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#8: Max Harris: The Hidden Agenda in New Zealand’s Regulatory Overhaul
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Video episode available on my Substack.
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 joins Melanie Nelson 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 all 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.
Resources:
Link to the Sector-Specific RSB Tool mentioned in the interview: https://tinyurl.com/RSBTool
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This is part of a series of in-depth conversations with experts across sectors on the real-world impacts of the Regulatory Standards Bill. If you value independent political analysis, subscribe to my Substack for more interviews, writing, and updates. Free subscribers get regular content. Paid subscriptions really help keep this work going.
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