Annual report 2025/2026
Annual Report 2025/26
The Ministry for Regulation exists to improve how regulation works for New Zealanders. During 2025/26, we continued building on the foundations established in our first year. We delivered significant regulatory reforms, system improvements and capability initiatives designed to reduce unnecessary regulatory burden, improve the quality of regulation, and strengthen the performance of regulatory systems across government.
The Ministry met or exceeded all of its primary performance targets. Access the full annual report or read a summary below.
Our strategic focus
During the year we focused on four strategic objectives. Together, these objectives contribute to a regulatory environment that supports productivity, encourages innovation and helps people, communities and businesses get things done.
-
Providing leadership across government
to strengthen the Regulatory Management System -
Improving the quality of new regulatory proposals and advice,
so decisions are based on sound evidence and analysis -
Enhancing the performance of regulatory systems,
ensuring they are efficient, resilient and responsive -
Building capability across the regulatory workforce,
equipping leaders and practitioners with the tools and knowledge they need to apply good regulatory practice
Highlights
Our impact
As at 30 July 2026, we estimate that our work is likely to deliver a net benefit of between $227 million and $424 million over 10 years. These benefits are expected to arise through lower compliance costs, reduced delays, improved productivity, increased investment and better-functioning regulatory systems.
Since the Annual Report was written, the Ministry has published updated estimates of the value delivered through its work.
Weighing the costs and benefits of change
Cost-benefit analysis is a key part of our approach to assessing regulation. It helps identify and quantify the likely costs and benefits of regulatory proposals so decision-makers can better understand their impacts.
During the year we completed 16 externally peer-reviewed cost-benefit analyses across 13 reviews and continued to publish guidance and training to build capability across government. Read the full case study on page 17 of the Annual Report.
Key achievements
Regulatory Standards Act 2025
A major focus of our work this year was supporting the passage and implementation of the Regulatory Standards Act 2025.
The Act is designed to improve transparency and accountability by requiring government agencies to be clear about where legislation is inconsistent with the principles of responsible regulation. The Act was enacted on 18 November 2025, came into force on 1 January 2026, and Part 2 came into force on 1 July 2026.
Alongside implementation, we worked with agencies across government to develop guidance, reform regulatory analysis requirements, strengthen regulatory stewardship expectations and establish the independent Regulatory Standards Board.
Read more about The Regulatory Standards Act
Enhancing the performance of regulatory systems
During 2025/26 we initiated five new regulatory reviews and provided almost 40 potential regulatory changes for consideration.
Reviews initiated during the year:
- Hospitality sector
- Product labelling
- Residential and small- to medium-scale solar installations
- Regulatory landscape
- Offensive trades.
These reviews helped us identify opportunities to reduce unnecessary complexity, lower compliance costs, improve access to products and services, support innovation and strengthen regulatory system performance.
Reviewing regulation to support solar energy uptake
We reviewed the regulatory settings affecting residential and small- to medium-scale solar installations after concerns were raised through our Red Tape Tipline and stakeholder engagement about costs, complexity and delays.
The review identified opportunities to reduce unnecessary cost and delay, with analysis estimating net benefits of between $28 million and $50 million over 10 years. Cabinet subsequently agreed to a package of decisions to progress recommendations arising from the review. Read the full case study on page 27 of the Annual Report.
Improving new regulatory proposals
We work across government to improve the quality of regulatory proposals before decisions are made. This includes providing advice to agencies, reviewing Cabinet papers and helping identify regulatory risks, costs and unintended consequences.
During 2025/26 we received almost 100 requests for early engagement, and reviewed more than 300 Cabinet papers.
Regulation that works for people
The Red Tape Tipline gives New Zealanders a direct way to tell us about regulations that make everyday activities more difficult, costly or time-consuming than they need to be.
Since launching in November 2024, the Tipline has received over 1,600 submissions, including more than 850 during 2025/26.
The Ministry has:
- completed more than 200 targeted reviews
- proposed 22 deregulatory actions during 2025/26
- used Tipline insights to support practical reforms across a range of sectors.
Mapping New Zealand's regulatory landscape
In May 2026, we published the first comprehensive picture of New Zealand's regulatory landscape.
We identified more than 260 organisations carrying out all or part of a regulatory function across New Zealand and provided a shared view of how regulation is experienced by citizens, businesses and communities. This work creates a stronger foundation for regulatory stewardship and future system improvement. Read the full case study on page 29 of the Annual Report.
Building capability across the regulatory workforce
Strengthening capability is a core role of the Ministry. We provide practical guidance and tools for regulators, and support public sector agencies to meet new legislative requirements.
During 2025/26 the Ministry:
- officially launched RegRoom, our online learning and collaboration platform
- increased RegRoom membership to more than 1,200 users
- published practical guidance on issues including regulatory sandboxes and artificial intelligence
- delivered webinars and training to support implementation of the Regulatory Standards Act 2025
- had more than 5,300 downloads of our regulatory quick guides.
Service performance
The Ministry exceeded or achieved all of its primary performance measures during the year. Results included:
Measure |
Result |
| Ministerial satisfaction | 4.2/5 (target 4.0) |
| Policy quality | 3.5/5 (target 3.3) |
| Regulatory reviews initiated | 5 (target 4) |
| Cabinet acceptance of review recommendations | 86% (target 80%) |
| Regulatory impact analysis compliance reports published | Achieved |
Financial snapshot
Vote Regulation 2025/26 appropriation (expenses incurred by the Ministry):
- Operational spend: $18.295m
- Operational budget: $18.319m
- Capital spend: $0.555m
For more information see page 54 of the Annual Report.
Read the full Annual Report 2025/26
For detailed reporting, performance information, financial statements and case studies, read the full Annual Report 2025/26.