8 October 2024
Andrew Riddell
[FYI request #27966 email]
Official information request
Our ref: R00484
Tēnā koe Andrew
I refer to your Official Information Act (OIA) request received on 5 September 2024. You requested:
Can the Ministry please provide copies of the rest of the directions and instructions it has
received from the Minister for Regulation. Note this request is specific to directions and
instructions, not all communications.
On 10 September 2024, you clarified your request to:
Regarding my request for copies of the rest of the directions and instructions it has received
from the Minister for Regulation,
I can advise that the directions and instructions I am interested in are directions and
instructions on the organisation and operation of the Ministry for Regulation, matters
relating to criteria or considerations when reviewing or helping develop regulations, and
topics and areas where existing regulations may need to be or should be reviewed.
The Ministry for Regulation (the Ministry) has received limited official directions and instructions
from the Minister relating to the organisation and operation of the Ministry. Since its establishment
on 1 March 2024, the Ministry has worked in a collaborative manner with the Minister for
Regulation, which has included open, informal conversations between the Minister and officials
about matters in his portfolio.
Directions and instructions on the organisation and operation of the Ministry
The Minister’s expectations of the Ministry, and further detail on the operation of the Ministry can
also be found in the Strategic Intentions document, which has since become available on our
website at
www.regulation.govt.nz/mfr-what-we-do/corporate-publications.
You may be aware of the two regulatory reviews the Ministry is progressing, specifically in the Early
Childhood Education and Agricultural and Horticultural sectors. The directives for these can be
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link to page 2
found in the Act National Coalition Agreement Policy programme
1. Additionally, the coalition
Government’s quarterly action plans have provided the fol owing directions for the Ministry:
• Initiate the first regulatory sector review.
• Initiate the second regulatory sector review to identify and remove unnecessary red tape
• Release a discussion document on the Regulatory Standards Bill
• Initiate the third regulatory sector review to identify and remove unnecessary red tape
You can access the quarterly action plans on the Beehive’s website. The most recent plan is
available at:
www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2024-09/Q4%20Action%20Plan.pdf
Please also refer to our response to your previous OIA request (MFR-24OIA008), where we provided
you with links to several documents concerning the organisation and operation of the Ministry.
The documents included:
•
Establishment of the Ministry for Regulation; and
•
Letter to the Prime Minister outlining proposed scope and working arrangements for the
Regulation portfolio
which set out the roles, functions, and operating expectations of the Ministry.
Criteria or considerations when reviewing or helping develop regulations; areas where existing
regulations may need to be reviewed
The Minister expects that when the Ministry considers and reviews regulations, a robust
cost/benefit analysis is undertaken, any proposed solution has a well-defined problem statement,
and the proposed regulations address the problem.
The Minister has commissioned a report on options for future regulatory reviews which the
Ministry is progressing. The paper will provide options for the next regulatory review for the
Minister to consider as well as the framework used by the Ministry when selecting these options.
As discussed in our response to your previous request, the Ministry uses the
Government
Expectations for Good Regulatory Practice to assess regulations and is guided by the 2020
Regulatory Stewardship Reporting Framework. The Ministry uses the criteria and considerations
found in these documents when reviewing regulations. These were both provided to you in our
previous response.
The Minister and his advisors will also suggest regulatory issues for the Ministry to consider.
These are incorporated in the Weekly Report, where the Ministry updates the Minister on actions
taken and progress in key workstreams. The Ministry proactively publishes the weekly reports on
its website, and you can view them at
: www.regulation.govt.nz/mfr-what-we-do/information-
releases.
1https://assets.nationbuilder.com/actnz/pages/13849/attachments/original/1715133581/National_ACT_Agre
ement.pdf?1715133581
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The Ministry will make redactions under sections 9(2)(f)(iv) and 9(2)(g)(i) from the proactive
releases. Other matters may be redacted in accordance with the Act, and these will be noted
accordingly.
Right of review
If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please contact
[Ministry for Regulation request email].
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
Please note that we may publish this letter (with your details removed) on the Ministry for
Regulation website.
Ngā mihi
Aisling Risdon
Head of Ministerial Services
Ministry for Regulation
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