How to make a submission on the Regulatory Standards Bill
It's easy!
The Regulatory Standards Bill is open for submissions NOW. Please make a submission. It is really, really important. PLEASE do it.
You have until 1:00pm on 23 June 2025.
And if you make a submission, please help your friends and family to make a submission too. Here’s how to do it!
This bill is the twin to the garbage Treaty Principles Bill. So much so that you can use your submission for that bill as the template to this one. It has been described as: The ‘dangerous’ bill flying under the radar and “arguably one of the most regressive and dangerous Bills ever considered”.
Don’t believe me? Believe everyone else then:
How the Regulatory Standards Bill gives companies more rights than the public
Parliament’s law-making watchdog warns against Regulatory Standards Bill
Regulatory Standards Bill inflicts ACT’s far-right principles on Aotearoa
Government’s Regulatory Standards Bill to cost $20m per year
‘Treaty Principles 2.0’ – law experts concerned by regulatory bill
Thousands of Regulatory Standards Bill submissions not read by ministry
Regulatory Standards Bill will lead to 'inappropriate, dangerous' powers, claimants say
How the Regulatory Standards Bill could leave taxpayers on the hook
So what should you do? Make a submission. It’s easy:
Click here before 1:00pm on 23 June 2025. Remember: Submissions are publicly released and published to the Parliament website. Don’t call David Seymour an unseasoned steak even though he is one - they’ll just ignore your submission.
You’ll be asked I/We wish to make the following comments. Share anything you like but be clear about your opposition. For example: “I oppose the proposed Regulatory Standards Bill. It prioritises big business over people and the environment. Instead, we need regulations that protect New Zealand’s resources, our whānau, and future generations.”
I included statements like: “It gives far too much power to its architect Minister for Regulation David Seymour” and “This bill has been rejected three times already” and “Taxpayers are put at risk of having to pay the losses of a corporate's profits resulting from legislation even if that legislation protects workers or the environment or the public.”
Where it says I/We wish to make the following recommendations clearly state that you think the Regulatory Standards Bill 2021 and its proposed updates should be rejected. Make sure you also address referendums because Seymour has a boner for them. Eg. “There is no need for this bill and it should not go to an expensive and unnecessary referendum.”
Submit. Then: Celebrate! You did your bit to stand up against greedy corporates and exploitative business, protect future generations, our precious whenua, and our values as a country.
Want more info?
Here is an amazing Regulatory Standards Bill tool created by
, Dr Ryan Ward and associates.Just click on the sector you’re interested in and get started.
Use this tool to think about how this bill will affect the areas of society you care about or work in. The more thoughtful the submissions, the harder it will be to dismiss them.
I encourage you to follow Tania Waikato on Instagram and Facebook - she has created amazing resources for making submissions. She also runs the Regulatory Standards Bill Facebook group which is a great resource.
Please feel free to share any resources you have with me and I’ll add them to this page. I’m also happy to include articles and templates. Just comment below.
I’m hoping it will be a living document.
In solidarity and liberation,
Emily
Superb Emily thanks.
If I can add:
- you must state you oppose
- a personal reason is important here. My personal reasons are that this proposed bill prioritises the commercial interests of multinational corporations over the interests of local communities and discounts any consideration of our environment (which most kiwis support) and te tiriti (which most kiwis are also very proud of). Those two aspects should be included as principles and they are not. But you should mention your own reasons here.
I’m also mentioning that while I like the idea of legislative constraints that make it difficult to pass laws that are bad, without including those two things - environment and te tiriti - this will not enable legislation I can agree with.
- that’s why I oppose this
And then make sure you submit to the select committee on that. But also email you local MP (you can find their email here https://www.parliament.nz/en/get-involved/have-your-say/contact-an-mp/?utm_source=perplexity
This is important because Minister Seymour says it’s being done by bots. So if you submit you need to email your local mp to remind them it’s humans opposing this, and if you don’t want to submit but you want to oppose this is a good thing to do.
Why? Numbers count. The key people here are National Party members and NZ First members. Focus on them. Especially if they are your electorate MP.
But also take the time if you wish to email the members of the select committee who will be considering this bill.
In particular consider emailing Jamie Arbuckle who is the sole NZ First MP on that committee. His email address is jamie.Arbuckle@parliament.govt.nz
I suggest thus be cause thus is what he said in his maiden speech:
“Consultation—the most rewarding aspect of being an elected member is hearing from your community. I have sat through many annual plans and long-term plans. Such processes can always be refined, but the importance of democracy and being heard is undeniable. The previous Government often called for submissions but, in many people's views, did not take the time to hear or listen to what people had to say. Three waters reform was very much a case in point of "we know better than everyone else". I look forward to my select committee work and hearing from New Zealanders. The thing for all of us to remember is to not take this process for granted. “
So let’s take him up on his invitation to consult…