The Government plans to repeal the Resource Management Act (RMA) 1991. The reforms will result in significant changes to the existing resource management system, and will have a number of implications for councils, particularly in respect of planning processes and decision making.
The three new pieces of legislation which will replace the Resource Management Act (RMA) 1991 are:
- the Natural and Built Environment Act (NBA),
- the Spatial Planning Act (SPA), and
- the Climate Change Adaptation Act (CAA).
Latest information from the Government
Information on the resource management reform process is available on the Ministry for the Environment's website.
Updates from Taituarā
28 June 2023 media release: Resource management bills ready for Second Reading - Parliament's Environment Committee has released reports on the two resource management bills set to replace the RMA. We would like to share our own high-level analysis, and invite you to a webinar 'What happened to the RMA?' on 26 July 2023 to provide you with a full analysis.
28 March 2023 update: Resource management reform update - The flurry of action in the resource management space continues. We know many of you have done significant work in the past couple of months submitting and presenting to select committee on the Natural and Built Environment Bill (NBEA) and Spatial Planning Bill (SPA).
2 March 2023 media release: Taituarā submission on resource management reforms - This month, Taituarā submitted on the Natural and Built Environment Bill and the Spatial Planning Bill. These Bills form part of the replacement for the existing Resource Management Act (RMA). We have significant concerns with the Bills as it is unlikely that the new system will be simpler, more efficient, and cost-effective, nor is it clear that they will adequately address climate change.
28 November 2022 update: A zippy turnaround required for resource management consultations - Parliament's Environment Committee has opened consultation on the first two of three resource management bills. With submissions closing on 30 January 2023, we are keen to support councils to have their say despite the short turnaround.
15 November 2022 media release: Resource management bills introduced to Parliament - Taituarā – Local Government Professionals Aotearoa welcomes the introduction of the Natural and Built Environment Bill and Spatial Planning Bill to the House of Representatives.
10 June 2022 update: Updating protections for indigenous biodiversity - The Ministry for the Environment has just released an exposure draft of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity. It is a key plank of the Government's response to biodiversity decline and aims to protect, maintain, and restore our indigenous biodiversity in Aotearoa New Zealand.
5 April 2022 update: Resource management reform update - Last week the Taituarā Resource Management Reform Reference Group met to discuss the progress of the reform programme and how they can support the sector through the transition to the new system.
16 February 2022 media release: Boosting local voice and accountability in the new resource management system - The Local Government Resource Management Reform Steering Group is currently consulting on how to better enable local democratic input and accountability in the future resource management system. Feedback should be provided by 15 March 2022.
5 October 2021 media release: Updates on climate change work at the Ministry for the Environment -
The Ministry for the Environment is working on an array of climate change adaptation-related plans, legislation and guidelines which have direct relevance to local government. We outline some important developments.
9 August 2021 media release: Reflections on Resource Management Reform at the Environmental Defence Society Conference - Our Senior Advisor, Grace Hall, recently attended the Environmental Defence Society (EDS) Conference in Ōtautahi Christchurch. The theme Transforming Aotearoa, was focused on the Government’s environmental reform agenda.
9 August 2021 media release: Submission on the exposure draft of the Natural and Built Environments Act - Taituarā has recently submitted on the exposure draft of the Natural and Built Environments Act (NBA). The NBA will be the main replacement of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). The exposure draft sets out some, but not all the clauses that will be contained in the full Bill.
30 June 2021 media release: Natural and Built Environments Act exposure draft - On Tuesday 29 June 2021 the Government released the exposure draft of the Natural and Built Environments Act (NBA). The NBA will be the main replacement for the Resource Management Act once enacted and is central to the reform of the resource management system.
14 June 2021 media release: Taituarā Resource Management Reform Reference Group appointed - Taituarā is pleased to announce that it has now appointed its Resource Management Reform Reference Group (RMRG). The purpose of the RMRG is to help Taituarā identify and advise on issues with the package of reform proposals that have potential to impact significantly on local authorities, and in particular their ability to operationalise the three new pieces of legislation that are proposed to replace the Resource Management Act 1991: the Natural and Built Environments Act, the Spatial Planning Act, and the Climate Change Adaptation Act.
19 May 2021 media release: Natural and Built Environments Act exposure draft: out for consultation soon - The Government’s reform of the resource management system is continuing to progress apace. The ‘first cab off the rank’ is an Exposure Draft of the Natural and Built Environments Act (NBA) – the core piece of legislation to replace the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA).
18 May 2021 media release: Contributing to the Resource Management Act reform process - At Taituarā we are committed to ensuring the very best outcomes from the reform of Aotearoa's 30-year-old Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). Although the RMA is a key driver of much that happens in local government and our communities, it is urgently in need of a major overhaul to enable our nation to address new challenges going forward. Ways to contribute to this enormously important and wide-reaching programme of reform include joining our Resource Management Reform Reference Group (RMRG) as well as engaging through a dedicated Discussion Group.
23 April 2021 media release: Reforming the Resource Management Act - The Government’s reform of the Resource Management system is progressing at pace with three new Bills expected to replace it by the end of 2022.