The government has today introduced legislation to parliament to replace the Resource Management Act 1991. There are two Bills – a Natural Environment Bill and a Planning Bill – a split which marks an abrupt end to more than three decades of integrated environmental management under the RMA. Collectively, they take a more enabling approach to use and development and are centred around property rights.

The Bills introduce the concept of regulatory relief, which is a significant threat to environmental wellbeing. Unlike the RMA, the purposes of the Bills are descriptive only and play no role in decision-making.

There is recognition of the need for improvement where limits have already been infringed. However, the timeframe for correction is left wide open and much is being left to voluntary mechanisms. Restrictions on legal standing and constraints on public participation are concerning.

A national e-plan viewer is a good idea, and it is good that there will be fewer plans (17 instead of over 100).  

More: Greg Severinsen, greg@eds.org.nz, 021 585 951