Ministry for Regulation news November 2024

Read the latest news and updates from the Ministry.

An update from Gráinne

When the Government announced it was establishing a Ministry for Regulation, the Minister for Regulation, Hon. David Seymour gave us a clear message about what he expected us to do in our first 12 months.

His expectation was we would be responsible for assessing the quality of new and existing legislation and regulation, carrying out regulatory reviews in sectors that are bogged down in red tape, and clearing out laws that are sapping Kiwi ingenuity. 

Nine months have passed since we were set up on 1 March 2024, and I am pleased to report tangible progress against those expectations. At a high level we: 

• launched a portal that has received hundreds of regulatory issues from the public and business for consideration
• delivered a discussion document and policy work to shape a future Regulatory Standards Bill
• are close to completing our first two major regulatory reviews – the Early Childhood Education regulatory review and the agricultural and horticultural products regulatory review – a third review is soon to be announced
• have launched a suite of e-learning products, quick guides and run a series of webinars all aimed at lifting regulatory capability across the system
• have been consulting with other government agencies on 40+ regulatory proposals  
• have helped clear up regulation and guidelines in early childhood education, buy now pay later, enduring power of attorney for carers and stopped bad regulation in the bakery industry.

You can read more about some of these key achievements below. But we’ve done much more than just those things I’ve listed above! I encourage you to:

Read our Strategic Intentions (2.3 MB, Pdf)
Follow us on LinkedInopen_in_new

2025 is set to be an even busier year. We have a range of big deliverables expected in the first quarter, including finalising three regulatory reviews and starting the fourth, closing submissions on the Regulatory Standards Bill and making swift progress on advancing the red tape issues that members of the public are reporting to us.   

Thank you for your ongoing support and interest in our work. We look forward to keeping in touch in 2025.  

I wish you a safe and festive holiday break. I’m looking forward to spending some quality time with my loved ones, resting and resetting, ready for what I anticipate being a busy and productive New Year.  

Ngā mihi o te Kirihimete me te Tau Hou.

Gráinne Moss
Chief Executive and Secretary for Regulation

More than 300 red tape issues reported in first week

If feedback from members of the public over the past week on their red tape issues is anything to go by, it’s clear there are plenty of examples of regulation getting in the way of people getting things done. 

In just over a week since launching our red tape online portal, we’ve received more than 300 reports of regulatory issues across industries like building and construction, traffic management, education and training – even from cake makers.

Our review team is hard at work triaging, reviewing, engaging with submitters, and looking into these issues thoroughly.

Read an update on our red tape online portal

Have your say on the proposed Regulatory Standards Bill

The proposed Regulatory Standards Bill aims to improve the quality of regulation in New Zealand. The Bill aims to reduce the amount of unnecessary and poor regulation, through making it transparent where regulation does, or does not, meet principles of responsible regulation. We are seeking feedback on the proposed contents of the Bill. Consultation is open until Monday 13 January 2025.

Read more about the proposed Bill

Make a submission through our engagement hubopen_in_new

Lifting regulatory capability across the system

Online learning modules

To complement our popular Regulatory Practice Essentials – Quick Guides, we’ve developed online learning modules which cover the fundamentals of regulatory practice. Whether you’re new to working in regulation, or looking for a refresher, the modules will help you build an understanding of the regulatory environment in New Zealand, using real-life scenarios.

Through RegRoom – our new online learning and collaboration space we’re launching in December – you’ll be able to access the learning modules in your own time and at your own pace, choosing the modules that suit your work best; and you can track your progress as you go. When our learning modules go live, we'll announce it on LinkedIn.

Regulatory Practice Essentials – Quick Guides

Follow us on LinkedInopen_in_new

Emerging trends in international regulation webinar

Continuing our regulatory webinar series, we held a session on 20 November on emerging international trends in regulation, with panellists Dr Grant Pink, Julie Nind (MBIE) and His Excellency, Lawrence Meredith, European Union Ambassador to New Zealand.
The webinar covered a broad range of topics including regulatory capability and capacity, how we can collaborate and learn from one another – even on a global scale, and practicing agile and adaptive regulation.

We will be sharing a video of the webinar soon. If you’re interested in what’s happening in regulation internationally, it’s well worth a watch.

Summer interns join the Ministry

Our summer internship programme provides a great opportunity for tertiary students to gain practical experience working within a central government agency.

We are excited to welcome five talented interns to the Ministry.

Read more about our interns

Christmas closedown

The Ministry will be closing for the holiday season from 25 December, and will reopen on 6 January 2025.

Best wishes for the holiday season from the small but mighty Ministry.