Coherent

Video episode available for free on my Substack.What if poverty in New Zealand isn’t accidental — but the result of how our systems are designed?In this episode of the Coherent podcast, I speak with journalist and author Rebecca Macfie about her recent books Hardship and Hope: Stories of Resistance in the Fight Against Poverty in Aotearoa and Pakukore: Poverty by Design. We also discuss the upcoming conference, Kia Tika, Kia Pono: For a Just Society, which she is helping to organise.We explore what sits behind the idea of “poverty by design” — from labour market reforms and welfare systems, to education, housing, and the long shadow of colonisation. Rebecca explains how disadvantage compounds across generations, and how policy settings, institutional behaviour, and public narratives all play a role in shaping outcomes.But this conversation isn’t only about diagnosis.Drawing on her writing, Rebecca also shares stories of resistance, community-led solutions, and what she’s come to understand about hope — not as optimism, but as action. From papakāinga developments to frontline service innovation, she reflects on the depth of talent and capability that exists within communities, and what’s lost when systems fail to support it.We also discuss:why poverty is often framed as individual failure — and what that obscureshow distrust and rigid systems can make crises worsethe concept of a “pipeline” into the justice system for Māoriwhat a genuinely “just society” might look like in practiceand whether we’re moving closer to it — or further awayThis is a wide-ranging and deeply grounded conversation about how inequality is produced - and what it would take to do things differently.The Kia Tika, Kia Pono: For a Just Society conference is open to anyone wanting to engage with these ideas and explore new ways of thinking about justice in New Zealand.Video episode available for free on my Substack.Resources:Kia Tika, Kia Pono - For a Just Society ConferenceRebecca’s books at BWBSubscribe for moreIf 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.  You can also buy me a coffee! 

Video episode available for free on my Substack.New Zealand’s biggest environmental law is being dismantled and rebuilt — and the stakes are not “technical”.In this episode of Coherent, I’m joined by planner and geographer Tina Porou (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Porou), who has spent her career working with iwi, hapū and organisations at the intersection of planning, te Tiriti, and tikanga Māori. Tina explains why planning law is never neutral: it shapes who has power, who gets heard, and what kinds of futures become possible.We talk through what is being lost as the Resource Management Act is replaced by the Planning Act and the Natural Environment Act, including the removal of the RMA’s Part 2 foundations — and the decades of practice and case law that have enabled Māori participation and more relational, place-based decision-making.Tina unpacks what “systemic racism” can look like in the planning system in practical terms, and why the reforms risk narrowing Māori participation into Crown-defined boxes while shifting conflict from collaborative processes into courts, private negotiations, and protest. She also explains why Treaty settlements cannot simply be treated as the only avenue for Māori involvement — because many were negotiated on the explicit assumption that the RMA’s core protections and participation pathways would remain in place.We explore the reforms’ push toward speed and “efficiency”, the centralising force of national direction, and the chilling effect of a regulatory takings approach that could lock councils into lower environmental standards. Tina argues that the real costs are likely to land on communities, iwi and hapū, and the environment — while any apparent upfront streamlining may simply defer complexity into long-term ecological harm, legal risk, and fractured relationships.Finally, Tina offers a clear bird’s-eye guide for people engaging with the select committee process: what to focus on, how to collaborate, and why submissions still matter — not only to influence the law, but to build public expertise and collective capacity. We end on a hopeful note: the best blueprint may still be a better RMA — and New Zealand can still choose to lead, rather than retreat, on environmental limits, indigenous partnership, and future-focused governance.Submissions on the new bills are currently open. If you’ve been wondering where to start, this kōrero is a powerful place to begin.Resources:Tina’s website: https://www.poipoia.co.nz/Link to Tina’s paper on the RMA reforms Link to government information on the reforms, including links for making a submission on each bill to the select committeeSubscribe for moreIf 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.  You can also buy me a coffee! 

Video episode available for free on my Substack.In this episode of Coherent, Melanie Nelson is joined by former Minister of Conservation and long‑time environmental advocate Eugenie Sage to unpack the Government’s recent decisions on the reclassification of stewardship land on the West Coast | Te Tai Poutini — the most significant set of decisions since the Department of Conservation was established in 1987.Eugenie explains what stewardship land is, why vast areas of high‑value conservation land were left in legal limbo following the state sector reforms of the 1980s, and how the long‑running reclassification process has unfolded. Together, they walk through the panel process, public submissions, and the Minister’s final decisions — and why the outcome represents a major lost opportunity for stronger protection.The conversation ranges across some of the most ecologically and politically contested landscapes in the country, including Paparoa National Park, Denniston Plateau, the Waitaha River, and the rainforests of South Westland within the Te Wahi Pounamu World Heritage Area. Eugenie outlines why many areas with outstanding ecological, landscape, and biodiversity values were not upgraded to National Park status — and what that means for mining, large‑scale development, and climate resilience.Melanie and Eugenie also examine the implications for Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Ngāi Tahu aspirations, public access, and river systems, including concerns about proposed land disposals within a World Heritage Area. The discussion situates these decisions within the wider context of upcoming conservation law reforms, warning that land reclassified into weaker categories may soon be even more vulnerable.This is a detailed, clear‑eyed conversation about conservation law, political influence, and what is at stake for New Zealand’s public lands — and why the stewardship land decisions matter far beyond the West Coast.This episode was recorded in December.Subscribe for moreIf 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.  You can also buy me a coffee! 

 Video episode available on my Substack.    Former Green MP and Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage joins Melanie for a deep dive into the Government’s sweeping proposals to “modernise conservation land management" — reforms she believes will dismantle decades of hard-won protections for our public estate.Framed as streamlining, efficiency, and “unlocking” economic opportunities, the changes would shift DOC’s focus from preservation to enabling economic activity, making it far easier for businesses, infrastructure projects, and tourism ventures to gain access to public conservation land. Decision-making powers currently held by the New Zealand Conservation Authority and conservation boards would be stripped away and centralised with the Minister. The robust statutory safeguards of the General Policy for National Parks and the General Policy for Conservation would be replaced by a single, more generic National Conservation Policy Statement.Eugenie warns that the proposals go well beyond efficiency tweaks. They open the door to large-scale disposal or exchange of land — including areas deemed “surplus to conservation requirements” or reallocated “to support other government priorities” — potentially covering around 5 million hectares of the estate. Amenity areas could be expanded into development nodes. Concessions could be pre-approved by class, bypassing case-by-case scrutiny and ignoring cumulative impacts. Public participation processes would be curtailed, weakening community voices.In this conversation, we unpack what these reforms mean for biodiversity, Treaty obligations, climate resilience, DOC’s culture and resourcing, and New Zealand’s international reputation. We explore how these changes intersect with the Government’s fast-track approvals regime and wider deregulatory agenda — and why Eugenie sees them as the most serious weakening of conservation law in decades.ResourcesDOC’s news release on Unleashing growth on conservation landFactsheet on Modernising Conservation Land ManagementCabinet paper on Modernising Conservation Land ManagementSubscribe for moreIf 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.  You can also buy me a coffee! 

Why the Regulatory Standards Bill would paralyse Parliament, empower unelected overseers, and unravel democratic lawmaking in New ZealandIn this episode of Coherent, Melanie Nelson speaks with former Prime Minister and constitutional law expert Sir Geoffrey Palmer about the Regulatory Standards Bill — which he describes as one of the most dangerous and constitutionally incoherent pieces of legislation he’s encountered in his long career.Sir Geoffrey warns that the Bill would install an unelected oversight board with sweeping powers, reduce ministers to bystanders in their own portfolios, and introduce regulatory principles that are legally unenforceable but politically weaponised. He argues the Bill would produce “regulatory chaos,” subvert ministerial responsibility, and undermine the principle that elected representatives — not economists — are responsible for making law.We cover:Why Clause 24 creates a legal fiction that bypasses the courtsHow the Bill concentrates power in a “super-minister” while silencing other ministersThe risks to public safety and the environment from an ideologically tilted “property rights” regimeWhat’s missing from the Bill’s design — including any reference to the Regulations Review CommitteeHow the Bill reflects a global trend toward authoritarian capitalism — and why it must be stoppedPalmer makes the case that the RSB is not just a policy error, but a democratic and constitutional crisis in the making. His call is clear: submit, speak up, and stop this Bill while we still can.Resources: Sector Specific RSB Tool: https://tinyurl.com/RSBToolLinktree with a wide range of historic and contemporary information on the RSB, including submission guides and builders.Subscribe for more 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.

