2020 certainly isn’t the year we thought it would be and the Covid-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020 (the Act) definitely wasn’t on the Government’s legislative agenda back in January. The Act was passed under urgency and is part of the government’s economic response to Covid-19, promoting development as a way to stimulate the economy. …
The Resource Management (get your) Amendment Act (together) 2020 (RMAA) is the latest in a never-ending series of amendments to the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). The RMAA came into force on 1 July 2020 and introduces some significant changes, particularly for the freshwater planning process. It also enhances public participation in the planning process, …
2020 has been a year of significant changes for the resource management framework in New Zealand, with important developments in both legislation and national direction. More substantial changes are also on the horizon, with the Resource Management Review Panel’s report on the Resource Management Act (RMA) reform now published and both major parties indicating that …
New Zealand’s changing resource management landscape Read More »
Resource Management Amendment Bill – Environment Committee Report The Resource Management Amendment Bill was introduced to the House of Representatives on 23 September 2019, and the period for lodging written submissions closed on 7 November 2019. Following the presentation of oral submissions, the Environment Committee has now provided its final report to the House and …
The Ministry for the Environment has released the Resource Management Review Panel’s issues and options paper entitled “Transforming the resource management system: Opportunities for Change”. The Panel has been tasked with undertaking a comprehensive review of the Resource Management system and other associated legislation. The Resource Management Act 1991 was a revolutionary planning document integrating …
Reimagining the resource management system: issues and options Read More »
The Government launched yesterday its overhaul of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) which, as described by Hon David Parker, “takes too long, costs too much and has not protected the environment”. The need had been highlighted by a reform project initiated by the Environmental Defence Society. Parker stressed that “if, with all our advantages, …
Comprehensive overhaul of Resource Management Act underway Read More »
The first set of National Planning Standards came into force on Friday 3 May 2019. These standards were released by the Minister for the Environment to improve the consistency of council plans and policy statements. Specifically, the standards set nationally consistent structure, format, definitions, noise and vibration metrics, and electronic functionality and accessibility requirements for …
The Court of Appeal has confirmed that Part 2 of the RMA is once again relevant to resource consent applications. On 21 August 2018 the Court of Appeal released its decision of RJ Davidson Family Trust v Marlborough District Council [2018] NZCA 316, which clarifies how Part 2 of the RMA should be considered in …
New fees and forms are introduced with small changes to service requirements due to recent amendments to the Resource Management (Forms, Fees, and Procedure) Regulations 2003. The changes are brought about because of recent amendments to the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) introduced by the Resource Legislation Amendment Act 2017 (RLAA). The change with the …
Section 122(1) of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) states that a resource consent is neither real nor personal property. However, resource consents are often treated as property given that a resource consent is inherently valuable to the consent holder. This is commonly witnessed in the practice of resource consents being bought, sold and leased …
