September 28, 2016
RMA principles sound but delivery poor
A new study of the Resource Management Act has concluded the 25 year-old is based on sound principles but it has been poorly implemented.
The Government is relying on Maori Party support to substantially overhaul the law, which will include changes to require councils to work more closely with iwi to manage natural resources.
In a report funded by business and infrastructure lobby groups, the Environmental Defence Society says legislative reform may not be the answer if the problems are at the implementation stage.
It says the Ministry for the Environment hasn’t pulled its weight, and many regional councils have been slow to hold their district and city councils to account.
The EDS believes the courts have got critical cases wrong, making it harder to uphold environmental protection.
But it says there was still a high level of loyalty to the RMA and its sustainable resource management principles.
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