The Government says its replacement for the Resource Management Act (RMA) will deliver faster planning decisions, unlock housing and infrastructure, and provide stronger environmental protections. However, the Green Party argues the legislation has become even weaker after the select committee process, warning it represents a “race to the bottom” for environmental safeguards.
The debate centres on two major pieces of legislation – the Planning Bill and the Natural Environment Bill – which together will replace the Resource Management Act 1991. The bills are among the Government’s most significant reforms and are intended to reshape how land is developed, infrastructure is approved and natural resources are managed across Aotearoa.
The Government says the existing RMA has become overly complex, expensive and inconsistent, slowing housing developments, delaying major infrastructure projects and creating uncertainty for property owners and businesses.
Under the proposed reforms, New Zealand would move to a two-bill system separating land-use planning from environmental management.
The reforms would establish nationally consistent planning rules, reduce the number of resource consents required, simplify approval processes and introduce one combined planning framework for each region. The Government says the changes will reduce costs, improve certainty for investors and developers, and better balance economic growth with environmental protection.
The legislation would also require binding environmental limits to protect freshwater, biodiversity, coastal environments, land and soil while introducing more consistent national standards for councils.
The Green Party has sharply criticised the legislation following the select committee process, arguing amendments have further reduced environmental safeguards.
The party says changes made during the committee stage place greater emphasis on development while weakening protections for biodiversity, freshwater and climate resilience.
It argues the bills shift the balance too far towards economic development and remove important checks that currently help safeguard the natural environment.
The Greens also contend the reforms reduce opportunities for meaningful public participation in planning decisions and make it more difficult for communities to challenge developments they believe may have significant environmental impacts.
Māori Interests Remain a Key Consideration
The replacement of the RMA is expected to have significant implications for Māori, particularly in areas involving whenua, freshwater, wāhi tapu, biodiversity and resource management.
The legislation continues to include provisions recognising sites of significance to Māori within the planning framework, while national planning instruments are expected to provide guidance on how these interests are identified and managed.
The reforms will also influence how iwi and hapū engage with future planning processes, regional plans and environmental decision-making.
The Government describes the reforms as a once-in-a-generation overhaul of New Zealand’s planning laws.
Key changes include:
- Replacing the RMA with two separate Acts.
- Creating nationally consistent planning standards.
- Introducing one planning framework per region.
- Reducing the number of activities requiring resource consent.
- Simplifying consent categories.
- Establishing binding environmental limits.
- Creating a new planning tribunal to resolve smaller disputes more efficiently.
With the select committee having reported back, the legislation now moves to the next stages of the parliamentary process.
The Government maintains the reforms will deliver a planning system that supports housing, infrastructure and economic growth while maintaining environmental protections.
Opposition parties, environmental organisations and many submitters continue to argue the balance has shifted too heavily towards development, setting the stage for further debate as Parliament considers the bills.
The replacement of the Resource Management Act is expected to remain one of the defining environmental and planning issues heading into the 2026 General Election.
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