The main replacement will cover land use and environmental regulation
The government has announced that it will repeal and replace the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) with three new laws following its comprehensive review last year.
This parliamentary term, the government will replace RMA with the Natural and Built Environments Act (NBA), Strategic Planning Act (SPA), and Climate Change Adaptation Act (CAA).
“Urban areas are struggling to keep pace with population growth and the need for affordable housing. Water quality is deteriorating, biodiversity is diminishing, and there is an urgent need to reduce carbon emissions and adapt to climate change,” said Environment Minister David Parker.
The NBA, the primary replacement for the RMA, will provide for land use and environmental regulation. It will require a set of national policies and standards to support the natural environmental limits, outcomes, and targets specified in the new law – all incorporated into combined regional plans prepared by the local and central government and mana whenua.
The SPA will integrate with other legislation relevant to development, such as functions under the RMA, Local Government Act 2002, Land Transport Management Act 2003, and the Climate Change Response Act 2002 to enable clearer and more efficient decision-making and investment.
Meanwhile, CAA aims to address complex issues associated with managed retreat and funding and financing adaptation.
“The new laws will improve the natural environment, enable more development within environmental limits, provide an effective role for Māori, and improve housing supply and affordability,” Parker said. “Planning processes will be simplified, and costs and times reduced.”
Other key changes include stronger national direction and one single combined plan per region. The government will also focus more on better urban design and natural environmental outcomes, and less on subjective amenity matters that favour the status quo.
Parker said the government will process the NBA first as it is the core piece of legislation replacing the RMA.
“Given its significance and complexity, a special select committee inquiry will consider an exposure draft of the NBA Bill from mid-year. This will include the most important elements of the legislation, including the replacement of Part 2 of the RMA,” he said.
“I expect that the complete NBA and the SPA will be formally introduced into Parliament by the end of 2021, with the NBA passed by the end of 2022.”
