2 weeks Ago By Thomas Coughlan
The Government has revealed its plans for a permanent replacement for the Resource Management Act, the 1991 law that has, for more than a decade, been a piñata of blame from politicians who accuse it of failing to adequately protect the environment while stifling development . The RMA has ballooned in size, thanks to more than 18 substantive amendments since 1991. The last Labour Government finally repealed it in 2023, replacing it with two new pieces of legislation.
The coalition Government resurrected the RMA last year and today announced plans to kill it once again and replace it with two new pieces of legislation, which will be focused on allowing people to enjoy property rights. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Under-Secretary to the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Simon Court said the replacement would be passed before the next election. The Government’s replacement is somewhat different to Labour’s scheme of an integrated long-term planning-focused system.
The coalition’s idea appears to shift the focus from planning to a more liberal regime. One of the two new laws will focus on managing the environmental effects from activities, while the other will focus on enabling urban development and infrastructure..
