The Department of Internal Affairs

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Resource material › Regulatory Impact Statements and Assessments

In 2001 Cabinet agreed that all Regulatory Impact and Business Cost Compliance Statements (RIS/BCCS) must be lodged on the responsible department’s website and that the department’s website link for each RIS/BCCS be published by the Treasury on their dedicated web page: Published Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIA).

Charities

Regulations to enable appeals to the Taxation and Charities Review Authority

This Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) has been prepared by the Department of Internal Affairs. The RIS provides an assessment of proposals for regulations for appeals under the Charities Act 2005. The proposals aim to ensure that appeals processes run seamlessly end-to-end and the Taxation and Charities Review Authority is aligned with the wider tribunal system.

RIS - Regulations to enable appeals to the Taxation and Charities Review Authority (PDF, 611KB)

Media Content and Online Safety

Interim Regulatory Impact Statement: A Modernised Regulatory Framework for Media and Online Content in New Zealand

The Department of Internal Affairs has prepared this interim regulatory statement to support the release of a public discussion document. The discussion document seeks views on the Departments preferred approach to building a framework for regulating media and online content New Zealand.

Interim Regulatory Impact Statement - WORD version (DOCX, 362KB)
Interim Regulatory Impact Statement - PDF version (PDF, 1MB)

Proposals for funding the Office of Film and Literature Classification to support self-rating by Commercial Video on-Demand providers

The Department of Internal Affairs has prepared a Cost Recovery Impact Statement (CRIS) on proposals for funding the Office of Film and Literature Classification’s commercial video on-demand (CVoD) activities.
The CRIS analyses options for a suitable funding framework for the Classification Office’s activities to regulate CVoD providers who self-rate content on their platforms. Such activities include auditing and reviewing ratings, maintaining self-rating systems and software, CVoD provider training, and liaison with the public.

The CVoD funding framework will be enabled by the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification (Commercial Video on-Demand) Amendment Bill. A date for when the funding framework takes effect will be determined as part of developing regulations.

Countering Violent Extremism Online

This Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared by the Department of Internal Affairs. It provides an assessment of proposals aimed at enhancing the ability of Government and non-government partners to deter and respond to objectionable content online under the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993.

The Films, Videos, and Publications Classifications Amendment Bill – standardising classification for Commercial Video on-Demand content (2019)

This Supplementary Analysis Report to a Regulatory Impact Statement has been prepared by the Department of Internal Affairs. It provides an assessment of proposals to address a regulatory gap whereby providers of commercial video on-demand (CVoD) content are not currently required to rate or label CVoD content before it is made available in New Zealand. These proposals will result in an amendment to the Films, Videos and Publications Classification Act 1993: The original Regulatory Impact Statement is published here: Policy proposals: Standardising classification for Commercial Video on-Demand content (PDF, 5.4MB). This Supplementary Analysis Report provides additional information about how ‘CVoD providers’ are defined, and which providers will be regulated by these proposals.

Note: The Department has withheld information in the Regulatory Impact Statement under the following sections of the Official Information Act 1982:
  • section 9(2)(f)(iv), where withholding the information is necessary to maintain the constitutional conventions for the time being which protect the confidentiality of advice tendered by officials; and
  • section 9(2)(b)(ii), where withholding the information is necessary to protect information where the making available of this information would be likely unreasonably to prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied or who is the subject of the information.
The Department considered, in the circumstances of this particular case, the withholding of the identified information is not outweighed by other considerations which render it desirable to make that information available in the public interest.

Please note a correction to paragraph 221 of this document. The funding review of the Classifications System will report to Cabinet on proposed options by April 2020, not be completed by April 2020 as the document suggests.

