RMA reforms to end ‘culture of no’

27 Mar

By: Dan Hutchinson

**The Government is promising to speed up the planning process.**

The Government says it will cut up to 45% off compliance and administrative costs with its Resource Management Act reforms.

Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop and Under-Secretary Simon Court released details of the revised RMA earlier this week.

Local Government NZ is “cautiously supporting” the new plan, the building industry and Federated Farmers welcome the move, while at least one iwi is concerned existing Treaty obligations are not carried into the new laws.

Bishop says the RMA is “broken and everyone knows it”.

“It makes it too hard to build the infrastructure and houses New Zealand desperately needs, too hard to use our abundant natural resources, and hasn’t resulted in better management of our natural environment.”

The new legislation will be based on property rights, with the mission of “growing the economy and lifting living standards”.

“Cabinet has now agreed on the shape of the Government’s replacement legislation, signalling a radical transition to a far more liberal planning system with less red tape, premised on the enjoyment of property rights.

Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) has cautiously welcomed the reforms but says local communities will need strong input for the changes to succeed.

LGNZ President Sam Broughton says many of the proposed changes are necessary to drive growth.

“It’s obvious that the current RMA system is neither delivering sufficient development nor adequately protecting our environment.”

“For this reform to have any longevity, it will require communities to have a strong voice so they can shape the places they live in.”

Federated Farmers RMA reform spokesperson Mark Hooper says the Government’s new planning and environment laws will protect property rights and improve productivity, while reducing red tape and compliance costs for farmers.

A Taranaki iwi says the Government has declared open war on Te Tiriti and Māori by not carrying existing Treaty obligations into its new laws on resource management.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui kaiwhakahaere Rachel Arnott said they totally rejected not carrying over Treaty obligations.

Resource Management ActLegislationPropertyLocal GovernmentEnvironmentalConservationFarmingConstruction

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