Resource management under scrutiny

New Zealand’s resource management, urban planning and development scene is currently under scrutiny. What are these about and what are the timeframes?

Resource Legislation Amendment Bill

This Bill, which affects the Resource Management Act and a number of other Acts, had its first reading in Parliament in December 2015 and has been referred to a select committee. Amongst the 40 changes proposed, Boffa Miskell has been interested to note the proposed statutory obligation on councils to establish iwi engagement processes early on in plan-making, an approach that has been already happening in many places through iwi participation arrangements and for which our iwi advisory services are well placed to assist. Also of note, is that the management of significant risks from natural hazards – an area in which Boffa Miskell has had involvement for some years – is to become a matter of national importance under s.6, cementing the work that many councils have been undertaking in recent years.

  • More information? See the information booklet, Q&A document and link to the Bill.
  • Timeframe from now? Submissions to the select committee due 14 March 2016. Select committee report due 3 June 2016.

Proposed National Policy Statement (NPS) on Urban Development

This prioritised project is being run jointly by the Ministry for the Environment and the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment. The main objective is to ensure regional and district policies/plans enable sufficient development-ready land to be made available for business and housing in order to keep pace with demand.

Preliminary ideas have already been gathered through consultation with stakeholders and iwi authorities.

  • More information? See a brief summary of the background and links to related reports.
  • Timeframe from now? Draft NPS released for public consultation in mid-2016.

Urban Planning Inquiry

Last year the Productivity Commission was briefed to look into ways of improving New Zealand’s urban planning system. The Commission released last December an issues paper for comment, which looks at the range of current legislation and processes that affect the ability to use land in urban areas. In due course, the inquiry is to provide a framework for assessing future planning reforms.

  • More information? See a summary of the two stages so far.
  • Timeframe from now? Submissions on the issues paper close 9 March, draft report due July, final report due November 2016.

Resource Management System Review

Meanwhile, Local Government New Zealand has set about what it has called a ‘blue skies’ review of the resource management system, with a wide scope aimed at envisaging what a ‘fit for purpose’ resource management system might look like. A discussion document was released in December on which feedback was invited.

  • More information? See the discussion document, A ‘Blue Skies’ Discussion about New Zealand’s Resource Management System.
  • Timeframe from now? Final report towards the end of 2016.

While it is premature to predict the outcomes, Boffa Miskell is keeping a close watch on developments and the potential implications for our clients.

For further information please contact Greg Vossler

24 February 2016