Regulatory Standards Bill

The story so far

The ACT Party's Regulatory Standards Bill would assess proposed and existing laws against set principles, and it drew an urgent Waitangi Tribunal inquiry over concerns about Treaty rights and a lack of consultation with Māori.^{14, 23 May 2025} In May 2025 the Tribunal's interim report recommended an immediate halt, finding the Crown had breached Te Tiriti principles by failing to consult, but David Seymour said he had no intent to stop the bill.^{16 May 2025} Cabinet approved a draft for introduction, and Seymour aimed for the bill to be enacted by early next year, despite concerns from legal experts and the Tribunal.^{19 May 2025} Government officials estimated the bill would cost at least $20 million a year over about 20 years, which Seymour defended as about 2 per cent of annual government policy work costs.^{21 May 2025} The bill passed its first reading and was sent to the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee. After its introduction in June, public servants and lawyers voiced concerns, and Seymour claimed 99.5 per cent of submissions on a discussion document were made by bots.^{23 May 2025; 4, 10 Jun 2025}

Latest

Select committee hearings began in early July, and on the first day unions, lawyers and former MPs opposed the bill. Labour's Dr Deborah Russell questioned a retired District Court judge intensely during the hearings.^{7, 8 Jul 2025}

What's next

The bill goes to the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee for consideration. Enactment is targeted for early next year.^{19, 23 May 2025; 7 Jul 2025}

Key moments

1. 14 May 2025Urgent Waitangi Tribunal inquiry opens into the Regulatory Standards Bill.
2. 16 May 2025Tribunal recommends halt, finding Crown breached Te Tiriti principles by failing to consult.
3. 19 May 2025Cabinet approves draft bill for introduction; enactment targeted for early next year.
4. 21 May 2025Officials estimate the bill will cost at least $20 million a year.
5. 23 May 2025Bill passes first reading and heads to the Finance and Expenditure Committee.
6. 4 Jun 2025Seymour claims 99.5 per cent of discussion-document submissions were made by bots.
7. 10 Jun 2025Seymour introduces the bill, proposing major changes to how legislation is drafted.
8. 8 Jul 2025Unions, lawyers and former MPs oppose the bill at the first day of select committee hearings.

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.