Hide asks public what to scrap

The new Minister for Regulatory Reform, Rodney Hide, is asking the public for ideas on what he should scrap or modify.

"Far too much irksome regulation is putting unnecessary burdens on households and businesses," he said today.

"I want my Christmas stocking filled with good ideas for reducing this burden."

The ACT Party leader campaigned for years on cutting red tape, and he has been given the chance to do something about it with his new portfolio.

Under the support agreement his party signed with National, there is a commitment to "begin a regulatory review programme to identify and remove inefficient and superfluous regulation".

Mr Hide said Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee's move to scrap Labour's decision to phase out traditional light bulbs was a good example of what could be achieved.