21 October 2016

Parliament considers updates to commercial regulations

Repair and maintenance work planned for commerce, consumer affairs, energy and resources, and communications regulations

The Commerce Committee is seeking public submissions on the Regulatory Systems (Commercial Matters) Amendment Bill. The Bill seeks to make regulations more effective and efficient in New Zealand’s commerce, consumer affairs, energy and resources, and communications sectors.

The Bill is one of a package of three omnibus Bills updating laws administered by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. It proposes small regulatory fixes to a wide number of Acts, including the Companies Act 1993, the Fair Trading Act 1986, and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act 2000. The Bill aims to:

• keep New Zealand’s regulatory system up to date

• remove unnecessary compliance costs for New Zealand businesses

• address small regulatory errors within and between different pieces of legislation

• clarify and update statutory provisions in each amended Act.

The Chairperson of the Commerce committee, Melissa Lee, said “This Bill responds to recommendations made in a June 2014 report by the New Zealand Productivity Commission. It is essential that New Zealand’s regulatory systems are streamlined, so that there are no unnecessary hurdles for innovative New Zealand industries to overcome. I look forward to the submission process and to hearing what New Zealanders think about this legislative tidy up.”

Have your say to the Commerce Committee and tell them what you think

Send your submission on the bill by midnight on 1 December 2016.

For more details about the bill, visit the Parliament website:

• Read the Regulatory Systems (Commercial Matters) Amendment Bill

• Get more details about the Regulatory Systems (Commercial Matters) Amendment Bill

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