Red tape submissions summary report – 2024/25 Quarter 2 (October – December 2024)
This summary reports quarterly on the regulatory issues New Zealanders consider to be getting in the way of their lives and businesses. This report is the first in this series.
Key facts
Between October to December 2024, the Ministry received 491 submissions to the red tape tipline.
The top red tape themes submitted for the quarter are:
- Small cake/food business – submissions relate to the registration and certification fees for small food manufacturers being too high and disproportionate when compared to larger businesses, for example, restaurants.
- Temporary traffic management – submissions are varied but largely relate to the cost and the confusing and inhibiting rules in this area.
- Anti-money laundering – submissions largely relate to disproportional compliance burden for small, medium and large businesses and the impact on individuals trying to transact business.
- Building consents – submissions raise concerns about issues with consenting for office buildings, through to tiny homes.
Red tape submissions received from October to December 2024
Prior to November 2024, the Ministry received 50 email submissions. In November 2024, after the launch of the red tape tipline the Ministry received 334 submissions. In December 2024, the Ministry received 107 submissions.
What’s happening with the submissions received
Of the total 491 submissions received, 18 submissions have led to regulation changes, improved information for New Zealanders or will contribute insights for future sector reviews. See our Quarterly highlights section below for more information about some of these changes.
150 submissions were progressed to be investigated in the reporting period.
95 submissions have been referred to the government agency responsible for the regulation, so that they can understand the issue and make any necessary changes.
We’re continuing to work with several regulatory agencies, including Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Ministry for the Environment, Department of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Transport, and NZTA, to support them to resolve the regulatory issues that have been raised.
228 submissions have been reviewed and will not be progressed. These submissions have been found to be unrelated to regulatory issues, are general feedback or submissions about other topics.
Quarterly highlights
The Ministry has investigated many red tape tips we heard from businesses and individual members of the public. In the following examples, the Ministry has added value to regulated markets and the New Zealand economy by investigating red tape issues and finding practical solutions.
Buy Now, Pay Later
Our investigation identified that the implemented regulatory reforms to the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003 (CCCFA) to Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) providers would likely have an adverse impact on consumers. Off the back of this, Cabinet approved the Minister for Regulation's recommended approach which aims to avoid higher compliance costs for BNPL providers being passed on to consumers.
Buy Now, Pay Later (82 KB, Pdf)
Flour dust standards
The Ministry worked with commercial bakers and WorkSafe to analyse whether a proposed change to the current Workplace Exposure Standard for flour dust would deliver benefits to the baking industry or create unneeded compliance burden. By applying the principles of good regulatory design, the Ministry worked with WorkSafe who agreed to pause the change to further assess if it is fit-for-purpose.
Flour dust standards (166 KB, Pdf)
Administering property on behalf of someone lacking decision-making capacity
We worked with the Ministry of Justice to ensure they consider current income and asset thresholds that determine the process for administering property on behalf of someone lacking decision-making capacity. In September 2024 positive changes were made to the financial thresholds.
Administering property on behalf of someone lacking decision-making capacity (166 KB, Pdf)