Te Pāti Māori Co-leader Rawiri Waititi says that the departmental report on the Regulatory Standards Bill that has been presented at select committee today has failed the people of Aotearoa.
Waititi moved that the Committee reject the Ministry of Regulations departmental report, cease consideration of amendments, and instruct the Clerk to prepare a report focused solely on submitter feedback due to the report’s recommendations failing to represent the overwhelming perspective from the public who submitted in opposition.
The motion was voted down this morning.
“This decision shows exactly what’s wrong with this government, it is willing to ignore the voices of 157,000 submitters, 98.7% of whom opposed this Bill, in favour of a political agenda that most New Zealanders do not support” said Waititi.
The overwhelming majority of submissions opposed the Bill on three key themes:
- The omission of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its principles,
- Breach of the Crown’s obligations under Te Tiriti,
- The Bill’s ideological basis, unsupported by most New Zealanders,
- The Bill is inconsistent with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 (NZBORA),
- The Bill is inconsistent with international human rights law,
- There is already pre-existing legislation that can accomplish functions of what the Bill aims to achieve.
Recommendations presented to select committee should be reflective of submitters concerns, instead of prioritising the execution of a Ministers Bill.
“This committee is being used as a stamp of approval for the Government’s political propaganda.
“It is unacceptable for the government to hide behind the facade of ‘consultation’ when 98.7% of submitters are opposed to the Bill, and it is undemocratic for their submissions to be ignored.
“If the government will not listen when the country speaks with a clear overwhelming majority against the Regulatory Standards Bill, then it has no intention of truly representing this countries people.
“This is a betrayal not just of Te Tiriti o Waitangi or the Bill of Rights Act but undermines the very foundations of democracy in Aotearoa.