Among the first regulations National would scrap, if elected, would be Labour's proposed rental regulations and the newly introduced heating standards, leader Simon Bridges says.

Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas

Speaking in Auckland, opposition leader Simon Bridges reiterated his promise to light a "regulation bonfire", doing away with two regulations for every new one introduced, and said he would to appoint a minister dedicated to cutting red tape.

The party also released a list of the first regulations it would scrap if elected, with the government's proposed rental law changes chiefly in its sights.

Bridges said National wanted businesses to thrive and not be strangled by bureaucracy.

"Unnecessary red tape and regulation is getting in the way of a stronger economy. It's holding us back from having more money in our pockets, lower daily costs and affordable housing."

A senior Cabinet member would be appointed Minister for Regulatory Reduction and would hold other ministers to account for proposed new regulations, a document outlining the plan said.

"Currently there are processes in government to try and identify the impact regulations have. It's out of date, it's not fit for purpose and often leads to more regulation and bureaucracy being created."

National finance spokesperson Paul Goldsmith said Labour's proposed reforms to the Residential Tenancy Act were a good example of unnecessary and harmful regulations.

National would axe the proposed law change limiting rent increases to once every 12 months and ending so-called "no-cause" evictions, he said.

It would also do away with rules which allow tenants to add minor fittings such as fire alarms, furniture brackets and door bells without landlord permission.

Goldsmith said such changes "reduce property rights of landlords, increase costs, discourage the supply of rental properties and increase rents for low income households".

"That's not good for the landlord, or the tenant."

Newly-introduced heating standards requiring landlords to provide a heater in the living room would also be scrapped.

The announcement - which forms the "first plank" of National's economic plan - were brought forward due to the increasing fallout of Covid-19 on New Zealand businesses.

However, much of the detail was already previewed in the party's economic policy discussion document released in August.

The first regulations National says it will scrap: