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7 August 2025
Andrew Riddell
[FYI request #31582 email]
Official information request
Our ref: R001131
Tēnā koe Andrew
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request, which the Ministry for Regulation
(Ministry) received on 15 July 2025, as follows:
“I have several questions about the submissions to the Regulatory Standards Bill.
(a) How many submissions were received.
(b) How many of those submissions included a request to be heard.
(c) Please provide the Ministry for Regulation's summary of points raised in submissions
that included a request to be heard.
I note that there is undoubtedly significant public interest in these questions.
Now that the Finance and Expenditure Committee has completed its hearing of submissions
there is no possible prejudice to the hearing process from providing the summary of those
submission.”
As you have noted, the public submissions process on the proposed Regulatory Standards Bill (Bill)
was administered by the Finance and Expenditure Committee (FEC). The submissions received by
the FEC, which are considered as evidence in its examination of the Bill, are protected by
Parliamentary privilege.
In accordance with Standing Order 243(1) of the Standing Orders of the House of representatives
2023, “
A committee’s proceedings on an item of business, other than during the hearing of evidence
in public session, remain strictly confidential to the committee until it reports to the House”1.
The FEC will table the submissions it has received on the Bill after submissions have been vetted by
the Office of the Clerk. Submissions are being progressively published on the
Submissions and
Advice pag
e2 of the Parliament website. Given the high volume of submissions received, this
process will take some time. However, all submissions will be made publicly available on the
1 https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/parliamentary-rules/standing-orders-2023-by-chapter/chapter-4-select-
committees/#c4.243
2 https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/submissions-and-advice/
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Parliament website before the FEC presents its report to the House on this item of business.
The FEC is scheduled to report back to the House on its findings and recommendations relating to
the Bill by 22 November 20
253.
I therefore refuse parts (a) and (b) of your request on the basis of section 18(d) of the OIA as the
information you have requested is, or will soon be, publicly available.
With regard to part (c) of your request, any summary or report that might be prepared by the
Ministry in relation to the Bill would also be covered by confidentiality provisions governing select
committee proceedings. The release of such material is at the discretion of the committee.
In this regard, I am refusing this part of your request under section 18(c)(ii) of the OIA, on the
grounds that release of the information may constitute contempt of the House of Representatives.
This applies where the release of information would breach the confidentiality of parliamentary
proceedings, such as select committee deliberations, which are protected under Standing Orders.
Right of review
If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please contac
t [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 a
t www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
Please note that we may publish this response (with your details removed) on the Ministry for
Regulation website.
Ngā mihi
Aisling Risdon
Head of Ministerial Services
Ministry for Regulation
3 https://bills.parliament.nz/v/6/e22299b3-b67b-4f74-023d-08dd9688d2c5?Tab=history
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