Video episode available on my Substack.    In this powerful and far-reaching conversation, Dame Anne Salmond joins Melanie to confront the deeper ideological project behind the Regulatory Standards Bill. With clarity, compassion and a lifetime of scholarly insight, Anne warns that the Bill isn’t just about regulation — it’s a blueprint for hollowing out democracy, elevating corporate interests, and tying government into a narrow ideological approach.Together, they explore:How the RSB advances a global libertarian agenda hostile to public goodThe Bill’s undermining of collective rights, te Tiriti, and environmental protectionsThe risks of concentrating oversight power in a single Minister’s handsWhy the ‘double speak’ of “freedom and democracy” masks a corporate agendaThe erosion of due process, evidence-based policymaking, and civil political discourseAnne also issues a clear warning about the danger of small parties imposing fringe philosophies through opaque coalition deals. And she closes with a hopeful call to return to our shared values — grounded in whakapapa, manaakitanga, community, and a fair go — to imagine a democracy worth defending.Resources: Sector Specific RSB Tool: https://tinyurl.com/RSBToolLinktree with a wide range of historic and contemporary information on the RSB, including submission guides and builders.Subscribe for more 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.

Video episode available on my Substack.   In this wide-ranging and deeply grounded conversation, I speak with Dr Rebekah Graham — community psychologist, writer, and advocate for disability rights — about the hidden but sweeping risks the Regulatory Standards Bill (RSB) poses for disabled communities, and for the future of equity and inclusion in New Zealand.Dr Graham draws on her work with Parents of Vision Impaired and her long-standing research on material hardship and food insecurity to expose how the RSB could entrench colonial ableism and make basic accessibility measures harder to introduce — or defend. From signalised pedestrian crossings to braille on medication, from inclusive education to accessible banking and housing, she explains how the Bill’s libertarian principles would undermine everyday rights and protections, while entrenching systemic disparities.We discuss:How the RSB’s emphasis on property rights, cost-efficiency, and formal equality contradicts both the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)The chilling effect the Bill could have on accessibility legislation, including universal design, equitable resourcing in schools, and inclusive infrastructureHow charter schools, under the RSB, could become inaccessible and unaccountable — while being harder to reverseThe risks of shifting from collectivist, whānau-centred approaches to a narrow, individualised model of rights and valueThe real-world consequences of colonial ableism, and why disabled children and their families are already navigating structural exclusionDr Graham also explains why this Bill is not a dry, technical fix — but a sweeping constitutional move that threatens to redefine what “good lawmaking” means in New Zealand. And she makes a powerful call to action: for people to contact their MPs, especially in National and New Zealand First, to reject the RSB and protect the social good.Follow Dr Bex on Substack for more of her insightful analysis of social issues in Aotearoa.Resources: Sector Specific RSB Tool: https://tinyurl.com/RSBToolLinktree with a wide range of historic and contemporary information on the RSB, including submission guides and builders.Subscribe for more 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.

Video episode available on my Substack.  Economist and Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa research fellow Paul Dalziel joins Melanie on Coherent to analyse the Regulatory Standards Bill — and explain why it’s deeply misaligned with the values and aspirations of most New Zealanders.While the Bill presents itself as a tool for improving transparency and regulatory quality, Paul argues it is not fit for purpose. Drawing on his submission and decades of economic expertise, he unpacks the critical distinction between genuine regulatory standards and the vague principles laid out in the Bill — none of which set enforceable minimums or require compliance. He also reveals how the Government’s own analysis identifies no measurable benefits, despite a projected cost of $20 million per year.Paul warns that the Bill privileges individual liberties and property rights above all else, distorting democratic decision-making and sidelining long-standing public interest values such as fairness, nature, dignity, and participation. The omission of future generations and te Tiriti o Waitangi from the Bill’s framework is especially troubling — as is its potential to inhibit necessary reforms through subtle pressure and fear of oversight.This wide-ranging conversation covers:The difference between principles and enforceable standards — and why that mattersWhat the Public Finance Act includes that the RSB leaves outReal-world examples of proportionate regulation in the public good, from clean air in Christchurch to charitable lawThe risk of regulatory chill and the weakening of public service cultureWhy omitting tino rangatiratanga from compensation clauses undermines justice for MāoriA vision for a wellbeing-centred regulatory system based on international models like Wales’ Future Generations ActEssential listening for anyone invested in democratic accountability, equity, and the role of government in creating a fair society.Resources: Sector Specific RSB Tool: https://tinyurl.com/RSBToolLinktree with a wide range of historic and contemporary information on the RSB, including submission guides and builders.Subscribe for more 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.

