or oppose the Bill (or parts of it), and explain why. Offer alternatives or recommendations if possible.
5. Keep it concise and grounded in your experience:
   Personal stories, community impact, and cultural perspectives add weight to submissions.
6. Request to speak to your submission:
   If you want to appear before the select committee (in person or by video), tick the box to be heard.

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