Racing

Interim Regulatory Impact Statement: Future of New Zealand Greyhound Racing Industry

Racing Industry Bill (2024)

Racing Industry Bill (2019)

This Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared by the Department of Internal Affairs. It provides an assessment of proposals aimed at: a new post-transition governance structure of the racing industry that recognises the need to take a more commercial orientation; enabling existing racing property to better benefit the racing industry; and identifying new ways of seeking approval for wagering products while minimising harm from gambling. This Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared by the Department of Internal Affairs: Regulatory Impact Assessment Racing Industry Reforms Bill No. 2 (.pdf, 5MB)

Classification of racing greyhounds as working dogs under the Dog Control Act 1996 (2019)

This Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared by the Department of Internal Affairs. It provides an assessment of proposals aimed at making changes to the classification of racing greyhounds under the Dog Control Act 1996:

Regulatory Impact Assessment Classification of Greyhounds (.pdf, 248KB)

Racing Reform Bill (2019)

This Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared by the Department of Internal Affairs. It provides an assessment of proposals aimed at:
  • beginning the process of structural reform in the racing industry; and
  • providing financial relief to the racing industry.
Regulatory Impact Assessment Racing Industry Reforms (.pdf, 1.3MB)

Racing Amendment Bill

This Regulatory Impact Statement has been prepared by the Department of Internal Affairs.
It provides an assessment of options to address the issues posed by:
  • New Zealanders betting on racing and sports with offshore gambling operators, leading to the loss of revenue to New Zealand racing and sports; and
  • offshore gambling operators taking bets on New Zealand racing and sports event without contributing to those industries in New Zealand.
Regulatory Impact Statement: Offshore Racing and Sports Betting (.docx, 204kb)
Regulatory Impact Statement: Offshore Racing and Sports Betting (.pdf, 528kb)

Another Regulatory Impact Statement was prepared in respect of the Racing Amendment Bill, regarding Commission payments made by the New Zealand Racing Board to National Sports Organisations. This Regulatory Impact Statement may be accessed on Sport New Zealand’s website: http://www.sportnz.org.nz/news-and-events/media-releases-and-updates/articles/racing-act-proposed-legislative-changes

Identity

Death Approved Information Sharing Agreement (Death AISA)

The Department of Internal Affairs is solely responsible for the analysis and advice
set out in this Impact Summary, except as otherwise explicitly indicated. This analysis and advice has been produced for the purpose of informing Cabinet’s final policy decisions on the Death Approved Information Sharing Agreement (Death AISA):

Self-identification regulations

These are regulations to support the self-identification process for amending registered sex, which has been introduced by the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 2021. These Regulatory Impact Statements (RIS) has been prepared by the Department of Internal Affairs.

Passport (Fees) Amendment Regulations 2022

This Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) has been prepared by the Department of Internal Affairs.

Customer Nominated Services Approved Information Sharing Agreement (AISA)

The Department of Internal Affairs is solely responsible for the analysis and advice set out in this Regulatory Impact Statement, except as otherwise explicitly indicated. This analysis and advice has been produced for the purpose of informing Cabinet’s final policy decisions on the Customer Nominated Services Approved Information Sharing Agreement (CNS AISA):

Passport (Fees) Amendment Regulations 2019

This Cost Recovery Impact Statement (CRIS) has been prepared by the Department of Internal Affairs. See associated Cabinet papers and Minutes

Information sharing for identity services (AISA)

Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Bill

This Regulatory Statement has been prepared by the Department of Internal Affairs. It provides an analysis of options for (a) improving public access to registered information about births, deaths, marriages, civil unions, and name changes (BDM information) held by the Department and (b) improving the timeliness and accuracy of reported cause of death information. More information about workstream 1 can be found at BDM access review. Information about the Law Commission’s review of burial and cremation law (workstream 3) can be found on the Commission’s website.

Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Bill (.docx, 2mb)
Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Bill (.pdf, 1mb)

Birth, Death, Marriage, and Civil Union Fees 2017

This Regulatory Impact Statement has been prepared by the Department of Internal Affairs. It provides an assessment of funding options to address deficits in the memorandum accounts used to provide birth, death, marriage, and civil union (BDMCU) products and services. These deficits have been caused by the current fees being lower than current production costs, as fees were last set in 2003.
Changes to BDMCU fees impact three Regulations, including:
  • Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration (Fees) Regulations 1995;
  • Marriage (Fees) Regulations 1995; and the
  • Civil Union (Prescribed Information, Fees and Forms) Regulations 2005.
These regulations are associated with the following Acts: the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 1995; the Marriage Act 1955; and the Civil Union Act 2004. It is noted that the Ministry of Justice administer the Marriage Act 1955 and the Civil Union Act 2004.
Note: The Department has withheld information in the Regulatory Impact Statement under section 9(2) of the Official Information Act 1982, where withholding of the information is necessary to protect the privacy of natural persons. The Department considered, in the circumstances of this particular case, the withholding of the identified information is not outweighed by other considerations which render it desirable to make that information available in the public interest.

