The government will replace RMA with three new laws
The industry has welcomed the government’s decision to repeal and replace the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) with three new laws. However, some have expressed their concern about its risks.
The government has announced that it will replace RMA this parliamentary term with the Natural and Built Environments Act (NBA), Strategic Planning Act (SPA), and Climate Change Adaptation Act (CAA). The NBA is the primary replacement for the RMA, which focuses on providing land use and environmental regulation.
Infrastructure New Zealand has welcomed the announcement but warned that the proposal to split land use planning and strategic planning risks increasing uncertainty for the government, iwi, communities of interest, and infrastructure providers.
“Positively, the government has moved to reduce the large number of statutory plans required under the RMA, and we could, in the future, see as few as 14 combined plans overseeing land use planning and environmental protection decisions,” said Infrastructure NZ policy director Hamish Glenn.
“However, the proposal to integrate environmental protection with land use planning means that the government proposes to continue separating land use planning from strategic planning. This will mean that strategic spatial plans agreed by the government, iwi, councils, and local communities will have to proceed through a separate legislative process under the NBA before implementation.”
Community Housing Aotearoa (CHA) chief executive officer Scott Figenshow said the organisation looks forward to seeing the new laws’ exposure draft and is optimistic it will include the enablement of inclusionary zoning for building more affordable homes.
“We need to increase the supply of homes that are warm, dry and affordable, culturally appropriate, and meeting the needs of our communities. It is encouraging that planned changes to the RMA will enable that supply and ensure it is retained for future generations,” Figenshow said.
Meanwhile, ACT Environment and Local Government spokesperson Simon Court said the RMA reform must find the balance between upholding property owners’ rights and freeing up land for development.
Nicola Willis, National’s spokesperson for Housing and RMA reform, added that the government must show more urgency and commitment to solving the housing shortage.
“Labour plans to spend another three years moving RMA legislation through Parliament. Given the time it will also take local councils to amend their plans, it could easily be the late 2020s before any of these changes take effect,” Willis said.
