The Integrity Institute, led by Dr. Bryce Edwards, is a new research and advocacy organization dedicated to scrutinizing and challenging vested interests in New Zealand politics. The organization will focus on core political issues and provide updates through newsletters like the “Integrity Briefing.” The first analysis provided by Edwards critiques the Government’s Regulatory Standards Bill, which is seen as a radical reform that favors business interests over public interest.
The Regulatory Standards Bill, proposed by the Act Party and supported by the Coalition Government, aims to create a more pro-business environment in New Zealand by prioritizing property rights over public interest. Critics argue that the bill will lead to regulatory paralysis, poor-quality law-making, and favoritism towards powerful corporations. The focus on compensation for property owners affected by regulations is seen as protecting profits over public interest considerations.
The history of deregulation in New Zealand, driven by neoliberal values, has led to negative outcomes such as market failures and economic inequality. The Regulatory Standards Bill, previously introduced multiple times, is now being revived with potential negative implications for policy-making and democratic decision-making processes. Critics, including the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, argue that the bill will prioritize profit over people and should be rejected in favor of strengthening existing mechanisms for good governance.
