Evidence based policy (?)

From the New Zealand Herald:

But she acknowledged that no link between obesity and access to unhealthy-food shops had been clearly established by research.

[...]

"You don't have to wait for the evidence to take action."

and from Radio New Zealand:

"We've done some research and looked for anyone who's been injured as a result of a frameless toughened glass balustrade breaking, and we haven't found any evidence to that effect," said Ian McCormick, the council's general manager of building control.

and yet

Auckland Council is pushing government officials to fast-track a national building standard making solid rails on the barriers compulsory

I'm guessing that the idea of evidence based policy really is baffling for some of the nanny-state do-gooders.