The Government has today announced its blueprint for
reform of the resource management system. It replaces the
Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) with two new Acts: a
Planning Act and a Natural Environment Act, each accompanied
by national policy direction and supported by Regional
Spatial Plans.
“EDS is keenly interested
in this next stage of resource management reform. We have
been working on the reform agenda for several years and
agree that the RMA has not delivered for the natural world
or for people. We have long advocated for its replacement.
While the Government’s approach is not how we would have
done things, there are elements that look positive and
others that will need more thought,” says EDS Chief
Executive Gary Taylor.
“We are especially
pleased to see the emphasis on spatial planning to provide
more certainty about where things can go. A key component of
that is environmental constraints mapping, which will
identify areas of high value that development must avoid.
Greater clarity on go and no-go areas will help speed the
transition to renewables without compromising indigenous
biodiversity and outstanding landscapes.
“We are also
pleased to see the commitment to environmental limits.
Setting environmental bottom lines across all domains is a
key outcome that we need. There’s a clear focus needed to
get quality environmental outcomes.
“Further, if
activities are to become more permissive, the new system
will need a dedicated oversight agency to ensure
environmental compliance and enforcement. We support this
role sitting with an expanded Environmental Protection
Authority but note that this will not form part of the
proposed bills.
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“There are a number of real concerns
that we will need to delve more deeply into. Some of the
hyperbolic language used in the announcement is
disconcerting. And some of the ideological drivers around
property rights and regulatory takings are cause for
concern.
“The challenge now is to get the best
possible outcome from the split Act model. We will be
working closely with the Government over the course of this
year to that end. We simply must have a more nuanced outcome
from this process than from the Fast-track Approvals
Act.
“It’s also worth noting that the work
programme to get a bill into the House this year is enormous
and the last thing that’s needed here is rushed law. This
is too important.
“Finally, it’s clear that we need
long-lived resource management policy settings. To that end
we’d encourage Ministers to engage widely and
substantively and get this right,” concluded Mr
Taylor.
EDS speaks for the environment. It has influence.
Since 1971, EDS has been driving environmental protection in Aotearoa New Zealand
through law and policy change. That’s why it’s one of this country’s most influential non-
profit organisations when it comes to achieving better environmental outcomes.
EDS has expertise in key disciplines including law, planning, landscape and science. It
operates as a policy think-tank, a litigation advocate, and a collaborator – bringing together
the private and public sectors for constructive engagement.
EDS runs conferences and seminars on topical issues, including an annual Environmental
Summit and the Climate Change and Business Conference.
EDS is a registered charity and donations to it are tax-deductible.
