Submission Opposing Proposed Regulatory Standards Bill
Submission opposing proposed Regulatory Standards Bill template created by lawyer, author and educator, Roimata Smail.
DOWNLOAD TEMPLATE SUBMISSION ON PROPOSED REGULATORY STANDARDS BILL
- Download template
- Add your name and contact details (para 1)
- Submit by email to RSBconsultation@regulation.govt.nz, by mail to Ministry for Regulation, PO Box 577, Wellington 6140 or online at Ministry for Regulation [NB: you do not have to answer all of the questions in the online form] by 11.59pm on 13 January 2025.
Who am I?
Roimata Smail (Ngāti Maniapoto, Tainui) is a lawyer with two decades of experience specialising in Te Tiriti o Waitangi. She represented lead claimants in the Waitangi Tribunal Hauora Inquiry that led to the establishment of the Māori Health Authority Te Aka Whai Ora. She also acted on claims about Māori in prison, pēpi removed by Oranga Tamariki and the Crown response to COVID-19, and in cases under the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004 and Takutai Moana Act 2011. She has a passion for education and runs workshops on Te Tiriti around Aotearoa, created an online resource for schools Waiako.com, wrote the bestselling book Understanding Te Tiriti in January 2024.
What is it?
I have written a template submission on the proposed Regulatory Standards Bill, that anyone can use to make a submission. I am giving it to every New Zealander that wants to use it, through my website www.waiakobooks.com.
Why?
The Ministry for Regulation (Minister Hon David Seymour) is consulting on a proposed Regulatory Standards Bill (the proposed Bill), that it intends to draft and introduce into Parliament in 2025.
The proposed Bill will have principles for what can be in laws and regulations in New Zealand. Of concern, the principles will not include Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Instead, the proposed Bill repeats the stress on "equality" found in the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill (see a template submission on that here).
The proposed Bill also gives power to the Ministry for Regulation to review existing laws and regulations against these principles emphasizing "equality” and deemphasize Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Why now?
This is only a proposed Bill at this stage. It still needs to be drafted and introduced to Parliament, and the Ministry for Regulation has said that there will be the opportunity to submit to select committee, just like for the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill. But this is an early opportunity to say that this proposed Bill is wrong. If this proposed Bill is ultimately passed and becomes a law, it will mean that it may be harder for laws and regulations to include recognition of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Who can use this?
Any New Zealander, and I’ve especially written this template submission thinking of two groups. First this submission will help those who want to learn how the Regulation Standards Bill is relevant to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Second, this template is for New Zealanders who want to stand up for Te Tiriti. Based on the quantity of sales of my book, I know that Aotearoa is interested in learning the facts about Te Tiriti o Waitangi. My book is short and simple and so is this template submission. I hope that if people haven't read my book yet or heard a talk from me, that even in reading the submission they'll learn some basic facts about Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Do templates count?
Myth: Bulk template submissions are counted as one.
Fact: False. The Ministry for Regulation will know how many submissions are made, even if they are templates. Templates are a way for ordinary New Zealanders to have a say.
How?
- Download template
- Add your name and contact details (para 1)
- Submit by email to RSBconsultation@regulation.govt.nz, by mail to Ministry for Regulation, PO Box 577, Wellington 6140 or online at Ministry for Regulation [NB: you do not have to answer all of the questions in the online form] by 11.59pm on 13 January 2025.
If you have any problems email the Ministry for Regulation at RSBconsultation@regulation.govt.nz.
When?
Now. Submissions close 11.59pm on 13 January 2025.