Reforms

RMA reform

Background

  • The government is replacing the RMA in response to complaints that it’s clunky and slow, too costly and failing to protect the environment.
  • The RMA will be replaced by three new Acts:
    • Natural and Built Environments Act (NBA),
    • Strategic Planning Act (SPA),
    • Climate Change Adaption Act (CAA).
  • The new laws will include Treaty of Waitangi obligations and challenges like climate change.
  • They would streamline planning and consents with a single region-wide plan.
  • Meanwhile, we’re focused on delivering:
    • Our urgent response to climate change and our Climate Action framework.
    • Our District Plan to decide what can be built and where.
    • Our 10-Year Plan to Fix the Plumbing, Pay it Forward with a multi-purpose hub for our kids and Greening our Place with planting and a walkway network.
    • Our City Centre Strategy.
  • For more information, go to the Ministry for the Environment.
  • You can read Ko Tātou-Local Government New Zealand’s take on the changes here.

Latest

  • Read NPDC’s submission to Parliament’s Environment Committee on the three Resource Management reform bills here.
  • The Natural and Built Environment and the Spatial Planning Bills were introduced to Parliament on 15 November 2022.
  • The Climate Adaptation Bill is expected to follow in 2023.  

Page last updated: 08:50PM Mon 13 March 2023

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