NZ First tosses Labour's scheme to repeal Regulatory Standards Act in the scrap heap

Tuesday, 25 November 2025

Winston Peters has confirmed his party will campaign against the Regulatory Standards Bill, just days after the bill became law - thanks to NZ First's votes. ACT leader David Seymour says it shows NZ First is looking to work with Labour next year.

NZ First leader Winston Peters has rubbished a Labour MP’s scheme to repeal the Regulatory Standards Act – even though Peters has pledged to campaign to repeal the law.

On Tuesday, Labour’s Duncan Webb said he had invited NZ First to support his private member’s bill to repeal the Regulatory Standards Act. He proposed that bill after Peters vowed to campaign against the law last week, even though he and his party voted for the bill the week prior.

On Thursday, Peters said NZ First reluctantly voted to make the Regulatory Standards Bill law because he had agreed to do so during coalition negotiations in 2023. He said there were clear issues with the law, and said it went against fundamental principles of democracy.

Regulations Minister David Seymour accused Peters of trying to cosy up to Labour, and saying his law was “a landmark piece of legislation” which ACT would never agree to repeal.

Webb, an outgoing Labour MP who was the party’s regulations spokesperson, on Tuesday invited Peters to support his bill to repeal the act.

Labour’s Duncan Webb has introduced a member’s bill to repeal the Regulatory Standards Act.

“Even though it’s been obvious to everyone from the start, Winston Peters has finally admitted that this law is a bad idea, despite his party voting for it in Parliament,” Webb said in a statement.

“Today I’m giving him the chance to fix that mistake. I have contacted New Zealand First and asked for their support – let’s see if they will back their words with action,” he said.

But Peters said Webb was just playing politics. He said Webb had not given NZ First enough time to consider whether it could support his bill.

“Duncan Webb contacted our party whip just before 10.30 this morning, requesting our support for his member’s bill. Without waiting for our response, less than 50 minutes later, he sent a PR out to the media,” Peters said, in his own statement.

He said NZ First would not support a repeal of this bill before the election.

NZ First leader Winston Peters says he will not support a Labour Party bill to repeal the Regulatory Standards Act.

“We in NZFirst stick by our word and our coalition agreements. Labour doesn’t know what commitment and integrity means,” Peters said.

He also took a pot-shot at Webb for his spelling.

Webb’s statement started: “Labour has committed to scraping the Regulatory Standards Act in its first 100 days - but we don’t need to wait. We can do it right now, if Winston Peters is willing to walk the walk.”

Peters noted that Webb used the wrong spelling for ‘scraping/scrapping’.

The NZ First statement concluded, “Next time ‘scrapping’ is with two ‘P’s. Not one. Unless you’re scraping the bottom of the barrel.”