What if a single piece of legislation could quietly reshape how all future laws are made — limiting the role of government, elevating corporate power, and embedding a fringe ideology into the heart of our democracy? In this episode of Coherent, lawyer and campaigner Max Harris (Pākehā) joins Melanie to unpack the true agenda behind the Regulatory Standards Bill.
Drawing on his legal expertise and political analysis, Max explains how the Bill advances a libertarian vision of society rooted in the ideas of Milton Friedman and Friedrich Hayek — one that prioritises private property and profit above community wellbeing, environmental protection, and public safety. Together, they examine how the Bill could entrench this worldview by redefining what counts as ‘good lawmaking’, enabling compensation claims for regulations that reduce corporate profits, and tying future parliaments to David Seymour’s political agenda.
They also take a closer look at the proposed Regulatory Standards Board — a ministerially appointed body with sweeping powers to judge most existing laws against the Bill’s principles — and explore the risks it poses to democratic decision-making. Max reflects on the Bill’s broader constitutional implications, why it’s being pushed under the radar, and how seemingly innocuous language like “transparency” and “good governance” can disguise a radical shift in power.
Most importantly, Max outlines what people can do to resist it. From submissions and media pressure to reaching out to MPs — particularly in New Zealand First — this conversation is a powerful call to collective action.
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 we mentioned: 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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