Annual report 2022/2023

A note from the director

The last year marked an important season of looking back to move forward for the G-REG community. I'm delighted that we have been able to continue to deliver opportunities for learning, sharing and connection while making some key transitions.

The delivery of the Regulatory Practice qualification programmes transitioned from Skills New Zealand to Te Pūkenga, a significant shift after 7 years with Skills New Zealand. Versions 2 of the qualifications were launched on 1 July 2023 with additional content on Regulatory Stewardship, Burden of Proof and Te Tiriti outcomes in the Level 3 Core Knowledge programme. Changes were also made to strengthen the assessment of the Levels 3 and 4 programmes.

In addition to the NZQA qualifications, 2022 saw the pilot cohort of 20 complete the Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington (VUW) Post-Graduate Certificate in Public Management for regulatory practitioners. We’re pleased to see the continued and expanded delivery of qualifications designed for regulators and the value they add to the regulatory community.

In 2022 an independent Evaluation of the Initiative was commissioned ahead of preparing a business case and budget bid.

The Evaluation found that G-REG was highly valued and supported by the regulatory community but had come to lack clarity on its role and focus; and that the funding model was not sustainable. After being unsuccessful in the 2022 Budget Bid process, we readjusted our focus and developed a business case which explored our funding and operating options, to determine where G-REG should target its efforts for the most effective impact.

As a result of the business case, our governing (and funding) Chief Executives decided that in the medium-term G-REG will focus on lifting the understanding and application of best practice in regulatory practice.

We will achieve this by:

• Establishing and maintaining a knowledge base for regulatory practice, including the curation and development of guidance, frameworks, tools, and case studies.
• Conducting ongoing environmental scans to understand common needs and knowledge gaps.
• Facilitating communities of practice and peer advisory activities in support of building the knowledge base.
• Developing and maintaining a suite of foundational learning materials (in a way that government organisations can easily and flexibly deliver to their people).

We've already started on the last bullet point, having kicked off Phase I of the Regulatory Practice Essentials Project in April 2023. We're on track to deliver a full suite of foundational micro-modules by the end of 2024.

Over the year G-REG has been well-served and supported by many government regulators. Our thanks in particular to:

• our passionate Secretariat team; including Ian Caplin, Wendy Kale, Krystal Bradnock, Ditaa Chand and Eva Bostock.
• our committed group of funding agency representatives who have met monthly and provided significant input to the Evaluation and Business Case processes.
• our colleagues from The Treasury, Te Herenga Waka VUW, Taituarā and ANZSOG/NRCoP.
• our webinar panellists and conference speakers, our peer advisory panellists, members of our 3 Communities of Practice, our project working group and those who have provided Subject Matter Expertise.

After this year of reflection and renewal, I'm now looking forward to stepping into G-REG's future alongside you, our community of regulators.

Big moments from the year include

The launch of the website

The new look website was launched. G-REG is now located on mbie.govt.nz. 

The 2022 conference

• 4 keynote speakers
• 4 panel discussions
• An address from the Minister of Finance

Communities of practice

Established 3 domain-specific communities of practice with almost 300 members.

Monthly webinar series, "A Conversation About"

• 10 live webinars
• 24 guest speakers
• over 1,000 virtual attendees
• 54 films on our YouTube channel with 120 subscribers

Professional development – Regulatory stewardship workshops

A refreshed 2.5-hour, facilitated, workshop on regulatory stewardship was designed and delivered to groups in:

• MPI
• Customs
• Commerce Commission
• the Ministry of Justice

Professor Jeroen van der Heijden delivered a Masterclass in Regulation to 4 cohorts comprised of members of a range of Crown Entity Boards.

Transition from skills to Te Pūkenga

In November 2022 – as a result of the reform of Vocational Education – the Regulatory Practice qualifications officially transitioned from Skills New Zealand to Te Pūkenga.

Te Pūkenga now deliver the work-based qualifications, working directly with regulatory organisations and their learners. G-REG continues to advocate for the sector’s qualification needs and is working with the Workforce Development Council Ringa Hora to maintain a strategic view of skills required now and in the future.

Conference 2022 - Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini

2022 saw a return to in-person events and a conference with close to 300 attendees, a total of 19 speakers and 10 topics. Keynote speakers included:

• Melissa Clarke-Reynolds (ONZM, Foresight Practitioner)
• Grant Barnes (Chief Regulatory Officer, NSW Natural Resources Access Regulator)
• Bill Bayfield (Chief Executive, Taumata Arowai)
• Lil Anderson (Te Arawhiti & ANZSOG Fellow), beaming in from Australia.

Panel discussions included speakers from around Aotearoa New Zealand and attended to topics including climate change, data-driven regulation, regulatory stewardship, and the age-old question – are regulated parties’ customers?

In a post event survey, 90% of respondents said they gained new knowledge or thought about something differently. This kind of feedback reinforces that these events are valuable, interesting, and thought provoking. Similarly, 79% of respondents said they would recommend their colleagues watch the conference recordings (available below).

2022 G-REG Conference(external link) — YouTube

Haere rā to the Chair in Regulatory Practice

Professor Jeroen van der Heijden

In April 2023 we farewelled Professor van der Heijden after 5 years of producing and sharing research, guidance and education on regulation and governance at Te Herenga Waka Wellington School of Business and Government.

We're grateful for the insights and support we've had from Professor van der Heijden; including:

• an enduring archive of papers and videos (Regulatory frontlines blog)
• curriculum development and delivery of the Post Graduate Certificate in Public Management for Regulatory Practitioners
• the Masterclass in Regulation for Board Members.