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Wellington Regional Council says changes to the Resource Management Act will undermine work councils are doing to engage iwi.
Chair Chris Laidlaw says the council opposes the centralisation of resource management decision-making.
He says when councils have worked with community and iwi partners determine if an activity needs resource consent, it’s alarming that the Environment Minister could step in to permit or prohibit it.
The Minister should look to using existing pathways and processes rather than over-ruling participatory decision-making.
Mr Laidlaw says excluding iwi from involvement in limited notified subdivision applications is at odds with other elements of the Bill which seek to improve iwi involvement.
Because regional councils will also no longer be notified about subdivisions, they will be limited in their ability to provide technical expertise on flood protection, transport links, biodiversity, and the effect of Regional Policy Statements.
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