June 29, 2021
RMA replacement out for comment
Environment Minister David Parker has released the first draft of the proposed Natural and Built Environments Act that will replace the Resource Management Act 1991.
He says the release of an exposure draft through a select committee inquiry is a way to test and improve the contents of the Bill before it goes into the formal Parliamentary process.
A second select committee process will be held when the full Bill is introduced to Parliament in early in 2022.
Mr Parker says stronger recognition of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Te Ao Māori are important considerations within the proposed Act.
The intention is for communities to work together to produce one mandatory Natural and Built Environments Plan for each region covering resource use, allocation and land-use management.
A new national planning framework will include mandatory environmental limits to protect ecological integrity and human health, including limits relating to freshwater, coastal waters, estuaries, air, soil and biodiversity.
For the built environment, intended outcomes include well-functioning urban areas, more housing supply and enabling infrastructure.
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