🎧 Coherent podcast with Melanie Nelson
What does it mean when a government proposes to put most law through a libertarian filter? In this episode of Coherent, I speak with Dr Carwyn Jones, legal scholar and expert in te Tiriti o Waitangi, about the Regulatory Standards Bill — a proposal that’s quietly but profoundly reshaping the legal foundations of New Zealand.
We explore how the Bill elevates a narrow set of private property and individual liberty principles at the expense of te Tiriti, environmental protections, and the wider public good. Carwyn shares why he sees the RSB as a major constitutional shift — one that replaces the values embedded in our legislative guidelines with a rigid ideological straitjacket.
We discuss:
How the RSB’s “principles” conflict with te Tiriti and the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act
The risk of regulatory takings and the expectation of compensation for companies restricted from polluting or profiting
Why the proposed Regulatory Standards Board may operate like a Waitangi Tribunal for libertarians — with more powers
How the Bill pressures governments to conform and creates a chilling effect on public interest lawmaking
What a Te Tiriti-honouring approach to regulation could look like — and how we can support it
Carwyn brings clarity, depth, and a call to action. With the submission deadline looming, this is a must-listen for anyone concerned about the future of our laws, our rights, and our democracy.
Watch the video podcast above. Or listen to the audio here on Substack, or on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other platforms (once uploaded).
Resources:
Sector Specific RSB Tool: https://tinyurl.com/RSBTool
Linktree with a wide range of historic and contemporary information on the RSB, including submission guides and builders.
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