March 15, 2017
Resource management law reform makes progress
The Maori Party has voted for the second reading of the Resource Legislation Amendments Bill even though it still has concerns about the minister’s power to overrule local authorities on issues like genetically modified organisms.
Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox says it is still talking with Environment Minister Nick Smith about ways to resolve its concerns, and amendments can be put up at the committee stage.
Changes negotiated so far include a formula for iwi to work with councils.
The Maori Party’s two votes are critical because United Future and ACT have refused to back the reform.
ACT leader David Seymour says the consensus from across the political spectrum and from submitters is that the proposed reform is a shambles, adding complexity instead of cutting bureaucracy.
The Environment Defence Society says the bill limits public notification and appeal rights and makes subdivision a right unless it is proscribed in a plan, putting the private interests of developers above the public interest in good environmental outcomes.
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