RMA and more: keeping up with the changes

The Government is well underway with its phased approach to reforming the resource management system.  Last month Minister Bishop gave further details about the signalled Phase 3 legislation to replace the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) and what a new system based on the enjoyment of private property rights might look like.  In the meantime, the targeted changes through Phase 2 continue, with two bills to amend the RMA and a package of national direction changes seeking to address “the most pressing issues” in the short term.

As a “one-shop-stop” to access an overall summary of the amendments that have been signalled we have prepared a table covering resource management, climate change and other environmental changes that we are keeping an eye on.  These changes potentially impact most industries across the country.  We appreciate that the pace at which these changes are being announced can make it hard to keep up. 

The upcoming key dates to note are 18 October 2024 when the Environment Select Committee Report is due back on the Fast-track Approvals Bill, and before Christmas the Expert Advisory Group Report on the Phase 3 reform is due to report to the Minister for RMA Reform.  As signalled in the Coalition Government’s Q4 Action Plan we can expect to see the Fast-track Approvals Bill and the first Resource Management Amendment Bill be passed into law before the end of 2024.  

It is also intended that the second Resource Management Amendment Bill will be introduced to Parliament before the end of this year which will progress alongside the signalled changes to national direction early in 2025.   Minister Bishop describes these changes as “the single largest package of national direction changes in New Zealand’s history: seven new national direction instruments, and amendments to fourteen existing ones”.

Please note the table is up to date as at 9 October 2024.  It is intended to provide a snapshot of the changes at this time.  Click here to view table.

If you have any questions about the signalled changes please do not hesitate to contact one of our team.

Special thanks to Solicitor, Te Hau Ariki Gardiner-Toi, for his assistance with the preparation of this one-stop-shop table.

Latest Update: 9 October 2024