Development in high-risk areas without appropriate steps to address natural hazards can pose a risk to lives, businesses and homes. This can leave communities, insurers, councils and government facing costs for repairs and recovery.
The Government is reforming the resource management system in phases. In phase three, the Resource Management Act 1991 will be replaced with two new acts. This new system will set environmental limits to protect natural resources and will provide more certainty around where development can and should be enabled.
See Replacing the Resource Management Act cabinet paper.
In the meantime, the Government is seeking to progress scaled-back national direction on managing natural hazard risk, while the new system is being developed and implemented.
This is part of phase two of the Government’s Resource Management Act reform programme, which also includes changes to other national direction instruments.
See National direction programme - Phase two of resource management reform for more information.
Subject to further Cabinet decisions, the Government will consult on targeted changes to national direction in mid-2025.