RMA replacement announcement : An update page

/ General, RMA Reform / By
[Updated 17 December]
*new* coverage
The Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill will be introduced to Parliament this week, with the Government aiming to pass them into law in 2026. Go to:
The announcement page here
An overview page here
.

The announcement page includes links to the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill, as well as: 

  • 12 sets of supplementary information (‘The New Planning System’ factsheets)
  • 4 economic reports 
  • 8 Minister’s office media releases

UDF Aotearoa has prepared a summary of media coverage and press releases (see below) that will be updated.

Legal firm summaries

Top 10 things you need to know: The new Planning and Natural Environment Bills Russell McVeagh

The RMA replacement bills are here – what you need to know Dentons Kensington Swan

Resource Management Act replacements unveiled Bell Gully

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Quote from The Post: “The regulatory relief components was not there, the greater emphasis on private property was not there, the concept of the funnel which narrows the scope of the system as you get down towards individual consent level was not there, and the ten-year transition too,” Bishop says.

RNZ coverage excerptt:  Instead of shifting to a system focused primarily on environmental limits the coalition will have a mix between the effects-based RMA and the limits-based approach. However, fewer effects would be able to be considered as part of the consenting process. Limits would be set out in national direction documents. 

The new approach would also come into effect much faster than the decade-long process Labour envisioned, with the first suite of national instruments expected in place by the end of 2026.  Planning would be largely up to a new planning tribunal which would also be tasked with resolving disputes about how councils provide compensation. A new national regulator may also take over enforcement, which is currently up to councils and inconsistent across the country, depending on advice to the government. This would be progressed through separate legislation if the government decides to take it up.

MEDIA COVERAGE – 11 DECEMBER

  • Even with the RMA gone, the fast-track survives – NewsroomPro paywall (Fox Meyer)
  • RMA overhaul: Whanganui, Ruapehu and Taranaki leaders react to sweeping changes Whanganui Chronicle (Mike Tweed)

MEDIA COVERAGE – 9/10 DECEMBER

  • RMA changes: transformational or concerning? Radio NZ (Nine to Noon)
  • Duelling RMA reforms: How different is the coalition’s solution from Labour’s? Radio NZ (Russell Palmer)
  • Resource consent expiry dates extended Radio NZ (Anneke Smith)
  • ‘Entire system more permissive’: How to fix the RMA fixes Newsroom (David Wiliams)
  • Bishop prioritises property rights in RMA reform The Kākā – Bernard Hickey
  • Govt aims to drastically reduce litigation with RMA reforms NewstalkZB (Mike Hosking)
  • The RMA change is good, but prepare for issues NewstalkZB (Heather du Plessis-Allan)
  • Govt plan promises cheaper housing but triggers environmental questions – Stuff / The Press – paywall  (Liz McDonald and Will Harvie)
  • RMA reforms signal end of resource consent ‘lottery’ – property council – Radio NZ (Morning Report)
  • ‘Fastest planning in the west’ after RMA reforms – Stuff/ Nelson Mail (Catherine Hubbard)
  • RIP RMA: Government prays for economic boom with new bills – The Spinoff (Lyric Waiwiri-Smith)
  • RMA Reform: Major battles still to be fought as Government moves to legislate – Businessdesk – paywall (Thomas Manch)
  • The RMA reforms | Power to the Minister – Politik.co.nz – paywall (Richard Harman)
  • Govt reveals big consenting reforms, ‘once-in-a-generation shift’ – TVNZ 1 News
  • RMA shake-up: Māori input ‘minimal’ under new planning rules – Te Ao Māori News (Māni Dunlop)
  • Government bins RMA, promises new planning laws will slash consents, add $3b a year to economy – NZ Herald (Thomas Coughlan)
  • Government gets its way with new planning reforms  – NZ Herald – paywall (Thomas Coughlan)
  • Business groups, farmers, welcome ‘transformational’ RMA reforms – NZ Herald – paywall (Liam Dann)
  • RMA reform: economic boost, compliance relief expected as new legislation revealed – Businessdesk – paywall (Thomas Manch)
  • Coalition reveals Resource Management Act replacement,but will it stand the test of time? – Radio NZ (Russell Palmer, Giles Dexter)
  • Landowners to get more compensation from councils as major RMA overhaul revealed – Radio NZ (Russell Palmer)
  • RMA shake-up to impact local government – Stuff/ The Post (Sue Teodoro)
  • Your front door is your business: Chris Bishop unveils generational planning economic reform – Stuff/ The Post – paywall  (Luke Malpass)
  • ‘Execution matters’: Cautious optimism from developers on sweeping RMA reform – Stuff/ The Post (Miriam Bell and Deborah Morris)
  • Poorer quality planning, and the triumph of monied interests: an alternate view of RMA changes – Stuff/ The Post (Dita de Boni)
  • Goodbye RMA, hello Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill – Stuff (Lloyd Burr)
  • Is the coalition’s RMA reforms just a lite version of Labour’s? – Stuff (Lloyd Burr)
  • Replacing the Resource Management Act – Interest. co.nz (Mandy Te)
  • ‘Red letter day’ for ag sector – Rural News (Sudesh Kissun)
  • RMA replacement promises simpler system – Farmers Weekly (Neal Wallace)
  • These RMA changes hit the nail on the head / Ryan Bridge – Newstalk ZB
  • Local mayors respond to reform proposals – The Wānaka App (Sue Wards)
  • RMA reform could ‘bankrupt the district’ – deputy mayor – The Wānaka App (Sue Wards

Stephen Olsen

Editor

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