Here’s the breakdown.
So, what is the Regulatory Standards Bill?
It’s a new law being pushed by ACT Party leader David Seymour that would set the rules for how all future laws should be made.
On the surface, that might sound harmless — even boring. But when you look closer, this bill could change the way lawmaking works in Aotearoa in some pretty serious ways.
The bill would introduce a new set of principles that future laws must align with. These include things like:
- Property rights
- Individual freedoms
- Business certainty
These values aren’t necessarily bad — but Te Tiriti o Waitangi is completely left out.
And in a country built on a Treaty partnership, that’s a big deal.
Why does it matter that Te Tiriti is missing?
Because if Te Tiriti isn’t included, there’s no obligation for new laws to uphold it.
That means future governments could create legislation that sidesteps Māori rights altogether — and they could still tick all the “good law” boxes laid out by this bill.
Worse still, the bill gives extra power to the Minister for Regulation to influence what counts as good law — and that raises serious questions about accountability and balance.
Why are Māori so concerned?
There are a few key reasons:
- Not enough meaningful consultation with Māori happened during the bill’s development.
- Over 20,000 public submissions opposing it were largely ignored.
- Even the Ministry for Regulation — the agency responsible for this bill — raised concerns.
On top of that, the bill could:
- Prioritise economic outcomes over collective wellbeing
- Undermine tino rangatiratanga and Māori-led solutions
- Make it harder to advance equity in law and policy
Basically, it risks pushing Māori rights further to the side.
What’s the connection to the Treaty Principles Bill?
They’re different bills — but they’re linked by the same underlying agenda.
The Treaty Principles Bill tried to redefine what Te Tiriti means.
The Regulatory Standards Bill tries to remove it from the lawmaking process altogether.
Different strategy. Same goal.
What’s happening now?
Cabinet approved the bill on May 7. It’s expected to go to Parliament on May 19.
But here’s the critical bit: Toitū te Tiriti has taken an urgent claim to the Waitangi Tribunal, saying this bill breaches the Crown’s Treaty obligations.
The Tribunal hearing was originally set for June — but Toitū pushed for it to happen earlier. And they succeeded.
The hearing will now take place on Tuesday, May 14 (tomorrow).
This matters because once the bill is formally introduced to Parliament, the Tribunal may no longer have jurisdiction to intervene.
This week’s hearing could be the only legal window to challenge the bill on Treaty grounds.
So what can we do?
- Stay informed — read, share, and talk about it with your whānau.
- Follow @toitu_te_tiriti for updates on the claim.
- Sign on in support of the claim here: https://toitutetiriti.co.nz
- Keep an eye on what’s happening in Parliament — especially on May 19.
Our whakaaro
This bill hasn’t made mainstream headlines like the Treaty Principles Bill did — but it has just as much impact on the future of Te Tiriti, Māori rights, and equity in Aotearoa.
As a kaupapa Māori health organisation, we see the links between policy, power, and hauora every day. When Māori are left out of decision-making, our oranga suffers. When Te Tiriti is ignored, our future is undermined.
Our commitment is to our communities. That means standing for Te Tiriti, for oranga, and for a future where Māori voices are at the centre.
