Environment & Planning

The resource management law landscape continues to evolve, with a constant flow of proposed RMA reforms and planning changes.  This article rounds up where things stand as at the end of July 2025. Resource Management Act 1991 (“RMA”) The RMA remains in place, having already been amended last year through the Resource Management (Freshwater and …

RMA round-up Read More »

The Government’s RMA reform programme signals a radical transition with less red tape for resource management. Last week, the Expert Advisory Group’s Blueprint for Resource Management Reform was released, along with a cabinet paper discussing the Group’s proposal. This is a major step forward in the Government’s Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) reform agenda. Some …

Blueprint for RMA Reforms Read More »

The Mount Messenger case The High Court’s recent decision in Environmental Law Initiative v Director-General of Conservation that an authority under the Wildlife Act 1953 (Act) authorising the killing of protected wildlife was unlawful may have major flow on effects across the infrastructure and development sector. The High Court set aside the “killing” aspect of …

Wildlife Act authorities: Mount Messenger case Read More »

The Government is aiming to deliver on its promise to deliver a new fast-track consenting regime before the end of 2024.  The Fast-track Approvals Bill has passed through its third reading in Parliament on 17 December 2024 and we would expect it to be given royal assent before the end of 2024 meaning that it …

Fast-track Approvals Bill passed into law Read More »

In keeping with its promise to introduce further changes to the resource management system before the end of 2024, the Government has introduced the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill (Bill).  The Bill proposes to make changes to the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) to advance key Government policies as part of …

Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill Read More »

Another amendment Act, in a long line of RMA amendment Acts, came into force on 24 October 2024.  The Resource Management (Freshwater and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2024 (Act) makes the following key changes to the RMA: Freshwater The “hierarchy of obligations” in clauses 1.3(5) and 2.1 of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management …

Another RMA amendment: freshwater and other matters Read More »

On Friday 18 October 2024, the Environment Committee reported back on the Fast-track Approvals Bill which was introduced on 7 March 2024. We take a look at what’s changed, what stays the same, and the road ahead. What’s changed? The Environment Committee has recommended the following key changes. The purpose of the Bill has been …

Fast-track Approvals Bill: Select Committee report back Read More »

Last week, the Government announced that two new laws are to be developed to replace the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA), with the enjoyment of property rights as their guiding principle. Replacement of the RMA is part of the final phase (phase three) of the Government’s reform of our resource management system. The Government’s intention …

Phase three of the Resource Management reforms Read More »