Video episode available on my Substack.    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 ActThe risk of regulatory takings and the expectation of compensation for companies restricted from polluting or profitingWhy the proposed Regulatory Standards Board may operate like a Waitangi Tribunal for libertarians — with more powersHow the Bill pressures governments to conform and creates a chilling effect on public interest lawmakingWhat a Te Tiriti-honouring approach to regulation could look like — and how we can support itCarwyn 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.Resources: Sector Specific RSB Tool: https://tinyurl.com/RSBToolLinktree with a wide range of historic and contemporary information on the RSB, including submission guides and builders.Subscribe for more 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.You can also buy me a coffee! 

Video episode available on my Substack.   In this episode of Coherent, economist and former Productivity Commissioner Dr Bill Rosenberg joins Melanie Nelson to unpack the deep ideological drivers and real-world risks of the Regulatory Standards Bill (RSB). Drawing on decades of work in employment law, productivity policy, and public economics, Bill warns that the RSB is less about good regulation and more about embedding a bill of rights for wealth into New Zealand’s legal system.Together, they explore:The origins of the RSB in the extreme property rights ideology of Richard EpsteinHow the Bill privileges vested interests over public wellbeing and democratic lawmakingThe dangers of the 'regulatory takings' principle — from undermining public health to obstructing pro-competition reformsThe risks of cost-benefit analysis being weaponised to erode equity, public services, and environmental protectionsHow the Bill could reinforce inequality, deregulation, and privatisation — all while masquerading as transparencyThe broader cultural and economic shift the RSB aims to engineer, echoing 1990s-style neoliberalismPractical examples of how the RSB could gut workplace safety laws, make pay equity claims harder to pursue, and chill collective action on climate changeWhat better regulation could look like — and why enforcement, equity, and te Tiriti o Waitangi must be part of the conversationThis wide-ranging conversation offers a sharp and accessible critique of one of the most sweeping legislative proposals in recent New Zealand history.Resources: Sector Specific RSB Tool: https://tinyurl.com/RSBToolLinktree with a wide range of historic and contemporary information on the RSB, including submission guides and builders.Subscribe for more 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.You can also buy me a coffee! 

Video episode available on my Substack.  Green Party Co-leader Chloe Swarbrick joins Melanie to dissect the Regulatory Standards Bill — a proposal she describes as a “neoliberal sausage machine” for laws and a direct threat to democracy, climate action, and public wellbeing. In this wide-ranging conversation, Chloe reflects on what the Bill signals about the direction of our politics and who benefits when corporate interests are prioritised over collective good.She breaks down why the Greens are strongly opposed to the Bill, the risks it poses for renters, workers, the environment and tangata whenua, and how it seeks to entrench an ideology that could tie the hands of future governments. From the Board’s unelected power to the sidelining of te Tiriti, Chloe discusses how the Bill fits into a wider cultural project to reshape what New Zealanders value — and who gets a say in the country’s future.We cover:Why the Bill's retrospective powers are “so fundamentally dangerous”The real-world implications for climate policy, rent controls, workplace rights, and community decision-makingHow the Green Party is fighting back — and why every submission countsLinks between the removal of te Tiriti references and corporate agendasThe risk of replacing democracy with a technocratic, property-first modelThis is a bold and energising conversation for anyone concerned about inequality, climate justice, or the direction of our democracy.Resources: Sector Specific RSB Tool: https://tinyurl.com/RSBToolLinktree with a wide range of historic and contemporary information on the RSB, including submission guides and builders.Subscribe for more 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.You can also buy me a coffee! 

