Ministry for Regulation
{{Short description|Government ministry of New Zealand}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox government agency
| agency_name = Ministry for Regulation
|native_name ={{langx|mi|Te Manatū Waeture}}{{cite web|title=Our te reo name |url=https://www.regulation.govt.nz/about-us/our-te-reo-name/ |website=regulation.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry for Regulation |date=13 December 2024 |access-date=19 January 2025}}
| logo = Ministry for Regulation logo.svg
| logo_width = 200
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| formed = 1 March 2024
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| jurisdiction = New Zealand
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| budget = $NZ16 million{{cite web |title=Vote Regulation / The Estimates of Appropriations 2024/25 - Finance and Government Administration Sector B.5 Vol.4 309 |url=https://budget.govt.nz/budget/pdfs/estimates/v4/est24-v4-regul.pdf |access-date=3 June 2024}}
| minister1_name = David Seymour
Minister for Regulation
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| chief1_name = Gráinne Moss
| chief1_position = Secretary for Regulation and Chief Executive
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| website = {{url|https://regulation.govt.nz/}}
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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.{{cite web |title=Position Description |url=https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/assets/DirectoryFile/PD-Ministry-for-Regulation-May-2024-.pdf |website=publicservice.govt.nz |publisher=Public Service Commission |access-date=22 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514223758/https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/assets/DirectoryFile/PD-Ministry-for-Regulation-May-2024-.pdf|archive-date=14 May 2024|url-status=live}} The minister responsible is David Seymour.{{cite news |last1=Hatton |first1=Emma |title=Seymour rides into town to regulate 'wild west' of red tape |url=https://newsroom.co.nz/2024/03/11/seymour-rides-into-town-to-regulate-wild-west-of-red-tape/ |access-date=22 May 2024 |work=Newsroom |date=10 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240413061155/https://newsroom.co.nz/2024/03/11/seymour-rides-into-town-to-regulate-wild-west-of-red-tape/|archive-date=13 April 2024|url-status=live}}
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.{{cite news |title='Ministry of Regulation' now official, new chief executive appointed |url=https://www.thepost.co.nz/politics/350204077/ministry-regulation-now-official-new-chief-executive-appointed |access-date=22 May 2024 |work=The Post |date=7 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240522015402/https://www.thepost.co.nz/politics/350204077/ministry-regulation-now-official-new-chief-executive-appointed|archive-date=22 May 2024|url-access=subscription}}{{cite web |title=Central Agencies |url=https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/system/public-service-sectors/central-agencies |publisher=Public Service Commission |access-date=22 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516144136/https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/system/public-service-sectors/central-agencies |archive-date=16 May 2024 |url-status=live}} 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.{{Cite web |last1=Seymour |first1=David |title=Government introduces Productivity Commission Act Repeal Bill |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-introduces-productivity-commission-act-repeal-bill |access-date=29 February 2024 |date=30 January 2023 |website=www.beehive.govt.nz |publisher=New Zealand Government |language=en |archive-date=6 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206070408/https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-introduces-productivity-commission-act-repeal-bill |url-status=live }}
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.
= Regulatory reviews =
On 5 June, the Ministry started its first sector review in early childhood education. The report, released in December, found New Zealand's early childhood education sector had exposed children to an "unacceptable risk of harm" due to excessive, confusing regulations and unclear oversight responsibilities divided between the Education Ministry and the Education Review Office. The report highlighted rules like specific door handle heights and water temperature controls as poor rule-making. It proposes simplifying around 74% of the 98 licensing criteria, including more flexible teacher qualifications to combat shortages caused by low pay and burnout. Recommendations include unannounced visits for at-risk providers and new compliance mechanisms. Minister David Seymour accepted all 15 suggestions.{{cite news |last1=Gerritsen |first1=John |title=Early childhood education regulations 'excessive and confusing' - Ministry |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/536982/early-childhood-education-regulations-excessive-and-confusing-ministry |access-date=6 January 2025 |work=RNZ |date=18 December 2024 |language=en-nz}}
On 1 August, the Ministry started a review into agricultural and horticultural products.{{cite web |last1=Simmonds |first1=Penny |last2=Seymour |first2=David |last3=Hoggard |first3=Andrew |title=Regulatory review into agricultural and horticultural products now underway |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/regulatory-review-agricultural-and-horticultural-products-now-underway |website= |publisher=Beehive |access-date=10 August 2024 |date=1 August 2024}} It will focus on the approvals needed for any products used to manage plants and animals.{{cite web |title=Terms of Reference for the agricultural and horticultural products regulatory review |url=https://www.regulation.govt.nz/assets/Ministry-for-Regulation-files/Terms-of-Reference-for-Agricultural-and-Horticultural-Products-Regulatory-Review.pdf |publisher=Ministry for Regulation |access-date=10 August 2024}} The review was completed in December 2024 and in February 2025 the Government accepted all 16 recommendations from the Review. {{cite web |title=Agricultural and horticultural products regulatory review |url=https://consultation.regulation.govt.nz/aghort/aghort-products-regulatory-review/ |website=consultation.regulation.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry of Regulation |access-date=6 May 2025}}
On 12 December, the Ministry started a review into the hairdressing and barbering industry. The review is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2025.{{cite news |title=Review into 'frustrating' rules for hairdressers, barbers announced |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/12/12/review-into-frustrating-rules-for-hairdressers-barbers-announced/ |access-date=6 January 2025 |work=1News |date=12 December 2024 |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{NZ Public Service Departments}}
{{Sixth National Government of New Zealand}}
Category:2024 establishments in New Zealand