Winston Peters rejects Labour offer to team up to repeal Regulatory Standards Act

Tuesday, 25 November 2025

NZ First leader Winston Peters has rejected an offer from Labour to join forces to repeal the Regulatory Standards Act.

Labour made the offer following the news that NZ First would campaign against the law, despite voting to pass it just weeks ago.

“We believe in the fundamental principles of democracy and the paramountcy of Parliament, not on an unelected committee,” Peters said last week.

Labour MP Duncan Webb lodged a members bill in the ballot on Tuesday that would repeal the controversial act and directly challenged Peters to join forces on the matter, given his opposition.

If the repeal bill was voted for by NZ First alongside all the Opposition parties, it would pass. It would have to be pulled from the ballot first, however.

The Regulatory Standards Act looks to ensure that new laws or regulations comply with a set of principles set out by the Government, including respect for property rights and individual liberties. It does not actively hinder any Government from passing a law, but sets up a body that would publicly judge whether new laws adhered to these standards.

Labour sent a statement sent to media asking “Winston, are you in?” challenging Peters to join the fight.

“We can do it right now, if Winston Peters is willing to walk the walk,” the statement read.

“It’s time to repeal this law and restore common sense to our regulations. This is Winston Peters’ chance to do more than grab headlines - back my bill and help us scrap this law.”

In response on social, Peters said “the only party playing political games is the Labour Party” and that the party would instead be seeking a mandate for repeal at the election.

“We have always said from the start that the people should decide this issue. We first proposed a referendum. In the absence of that, we will now be seeking a mandate from New Zealanders at next year’s election for the next government to undertake repeal.”

Peters’ knocked the party for sending out the statement before they had a chance to respond ‒ less than 50 minutes after contacting NZ First’s party whip.

“Mr Webb might want to use this serious issue as a political football, but we don’t.

“We know Webb is used to dictating to New Zealanders and ignoring the people’s mandate, but NZ First believes in a thing called democracy.”

There has been some talk in recent weeks of Labour and NZ First joining forces once more, with ACT leader David Seymour suggesting that Peters’ views were hinting at a new coalition between Labour and NZ First.

Peters has rubbished this talk and said he would not work with a party led by Chris Hipkins.