Video episode available on my Substack.   What does climate action look like in a legal framework that prioritises present-day costs, private property rights, and minimal state intervention?In this episode of Coherent, climate consultant and legal academic Dr Melanie Baker Jones joins Melanie Nelson to unpack the wide-reaching implications of the Regulatory Standards Bill for climate policy and environmental governance in New Zealand. Drawing on her background in law, disaster regulation, and climate risk, Melanie brings a practical, grounded lens to the tensions at the heart of the Bill.The conversation explores how the RSB’s principles — including cost-efficiency, predictability, and limited administrative discretion — could make it harder to justify bold, future-facing climate measures. Together they consider the risk that long-term adaptation work by councils could be delayed or challenged, and the way the Bill might privilege current private interests over intergenerational obligations, Māori worldviews, or the legal rights of ecosystems.We also look at soft law tools like climate plans, and how these intersect with zoning, LIM reports, infrastructure investment and corporate disclosures. Dr Baker Jones shares international examples of litigation over climate advertising and explores how the Bill’s emphasis on commercial freedoms could affect similar efforts here. From the omission of international obligations to the power given to the Regulatory Standards Board to investigate and make public assessments, this episode raises some big questions about the direction of our climate response — and who gets to shape it.If you care about the climate and want to understand how behind-the-scenes law changes could shape what is possible in the years to come, this one’s not to miss.Resources: Sector Specific RSB Tool we mentioned: https://tinyurl.com/RSBToolLinktree with a wide range of historic and contemporary information on the RSB, including submission guides and builders.Subscribe for more 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.You can also buy me a coffee! 

 Video episode available on my Substack.  In this episode, Melanie speaks with environmental policy expert and regulatory researcher Marie Doole about the rising threat of regulatory capture—when laws and systems designed to protect the public end up serving powerful interests instead. Marie draws on her independent research and professional experience to explain what regulatory capture looks like in New Zealand, how it spreads across the whole policy cycle, and why it’s more urgent than ever to address.They discuss:What regulatory capture is, and why New Zealand’s small size makes it especially vulnerableHow subtle forms of corporate influence can erode public trust, environmental protections, and democratic safeguardsThe role of framing strategies that cast regulation as a burden and regulators as villainsHow the Regulatory Standards Bill could increase the risk of capture—by privileging vested interests, narrowing who gets to be heard, and undermining environmental and Tiriti-based protectionsWhether the RSB is itself an instrument of regulatory captureWhat real regulatory stewardship could look like—and why we need independent institutions focused on anti-capture and public interest regulationThis conversation is a critical listen for anyone interested in democracy, environmental protection, te Tiriti o Waitangi, or the creeping influence of corporate power in lawmaking.Resources: Navigating Murky Waters: characterising capture in environmental regulatory systems (Marie Doole, Theo Stephens, Geoff Bertram)Drain the Swamp to Save the Swamp: mitigating capture in environmental regulatory systems (Marie Doole, Theo Stephens) Sector Specific RSB Tool we mentioned: https://tinyurl.com/RSBToolLinktree with a wide range of historic and contemporary information on the RSB, including submission guides and builders.Subscribe for more 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.You can also buy me a coffee! 

 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/RSBToolSubscribe for more 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.You can also buy me a coffee! 

Video episode available on my Substack.Labour MP and regulation spokesperson Duncan Webb joins the Coherent podcast to sound the alarm on the Regulatory Standards Bill (RSB) — a piece of legislation he describes as a “dangerous power grab” and a fundamental shift in how law will be made in New Zealand.In this wide-ranging and accessible conversation, Webb explains how the Bill elevates property rights above all else, allowing an unelected board — appointed by David Seymour — to scrutinise all new and existing laws through a narrow ideological lens.He unpacks what that could mean for everything from supermarket prices and the cost of living, to forest protection, workers’ rights, infant formula labelling, and pay equity. The consequences, he says, are profound: ordinary New Zealanders could end up footing the bill — literally — for any regulation that affects corporate profits.We talk about:Why the RSB would privilege corporate property rights over public health, equity, and the environmentWhat’s missing from the Bill — and why those “blank spaces” matterThe risk of compensation being required for public-interest regulationHow the Bill creates a hierarchy of oversight, with David Seymour at the topThe constitutional implications, and how they’ve been downplayedWhy Labour, the Greens, and even NZ First are uneasy — and what it might take to shift National’s stanceThe role of the Legislation Design and Advisory Committee, and why their warnings should be taken seriouslyWhy public submissions are vital — and powerful, regardless of expertiseDuncan also reflects on how to break through party politics and reach across the aisle — urging listeners to ask themselves and others: what should guide our lawmaking? Who should it protect? And who stands to lose if we get this wrong?Resources: Link to the Sector-Specific RSB Tool mentioned in the interview: https://tinyurl.com/RSBToolSubscribe for more 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.You can also buy me a coffee! 