Passports Amendment Bill (No 2) 2015

These Regulatory Impact Statements (RIS) have been prepared by the Department of Internal Affairs. They provide analyses of options to change the validity period of New Zealand passports. The 2013 RIS also provides information about the costs and benefits of changing the validity period of other travel documents and additional measures to modernise the Passports Act 1992.

Passport Fees

This Regulatory Impact Statement has been prepared by the Department of Internal Affairs. It provides analysis of options to reduce adult passport fees for passport applications (apart from those made in London or Sydney), introduce a fee for an on-line passport renewal application and make technical adjustments to the GST component of the new and existing passport fees.

Note: The signed and scanned PDF, below, is the official version of this document.

Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism: Identity Verification Code of Practice

This Regulatory Impact Statement has been prepared by the Department of Internal Affairs, with input from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and the Financial Markets Authority. It provides analysis of options to facilitate compliance with the standard identity verification requirements of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act 2009. More information: Identity Verification Code of Practice 2011

Electronic Identity Verification Bill

The identity verification service is designed to provide individuals with the option of verifying their identities authoritatively online and in real-time to authorised agencies. This document provides an analysis of regulatory and non-regulatory options to support the full implementation of the service:

Regulations to support the legislation

Cabinet has agreed to a range of regulations to support the service. These regulations prescribe agencies that can use the service, how long information may be retained for if an individual stops using the service and other administrative matters.

Note: The signed and scanned PDF, below, is the official version of this document.

Identity Information Confirmation Bill

The following document provides an analysis of options to enable the private sector, and more of the public sector, to validate identity information against information held on the Department's registers and systems. This will help the private sector to combat identity fraud and to reduce business compliance costs, while protecting the privacy of New Zealanders:

Citizenship Amendment Bill

These reforms seek to amend the Citizenship Act 1977 to provide a citizenship system that best meets New Zealand’s needs. The reforms seek to balance competing goals, namely to provide - a fair and inclusive citizenship system that positions New Zealand well to compete for the migrants we need; and a citizenship system which protects New Zealand:

Daylight Saving

The Minister of Internal Affairs agreed to the Department posting the Regulatory Impact Statement relating to the Extension to Daylight Saving on its website. This page gives you access to that statement. The statement is released consistent with the Official Information Act 1982.

Please note that this is not a Departmental paper and it appears on the Department's website for reasons of convenience.

Part of this document has been reformatted as part of the process of putting it on our website. There may be some minor differences in layout (e.g. font or page breaks) to the paper document that Cabinet considered. There are no differences in content.

The following Regulatory Impact Statement relates to regulations made to extend Daylight Saving under the Time Act 1974:

Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Proposalsfor Fire and Emergency levy rates, exemptions and other levy matters

This Cost Recovery Impact Statement (CRIS) has been prepared by the Department of Internal Affairs. It provides an analysis of insurance levy rates that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand from 1 July 2026, including amendments to levy exemptions agreed by Cabinet in March 2024: This Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) has been prepared by the Department of Internal Affairs. It provides analysis of administrative proposals for the calculation and collection of the Fire and Emergency levy: This Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) has been prepared by the Department of Internal Affairs. It provides an analysis of proposed exemptions to the insurance levy that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand from 1 July 2026: This Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) has been prepared by the Department of Internal Affairs. It provides an analysis of proposed exemptions to the insurance levy that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand from 1 July 2026.

