Articles tagged with Regulatory Standards Act
New Regulatory Standards Act Empowers Kiwis to Challenge Bad Regulations
1 month ago | 291 viewsThe Regulatory Standards Act (2025) establishes the Regulatory Standards Board to protect New Zealanders by increasing transparency around the costs and impacts of regulations on property rights and personal liberties. The Board reviews Consistency Accountability Statements, handles public complaints about bad regulations, and can assess existing laws to ensure accountability and inform voters. With over 260 regulators in New Zealand, this Act aims to provide clearer information on regulatory costs and empower citizens to hold policymakers responsible.
Tags: Regulatory Standards Act Regulatory Standards Board David Seymour New Zealand Public Finance Act Reserve Bank Act Bill of Rights Act Consistency Accountability Statements Ministry for Regulation KiwisNew Zealand Unveils Full Map of 260+ Regulators to Cut Bureaucracy and Costs
2 months ago | 481 viewsNew Zealand’s regulatory landscape comprises over 260 overlapping regulators across central and local government, statutory bodies, and tribunals, creating complexity, high costs, delays, and weakened accountability. This tangled system, built up over 25 years, affects many daily activities and has hindered efficiency, prompting the government to launch a programme to identify and reduce duplication and unnecessary regulation. The Ministry for Regulation will maintain updated mappings to support ongoing review and reform efforts aimed at simplifying government, reducing bureaucracy, and improving outcomes for taxpayers and frontline services.
Tags: New Zealand David Seymour regulation Government Ministry for Regulation Regulatory Standards Act 2025 regulatory landscape bureaucracy Parliament regulatory organisationsNew Zealand Issues Statutory Guidance for Transparent and Responsible Regulation 2025
2 months ago | 564 viewsThe Minister for Regulation and the Attorney-General have issued joint statutory guidance to ensure consistent application of the Regulatory Standards Act 2025, requiring Ministers to provide published Consistency Accountability Statements explaining how proposed laws align with responsible regulation principles. From July, Regulatory Impact Statements will be replaced by shorter, more focused Regulatory Analysis Summaries, quality assured by an independent panel to improve transparency and cost-benefit analysis. The guidance, developed with key legal offices, aims to promote necessary, proportionate, and effective regulation while increasing government accountability and informing voters.
Tags: Regulatory Standards Act 2025 Minister Seymour Consistency Accountability Statement Regulatory Impact Statements Regulatory Analysis Summaries Parliamentary Counsel Office Crown Law Office New Zealand government responsible regulationRegulatory Standards Act: Enhancing Transparency and Accountability in Local Government
5 months ago | 862 viewsThe Regulatory Standards Act, coming into law by July 1, mandates councils to publish Consistency Accountability Statements (CAS) explaining the impact, costs, and benefits of new bylaws, promoting transparency and accountability in local regulation. This legislation aims to curb poor regulation that burdens ratepayers and stifles productivity by requiring councils to justify and regularly review their secondary legislation, ensuring laws are proportionate and evidence-based. The Act supports better governance by helping councils avoid kneejerk regulations, improve decision-making quality, and ultimately deliver greater value to taxpayers and communities.
Tags: Regulatory Standards Act Consistency Accountability Statement LGNZ councils local government Ministry for Regulation New Zealand ratepayers secondary legislationNew Zealand Reforms Industrial Hemp Regulations to Boost Growth and Innovation
7 months ago | 765 viewsRegulation Minister David Seymour announced reforms to scrap the outdated licensing regime for industrial hemp in New Zealand, replacing it with a more practical and proportionate approach that removes licenses and sets a clear THC threshold below 1%. These changes aim to reduce costs, encourage innovation, and generate significant economic benefits, while maintaining safeguards to prevent misuse and ensuring compliance with existing food safety and medicinal cannabis regulations. The Ministry of Health will lead implementation, reflecting the government's commitment to cutting red tape and improving regulatory standards for business growth.
Tags: David Seymour New Zealand industrial hemp Regulation Minister Ministry of Health Regulatory Standards Act medicinal cannabis Ministry for Regulation Parliamentary Council Office Cabinet