Ministry for Regulation explained

The Ministry for Regulation is a New Zealand public service department that advises the New Zealand Government on policies and issues regarding regulation. The Ministry identifies rules and regulations that are superfluous, not working or could be improved, and prepares implementable policies to reform them. It is also responsible for the quality of policy analysis relative to new initiatives across government. It was established on 1 March 2024.^[2] The minister responsible is David Seymour.^[3]

Leadership and structure

The Ministry for Regulation is the fourth central agency within the New Zealand Government alongside the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Public Service Commission, and the New Zealand Treasury.^{[4] [5]} The Ministry falls under the portfolio of Minister for Regulation David Seymour and is headed by chief executive Gráinne Moss.

History

The Ministry for Regulation was created through funding redirected from the former New Zealand Productivity Commission, which was disestablished by the National-led coalition government in late January 2024. The Minister for Regulation David Seymour stated that the new ministry would be tasked with assessing the quality of existing and new regulation.^[6]

The Ministry for Regulation was established on 1 March 2024. On 7 March Gráinne Moss, who had previously been the inaugural chief executive at Oranga Tamariki, was appointed as the first Secretary for Regulation and chief executive of the new Ministry.

On 5 June, the Ministry started its first sector review in early childhood education. In six months, a series of decisions will be put to cabinet proposing to change or remove rules and regulations.^[7]

On 1 August, the Ministry started a review into agricultural and horticultural products.^[8] It will focus on the approvals needed for any products used to manage plants and animals.^[9]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Vote Regulation / The Estimates of Appropriations 2024/25 - Finance and Government Administration Sector B.5 Vol.4  309 . 3 June 2024.
2. Web site: Position Description . publicservice.govt.nz . . 22 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240514223758/https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/assets/DirectoryFile/PD-Ministry-for-Regulation-May-2024-.pdf. 14 May 2024. live.
3. News: Hatton . Emma . Seymour rides into town to regulate 'wild west' of red tape . 22 May 2024 . . 10 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240413061155/https://newsroom.co.nz/2024/03/11/seymour-rides-into-town-to-regulate-wild-west-of-red-tape/. 13 April 2024. live.
4. News: 'Ministry of Regulation' now official, new chief executive appointed . 22 May 2024 . . 7 March 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240522015402/https://www.thepost.co.nz/politics/350204077/ministry-regulation-now-official-new-chief-executive-appointed. 22 May 2024. subscription.
5. Web site: Central Agencies . . 22 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240516144136/https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/system/public-service-sectors/central-agencies . 16 May 2024 . live.
6. Web site: Seymour . David . Government introduces Productivity Commission Act Repeal Bill . 29 February 2024 . 30 January 2023 . www.beehive.govt.nz . . en . 6 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240206070408/https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-introduces-productivity-commission-act-repeal-bill . live .
7. Web site: Seymour . David . Ministry for Regulation kicks off first sector review – Early Childhood Education Beehive.govt.nz . www.beehive.govt.nz . Beehive . 30 June 2024 . en . 5 June 2024.
8. Web site: Simmonds . Penny . Seymour . David . Hoggard . Andrew . Regulatory review into agricultural and horticultural products now underway . Beehive . 10 August 2024 . 1 August 2024.
9. Web site: Terms of Reference for the agricultural and horticultural products regulatory review . Ministry for Regulation . 10 August 2024.