Proposal to increase the transitional levy for Fire and Emergency New Zealand

 These cost recovery statements have been prepared by the Department of Internal Affairs. The interim statement provides analysis for an option to increase the transitional levy for Fire and Emergency New Zealand, to support a consultation document prepared by Fire and Emergency New Zealand. The final statement provides analysis of options to support final decisions to increase the transitional levy.

Regulatory Impact Statement: Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Levy) Amendment Bill

This Regulatory Impact Statement has been prepared by the Department of Internal Affairs. It provides an analysis of changes to Part 3 of the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017, which sets out a funding system that charges a levy on insurance contracts. These changes will:
  • apply the levy to contracts of insurance for fire damage; and
  • calculate the amount of levy paid based on the ‘sum insured’.

Delay to commencement of new levy regime

This Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) has been prepared by the Department of Internal Affairs. It provides an analysis of a delay to commencement of sections 80 to 140 of the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand Bill

Fire and Emergency Regulations

Gambling

The Regulatory Impact Statements below have been prepared by the Department of Internal Affairs.

Class 4 gambling harm minimisation regulations

The following Interim Regulatory Impact Statement provides analysis for the release of a public discussion document seeking views on how to strengthen harm minimisation regulations for Class 4 gambling venues:

Casino Venue Licence Renewal Application Fee Regulations 2017

The following Regulatory Impact Statement provides an analysis of options for making regulation that set the casino venue licence renewal fee:

Problem Gambling Levy Regulations for 2016/17 to 2018/19

Class 4 gambling venue payment regulations

The following Regulatory Impact Statement provides an analysis of options for a new class 4 gambling venue payments regime.

Review of class 4 gambling

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne announced a number of decisions affecting the class 4 gambling sector. The Department will develop proposals to address the future sustainability of community funding from class 4 gambling; they will be included in a public discussion document to be released later this year. The following papers support the decisions:

Changes to fees under the Gambling Act 2003

View the Regulatory impact statement: changes to fees under the Gambling Act 2003 and Cabinet papers on the Gambling Consultation page.

Class 4 gambling reforms

The following Regulatory Impact Statement provides analysis of different options to achieve two of priorities for Class 4 gambling reform:
  • increase the proportion of gross proceeds from Class 4 gambling returned to authorised community purposes; and
  • require a proportion of gambling proceeds to be distributed in the same region that they were generated.
The statement summarises the regulatory reforms that are recommended to achieve these priorities. The following Regulatory Impact Statement provides analysis of the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill, which was enacted on 14 September 2013. The statement summarises the proposed amendments to the Bill that the Minister of Internal Affairs recommended be supported by the Government. It also provides an analysis of amendments in areas outside the scope of the Bill that required a new amendment bill, which became the Gambling Amendment Bill (No 3): The Regulatory Impact Statement below examines a discrete policy issue that was subsequently included in the Gambling Amendment Bill (No 3): The following Regulatory Impact and Business Cost Compliance Statements relate to regulations made under the Gambling Act 2003:

Problem Gambling Levy for 2013/14 to 2015/16

The current problem gambling strategy and levy regulations expire at the end of 30 June 2013. This Regulatory Impact Statement canvasses the option of not replacing them. Assuming, on the other hand, that a new strategy and regulations are to be put in place, the Regulatory Impact Statement also provides analyses of options for the issues on which the Government must make decisions.

Multi-Year Grants from Non-Casino Gaming Machine Proceeds

Gambling Amendment Bill No. 2

Gambling (Fees) Regulations 2007

Harm Minimisation Regulations

Gaming Machine Accountability Regulations

 For further information see: Gambling Act 2003 - Cabinet Papers on Regulations

Lake Taupō Harbourmaster

Lake Taupō (Crown Facilities, Permits and Fees) Amendment Regulations 2019
Lake Taupō Navigation Safety Amendment Bylaw 2019

Note: The signed and scanned PDF, below, is the official version of this document.

