The Regulatory Standards Bill Threatens Democracy, Te Tiriti, and the Public Good.
As the umbrella body for the community and social sector in the Western Bay of Plenty, SociaLink’s mission is to advocate for social justice, equity, and sector strength, so we . We regularly engage in policy advocacy and submissions to support inclusive and community-led decision-making. As such, we have submitted strong opposition to the proposed Regulatory Standards Bill, urging Parliament to reject it outright. We believe this Bill poses serious risks to Aotearoa’s democracy, social wellbeing, and the Crown’s obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Why We Oppose the Regulatory Standards Bill
The Bill is framed as an effort to improve law-making in New Zealand. However, the mechanisms it introduces would have the opposite effect. SociaLink has identified five key concerns:
- It excludes Te Tiriti o Waitangi – our founding document is not referenced at all in the Bill’s principles on responsible regulation, ignoring the Crown’s obligations to tangata whenua.
- It promotes a narrow ideological agenda – prioritising individual freedoms and property rights and ignoring New Zealanders’ collective values like equity, manaakitanga, and the public good.
- It centralises power – giving a single Minister excessive authority to judge laws against rigid standards, undermining the neutrality of the public service.
- It weakens democratic consultation – risking that only the most well-resourced voices are heard, and sidelining marginalised communities.
- It duplicates existing review processes – placing a massive and unnecessary burden on lawmakers, public servants, and civil society.
A Risk to Inclusive, Transparent Governance
This Bill could reshape how legislation is made in Aotearoa. It prioritises individual liberties over collective wellbeing, marginalises tangata whenua, and risks shifting the balance of power away from community-focused, values-based policy.
We believe New Zealanders deserve better. There are already robust mechanisms in place to review legislation, including select committees, public submissions, the Legislation Guidelines (2021), and Treaty-based processes. Rather than overlaying a costly and ideologically driven framework, Parliament should focus on improving and strengthening existing democratic tools.
SociaLink’s Submission
SociaLink is calling on Parliament to reject the Regulatory Standards Bill and instead promote law-making processes that are inclusive, transparent, and grounded in Te Tiriti and social justice.
You can read our full submission here and learn more about our other advocacy work at www.socialink.org.nz/advocacy.
Read more about the bill here: The Regulatory Standards Bill: What is it, what does it propose and what’s next? (Source: RNZ)