 Dr Gary Payinda has spent nearly two decades working as an emergency doctor in Northland — one of the most under-served regions in New Zealand. In this powerful episode, he shares his deepening alarm about the direction of our public health system and why he sees the Regulatory Standards Bill (RSB) as a dangerous turning point.From privatised surgeries and telehealth replacing GPs, to unsafe workplaces and corporate interference in medical standards, Gary draws on frontline experience to explain how the RSB could worsen already-dire conditions for patients and providers alike. He warns that the Bill’s so-called “principles” — like cost-efficiency and minimal restriction on private interests — mask a far-reaching agenda to prioritise corporate profits over public health and safety.We talk about:What healthcare looks like in rural, underfunded communities — and how it’s changingWhy the RSB could undermine public health interventions and weaken medical regulationHow the Bill empowers unelected boards to delay or obstruct lawsThe risk of losing safety standards in areas like workplace protections, smokefree laws, and medicine regulationWhy doctors, nurses and patients alike should be raising the alarmGary doesn’t hold back — calling the RSB a “Trojan horse” for corporate power and making the case for direct public resistance. This is a must-listen for anyone who cares about the future of our health system. Dr Gary also writes regularly on health issues on Substack.Subscribe for more 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.You can also buy me a coffee! 

In this episode of Coherent, economist Geoff Bertram joins me to explore the Regulatory Standards Bill (RSB) and the deeper ideological project driving it. With a career spanning decades in regulatory economics, macroeconomic policy, and the history of economic thought, Geoff offers a sweeping and incisive analysis of how this seemingly technical Bill threatens to upend New Zealand’s democratic and regulatory foundations.Geoff traces the RSB’s lineage from the Business Roundtable’s agenda of the 1990s to its current resurrection under the ACT Party. He explains how the Bill seeks to constrain the state through “paralysis by analysis,” pushing decision-making into the courts, entrenching extreme interpretations of property rights, and reframing long-standing public policy goals — such as fairness, environmental protection, and collective wellbeing — as “irresponsible.”We talk about how the Bill’s compensation provisions could make regulating monopolies near-impossible, why it imposes layers of new red tape despite claiming to cut it, and how its principles are designed to intimidate government actors into inaction. Geoff warns that the RSB represents not just a threat to progressive policy, but a fundamental redefinition of what responsible government even means.This conversation situates the Bill in the wider struggle between democratic government and libertarian ideology. Geoff argues that rejecting the RSB is a vital first step in restoring the ability of government to serve the public good — and offers a compelling roadmap for rebuilding a regulatory system that is inclusive, fair, and future-ready.Watch the video for this podcast episode and follow my writing on Substack. If you wish to support this podcast, please consider subscribing on Substack or buying me a coffee.

In this powerful episode of the Coherent podcast, Dr Russel Norman — Executive Director of Greenpeace Aotearoa and former Green Party MP — joins Melanie Nelson to dissect the Regulatory Standards Bill and its far-reaching implications. Drawing on his years inside Parliament and his frontline environmental advocacy, Russel exposes how the Bill would constrain democratic decision-making, empower polluters, and undermine efforts to address climate change and protect New Zealand’s natural heritage.We explore how the Bill gives new legal tools to corporations to resist regulation, risks reversing the polluter pays principle, and represents a broader international wave of neoliberal rollback. Russel incisively unpacks the ideological underpinnings of the Bill and the chilling effect it could have on environmental protection, regulation, and democratic participation.Whether you care about clean rivers, climate action, or the right of citizens to hold polluters accountable, this episode offers crucial insight into why the Regulatory Standards Bill matters — and how civil society must respond.Watch the video for this podcast episode and follow my writing on Substack. If you wish to support this podcast, please consider subscribing on Substack or buying me a coffee.

