October 03, 2023
Planning framework out for iwi comment
The Government has asked local government and Māori groups to comment on a draft National Planning Framework under the new resource management legislation.
Environment Minister David Parker says it consolidates around 20 existing policy statements, standards and other regulations, and includes a new chapter on infrastructure.
He says local government is the key implementer of the framework, and there are also obligations under Treaty settlements, agreed by successive governments, that need to be carried forward from the Resource Management Act.
There would be no obligation on an incoming government to continue the board of inquiry process if it repeals the Natural and Built Environment Act and reverts to the RMA, which National criticised for many years.
The Government has also established a Freshwater Working Group to provide a report on water allocation issues by the end of October next year.