Govt Advances RMA Amendment Bill to Boost Economic Growth and Productivity

Bishop emphasized the need for reform, stating, “It’s too hard to get things done in New Zealand, and our planning system is a big part of what’s holding us back.”

The Government is advancing a second Resource Management Act (RMA) Amendment Bill along with a comprehensive suite of national direction changes aimed at driving economic growth and productivity, announced RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop.

Bishop emphasized the need for reform, stating, “It’s too hard to get things done in New Zealand, and our planning system is a big part of what’s holding us back.” He highlighted the Government’s commitment to streamlining processes and cutting bureaucratic red tape that has hindered development.

Following the repeal of the Natural and Built Environment Act and Spatial Planning Act, and with the Fast-track Bill currently before the Environment Committee, Bishop outlined the next steps in the reform process. The first RMA Amendment Bill, which addresses urgent changes to provide clarity for councils and consent applicants, is now under review by the Primary Production Committee.

The forthcoming second RMA Amendment Bill will introduce four major reform packages, complemented by the largest set of national direction changes in New Zealand’s history. These reforms will include:

Infrastructure and Energy: New national direction to facilitate productivity-enhancing energy and infrastructure projects, including a National Policy Statement (NPS) for Infrastructure. This package will also address quarrying consistency, extend port coastal permits, update the National Environmental Standard (NES) for Telecommunications Facilities, and support renewable energy through the Electrify NZ reforms.

Housing: Reforms to support the Government’s housing growth objectives, including requirements for councils to meet 30-year Housing Growth Targets, flexibility in Medium Density Residential Standards, and updates to the National Policy Statement-Urban Development and National Policy Statement-Highly Productive Land. It will also simplify heritage management and promote new housing options like granny flats and papakāinga.

Farming and the Primary Sector: Changes to boost primary sector productivity, including amendments to the National Policy Statement-Highly Productive Land to permit indoor primary production, greenhouses, and new infrastructure like solar farms on highly productive land.

Emergencies and Natural Hazards: A national framework for managing natural hazards and climate change risks, integrating feedback from submissions into a single, efficient national direction. The reforms will also enhance emergency provisions for more effective disaster response.

Bishop expects to introduce the second RMA Amendment Bill to Parliament before the end of the year, with passage anticipated by mid-2025. The national direction package will follow the same timeline.

Looking ahead, Phase Three of the reforms will involve a complete overhaul of the RMA, with new legislation based on property rights to be introduced before the end of 2025. Further details on this phase will be provided in due course.