Ministry for Regulation
| Māori: Te Manatū Waeture[1] | |
 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 March 2024 |
| Jurisdiction | New Zealand |
| Employees | 60[2] |
| Annual budget | $NZ16 million[3] |
| Minister responsible | |
| Agency executive |
|
| Website | regulation |
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.[4]
Leadership and structure
[edit]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.[5][6] The Ministry falls under the portfolio of Minister for Regulation David Seymour and is headed by chief executive Gráinne Moss.[5]
History
[edit]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.[7]
The Ministry for Regulation was established on 1 March 2024.[2] 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.[5]
Regulatory reviews
[edit]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.[8]
On 1 August, the Ministry started a review into agricultural and horticultural products.[9] It will focus on the approvals needed for any products used to manage plants and animals.[10] The review is expected to be completed by February 2025.[11]
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.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ "Our te reo name". regulation.govt.nz. Ministry for Regulation. 13 December 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
- ^ a b c "Position Description" (PDF). publicservice.govt.nz. Public Service Commission. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ "Vote Regulation / The Estimates of Appropriations 2024/25 - Finance and Government Administration Sector B.5 Vol.4 309" (PDF). Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ Hatton, Emma (10 March 2024). "Seymour rides into town to regulate 'wild west' of red tape". Newsroom. Archived from the original on 13 April 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ a b c "'Ministry of Regulation' now official, new chief executive appointed". The Post. 7 March 2024. Archived from the original on 22 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ "Central Agencies". Public Service Commission. Archived from the original on 16 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ Seymour, David (30 January 2023). "Government introduces Productivity Commission Act Repeal Bill". www.beehive.govt.nz. New Zealand Government. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ Gerritsen, John (18 December 2024). "Early childhood education regulations 'excessive and confusing' - Ministry". RNZ. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- ^ Simmonds, Penny; Seymour, David; Hoggard, Andrew (1 August 2024). "Regulatory review into agricultural and horticultural products now underway". Beehive. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "Terms of Reference for the agricultural and horticultural products regulatory review" (PDF). Ministry for Regulation. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "Agricultural and horticultural products regulatory review". consultation.regulation.govt.nz. Ministry of Regulation. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- ^ "Review into 'frustrating' rules for hairdressers, barbers announced". 1News. 12 December 2024. Retrieved 6 January 2025.