The RM Reform Update is a regular update from the Ministry for the Environment to people and organisations that have an interest in the reform of the resource management system. If you would like to subscribe to these updates, please click here.
Tēnā koutou katoa,
Over the past few months, we have been meeting with mayoral forums key stakeholders and partners sharing progress we have made developing Aotearoa New Zealand’s future resource management system.
There is broad consensus that the RMA has not been working and that it’s time for change. In 2019, the Government commissioned an expert panel led by Hon Tony Randerson to undertake a comprehensive review of the resource management system. Their report, New Directions for Resource Management in New Zealand published in 2020 provided the blueprint of the new system to create better outcomes for both the natural and built environments and a more responsive system to meet the challenges we face as a nation.
The Panel’s work built on the work of many others who advocated for the reform of the system. This included reports from Local Government New Zealand, the Productivity Commission, the Environmental Defence Society, the Property Council, Northern EMA, Infrastructure New Zealand, and the Waitangi Tribunal.
Minister for the Environment David Parker is delivering a series of speeches to share key decisions that have been made by Ministers about the new system. Most recently, Minister Parker attended the LGNZ conference in Palmerston North last month where he delivered a speech on decision-making in the new system and the role local government will play. Speeches on what the changes mean for Māori, system efficiency, environment and climate change, and infrastructure will be delivered through August and September.
We are now at the stage where the majority of policy decisions for the Natural and Built Environments Act and the Spatial Planning Act have been made and drafting of the new legislation is underway.
The Government intends to introduce the Natural and Built Environments Bill and the Spatial Planning Bill to Parliament in October 2022. The third Bill, the Climate Adaptation Bill, is expected to be introduced in 2023.
Over the next few months, the Ministry for the Environment will be helping the public stakeholders and partners understand the new sytem through a series of forums, information sessions and a broad communications effort. If you are interested in attending the forums, please contact us at rm.reform@mfe.govt.nz.
We invite you to continue engaging with the process through the select committee when the legislation is introduced to Parliament in October so we can produce robust legislation that is fit for purpose for gerations to come.
Ngā mihi nui,
Janine Smith, Deputy Secretary, Natural and Built System and Climate Mitigation
Minister for the Environment David Parker has outlined that local government will continue to play a key role in the future resource management system.
The Local Government Steering Group (LGSG) has reflected a strengthening of the relationship between central and local government. Their continued advice and insight have been vital and MfE values their ongoing contribution as we consider how we approach implementation.
Speaking at the Local Government New Zealand conference in Palmerston North on the 21st of July, Parker said the reform legislation is to be introduced in October and will establish regional planning committees in various regions. These committees will support the collaborative decision-making that the new system is designed to deliver.
He acknowledged the significant variation across regions, saying “a key design consideration was providing as much flexibility as possible to allow regions to work out arrangements that would best suit them”. This will include the composition of the committees and the secretariats that will support them.
“Local government will continue to be the key institution, shaping and implementing the new system”, said Minister Parker. “Local government support will be essential through this next legislative and implementation phase.”
More effective roles for Māori and central government in plan making processes are also proposed. The Minister said that a new National Māori Entity will be established as an Independent Statutory Authority. Its key functions in the future system will be to monitor Te Tiriti performance in the future system and whether decisions give effect to the principles of Te Tiriti.
Work is underway on how we will transition to the future system. Minister Parker also mentioned the Model Project. To support implementation, we will work closely with up to three regions during establishment of regional planning committees and development of the first Regional Spatial Strategies and NBA plans.
The goal of the model project will provide an opportunity to demonstrate the implementation of the new system and to extract learnings for other regions across the country to follow. Engagement to start the conversations on model regions will commence in the coming months.
“We encourage you to engage in the Select Committee process later this year so we can produce robust legislation fit for purpose for the next generation.”
We are planning a series of information sessions for local government, Iwi/Hapū/Māori and our key sector stakeholders to update you on our future resource management system. Dates and times are still to be confirmed.
If you would like to attend, please contact the team at RM.events@mfe.govt.nz.
In April, targeted engagement was carried out on three amendments to the proposed National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land (NPS-HPL), relating to:
National policy statements will transition into the National Policy Framework once the Natural and Built Environments Act is passed.
The feedback received will be used to inform an amended draft NPS-HPL for Ministerial consultation. A Final NPS-HPL is likely to be ready for Cabinet approval at the end of August.
Contact Marijke Ransom at Marijke.Ransom@mfe.govt.nz for more information.
New Zealand’s first National Adaptation Plan (NAP), launched on the 3 August. It will ensure communities have the information and support they need to prepare for the impacts of climate change.
Taking action to prepare for these impacts will make our communities safer, protect our environment, and ensure our towns and cities can continue to support people’s jobs and livelihoods
The first plan focuses on establishing the right foundations. It sets out what the Government will do to enable better risk-informed decisions, drive climate-resilient development in the right locations, help communities assess adaptation options (including managed retreat) and embed climate resilience into all of the Government’s work.
Better preparing for adapting to climate change and risks from natural hazards as well as mitigating the emissions which contribute to climate change is a key objective for the future resource management system.
Find out more information on the current NAP release here.