Seymour defends Bill as protection for families amid controversy

Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour says a new government bill will protect families and communities from hidden costs in laws.

But critics warn that the Regulatory Standards Bill could hurt Pacific and Māori communities.

The Bill would require politicians to consider the costs of new laws and create a Regulatory Standards Board to oversee how rules are applied.

Seymour says it’s about being honest with the public, while critics argue it could weaken community voices.

In an interview with William Terite on Pacific Mornings, Seymour says the bill requires politicians to be transparent about any expenses that new regulations may impose on families, churches, or businesses.

The legislation aims to help Parliament improve its examination of laws and monitor the use of its rule-making powers.

Watch David Seymour's full interview below.

The bill proposes introducing a set of standards against which existing regulations will be measured and establishing a Regulatory Standards Board to assess the consistency of legislation with these principles.

Seymour points to the financial impact that earthquake-strengthening requirements have placed on churches across the country.

“I think it's important if the government makes a law like that, we ensure that everybody knows that that's what's happening, that they will face these costs from a law made by the government,” Seymour says.

The initial consultation, which closed on January 13, 2025, received approximately 23,000 submissions, with analysis showing about 88% opposed the Bill. Photo/Supplied

NZ First Leader Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters has pledged that his party will repeal the bill if re-elected next year.

When asked about the stability of the coalition government, Seymour defended their relationships.

“I just said our party’s worked for 20 years to get this bill passed, we’re not really going to get rid of it.”

The Labour Party has introduced a member’s bill aimed at repealing the Regulatory Standards Act, saying that the government has favoured corporate interests over public welfare.

Labour’s Duncan Webb says they will revoke the Act within the first 100 days if re-elected.

The bill has attracted 150,000 submissions, with less than one per cent expressing support for it.

Labour MP for Christchurch Central. Photo/Supplied

“I have contacted New Zealand First and asked for their support, let’s see if they will back their worlds with action,” Webb says. “From heated homes to safe food, Kiwis shouldn’t be at the mercy of political whims.”

During the bill’s submission period, the Pacific Panthers Network criticised the legislation, labelling it a ‘corporate Trojan horse’ that prioritises unelected boards over community voices.

Ta Ao Pritchard, a member of the Pacific Panthers, says the bill is not only flawed but also dangerous.

“It threatens democratic accountability, environmental protection and indigenous rights,” Pritachard says. “It undermines Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It erodes the hard-fought gains of Māori, Pacific and other marginalised communities and the process, an insult to democracy.”