In this episode, the tables are turned. Thanks to Bryan Bruce Investigates for initiating and sharing this podcast episode where he interviews Melanie Nelson, the host of the Coherent podcast and the Weaving our Worlds podcast.In this episode of Head to Head, Bryan Bruce interviews Melanie Nelson, a writer, researcher, translator and consultant specialising in the application of te Tiriti to environmental and conservation issues. Together, they delve into the Regulatory Standards Bill, a proposed piece of legislation that Melanie describes as a “libertarian manifesto” with significant implications for Aotearoa New Zealand's future.They explore the bill's origins, its potential to override key pillars of our lawmaking like te Tiriti o Waitangi, and its alignment with the ACT Party’s ideology. Melanie highlights the risks of embedding libertarian principles into legislation, the impacts on collective responsibilities, and the bill's broader implications for environmental and social justice. The conversation also connects the Regulatory Standards Bill with the controversial Treaty Principles Bill, positioning them as two sides of the same ideological coin.Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on how these legislative changes could shape New Zealand's political and social landscape for generations to come. Don't miss these insights and resources for taking action before consultation closes on January 13th.Join us for a deep dive into one of the most far-reaching policy proposals in recent New Zealand history—and why your voice matters before the January 13th submission deadline.You can buy Melanie a coffee to support her work!ResourcesExplainer and Submission Guide on the Regulatory Standards Bill hereYou can follow Melanie's work on Substack, where both paid and free subscription options are available. Your support, if you’re able, is greatly appreciated. 

The proposed Regulatory Standards Bill may seem like dry policy, but its implications could reshape how New Zealand governs itself. In this episode of Coherent, Jonathan Boston, ONZM, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, unpacks the sweeping impact this legislation could have on government services, environmental protections, and the very structure of our democracy.We explore the bill’s philosophical roots in market-liberal ideology, its potential conflicts with te Tiriti o Waitangi and the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act, and why many of its principles are constitutionally and practically troubling. Professor Boston also warns of the broader democratic risks stemming from misinformation and the erosion of trust in public institutions.Join us for a deep dive into one of the most far-reaching policy proposals in recent New Zealand history—and why your voice matters before the January 13th submission deadline.You can buy me a coffee to support my work!ResourcesExplainer and Submission Guide on the Regulatory Standards Bill hereYou can follow my work on Substack, where both paid and free subscription options are available. Your support, if you’re able, is greatly appreciated. 

In this compelling episode, Melanie Nelson interviews Jane Kelsey, a leading critic of New Zealand's neoliberal reforms and an expert in global economic governance. They explore the far-reaching implications of the proposed Regulatory Standards Bill—a piece of legislation that threatens to reshape New Zealand’s democratic processes, environmental protections, and social safeguards.Jane traces the bill’s libertarian roots, linking it to decades of neoliberal policy-making in New Zealand, including Rogernomics and Ruthanasia, and drawing parallels with international deregulation failures like the Grenfell Tower fire in the UK. She explains how the bill’s proposed mechanisms, such as the Regulatory Standards Board and regulatory takings provisions, could entrench corporate control, restrict government action, and undermine democratic accountability.The conversation highlights the constitutional risks of embedding constitutional economic principles that exclude key protections like te Tiriti o Waitangi and the New Zealand Bill of Rights, raising serious concerns about the future of lawmaking and public accountability in Aotearoa.Jane also offers practical advice on how New Zealanders can respond. She urges individuals to share personal stories of past regulatory failures, such as leaky homes or finance company collapses, to illustrate the real-world impact of weakened regulation. Experts and advocacy groups are encouraged to submit detailed critiques before the consultation closes on January 13.Tune in to understand what’s at stake, why it matters, and how you can take action to help shape New Zealand’s future.You can buy me a coffee to support my work!ResourcesExplainer and Submission Guide on the Regulatory Standards Bill hereYou can follow my work on Substack, where both paid and free subscription options are available. Your support, if you’re able, is greatly appreciated. 

ResourcesYou can follow my work on Substack, where both paid and free subscription options are available. Your support, if you’re able, is greatly appreciated.