Lake Taupō (Crown Facilities, Permits and Fees) Regulations 2012
Lake Taupō Navigation Safety Amendment Bylaw 2012

Note: The signed and scanned PDF, below, is the official version of this document. For further information see: Lake Taupō Harbourmaster

Local Government

Local Water Done Well stage 3 – water services delivery system

Proposals to progress the third stage of the Local Water Done Well programme (See Proactive Releases):

Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill

Please note, the title of this Bill was changed following completion of the Regulatory Impact Statement and prior to introduction.

Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Bill

Lowering Voting Age for Local Elections and Polls

The following Regulatory Impact Analysis provides context for the Electoral (Lowering Voting Age for Local Elections and Polls) Legislation Bill:

Reform of water services delivery arrangements

The following Regulatory Impact Analysis provides context for the Water Service Entities Amendment Bill:

Local Government Electoral Legislation Bill

Local Government Official Information and Meetings Amendment Bill

Local Electoral (Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Bill

Whenua Māori rating

Infrastructure Funding and Financing Bill

Rates Rebate (Statutory Declarations) Amendment Bill

Supplementary Order Paper to the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill (No 2)

Temporary tax exemption for the Waitara hapū entity

Local Government (Community Well-being) Amendment Bill

The following Regulatory Impact Summary relates to the Local Government (Community Well-being) Amendment Bill.

Local Electoral Matters Bill

The following Regulatory Impact Summary relates to the Local Electoral Matters Bill.
Note: The signed and scanned PDFs, below, are the official versions of these documents.

Kaikōura District Council Long-Term Plan Order in Council

The following Regulatory Impact Statements relate to the Kaikōura long-term plan Order in Council:

National action plan to reduce the risk and harm of dog attacks

The following Regulatory Impact Statements relate to the National action plan to reduce the risk and harm of dog attacks:

Local Government Regulatory Systems

The following Regulatory Impact Statements relate to the Local Government Regulatory Systems Bill (August 2016):

Better Local Services

The following Regulatory Impact Statements relate to the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill (No. 2):

Land Transport (Speed limits validation and other matters) Bill

Potential trial of online voting in 2016 local elections

Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act

The following Regulatory Impact Statements relate to the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act (2012) The following Regulatory Impact Statements relate to the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill (No 3) (4 November 2013)

Financial planning by the Crown and Christchurch City Council for the recovery in Christchurch City

Note: The signed and scanned PDF, below, is the official version of this document.

Rebuilding retaining walls in Christchurch

Note: The signed and scanned PDF, below, is the official version of this document.

Environment Canterbury governance arrangements

Note: The signed and scanned PDF, below, is the official version of this document.

Auckland Transitional Provisions

The following Regulatory Impact Statement relates to the Local Government (Auckland Transitional Provisions) Act 2010:

Better Local Government

The following Regulatory Impact Statement relates to the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill (30 May 2012)

Note: The signed and scanned PDF, below, is the official version of this document. See also: Better Local Government

Christchurch City Rating Powers

The Government has approved an Order in Council to give Christchurch City Council more flexibility in setting rates. The order allows the council to reassess rates during the year, rather than only at the start of the financial year. This allows the nature and speed of building activity in Christchurch to be reflected in the rating system. The Order In Council came into effect on 1 July and will expire in March 2016.

Note: The signed and scanned PDF, below, is the official version of this document.

Local Electoral Act Amendment

The following Regulatory Impact Statements relate to the Local Electoral Act 2001: The document above is the Regulatory Impact Statement for the Local Electoral Amendment Bill No 2 introduced to the house on October 15 2012. The following Regulatory Impact Statement relates to a Bill which was introduced in 2011. This Bill did not have a first reading and has since been incorporated into the Local Electoral Amendment Bill No 2:

Note: The signed and scanned PDF, below, is the official version of this document.

Local Government Act 2002

The following Regulatory Impact Statements relate to the Local Government Act 2002:

Note: The signed and scanned PDF, below, is the official version of this document. Note: The signed and scanned PDF, below, is the official version of this document.

Digital Identity

Digital Identity Services Trust Framework
See also: Progressing Digital Identity: Establishing a trust Framework (PDF, 2.2MB)

Regulatory Stewardship

Internal Affairs Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill: Policy Proposals
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