Controversial Regulatory Standards Bill Passes Final Vote Despite Massive Public Opposition
The Government has pushed the Regulatory Standards Bill through its third and final reading, fulfilling a key coalition promise between National, ACT, and New Zealand First, despite overwhelming public opposition.
More than 98 percent of public submissions opposed the legislation.
What the Bill Does
The bill:
Establishes a set of non-binding “principles for good lawmaking”
Requires politicians to publicly justify when new laws breach those principles
Creates a Regulatory Standards Board to assess whether existing laws align with those principles
Critics argue the principles are ideological, risk privileging corporate interests, and could slow down the lawmaking process by adding extra layers of bureaucracy.
Even after select committee tweaks, constitutional experts say the changes don’t fix the bill’s core flaws.
ACT Celebrates ‘Historic Moment’
ACT leader David Seymour, the bill’s driving force, said it would expose hidden regulatory costs and improve productivity.
Seymour argued that too much red tape harms everyday people — from teachers drowning in paperwork to builders stuck in consent delays.
“Politicians will no longer be able to hide lazy thinking that piles regulatory costs on Kiwis,” he said.
Labour: Bill Will Be Repealed Within 100 Days
Labour’s justice spokesperson Duncan Webb vowed that a Labour-led government would scrap the law immediately if elected.
He called the bill:
“Far-right”
“Wasteful”
“Duplicating existing systems”
“Fundamentally undemocratic”
Webb said it elevates private property rights above all other rights and hands power to unelected officials, undermining Parliament.
He also blasted the Government for failing to meet its own standards for proper consultation, including no consultation with Māori.
Greens: ‘A Cockroach That Just Won’t Die’
Green MP Tamatha Paul delivered one of the strongest speeches of the night, comparing the bill to a cockroach hiding in the dark.
She accused the coalition of attempting to:
Undermine Treaty protections
Erode environmental safeguards
Prioritise corporate profit
She also fired at the Prime Minister:
“Maybe he should stick to business because he’s not a very good politician.”
Te Pāti Māori: ‘Cold, Calculated Arson’
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi framed the bill as an attack on constitutional protections for Māori.
He called it:
“The cold, calculated arson of a government that wants to burn down the protections that stand between our people and exploitation.”
He said the bill may pass today, but “it will not survive the people tomorrow”.
NZ First and National Back ACT
NZ First’s Casey Costello said critics were driven by emotion, not facts, and defended the bill as promoting:
Accountability
Rule of law
Efficiency
Property rights
National MP Cameron Brewer congratulated ACT for its 20-year pursuit of the legislation and pointed to amendments made after the 30 hours of oral submissions and 159,000 written submissions.
Māori Development Minister Surprised by Timing
In an awkward moment, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka admitted he did not know the bill was being read that day.
He acknowledged it was “a big deal” for Māori but stressed the Government’s focus is the cost of living crisis.
Pressed repeatedly, he avoided directly saying he personally supported the bill — only that he supports the coalition agreement.