Resource Management Act Replacement
The Government has recently announced a new planning system will replace the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA).
The new planning system is set out in two new bills:
- the Planning Bill lays out the framework for how land can be used and developed
- the Natural Environment Bill is focused on managing the use of natural resources and protecting the environment.
The Bills will have their First Reading this week and be referred to the Environment Select Committee, when the closing date for submissions will be advised. The Government intends the Bills to become law in mid-2026.
The Asset Management Team is currently in the process of reviewing the two new Bills and their supporting documents in order to prepare for a submission.
Further information on the new planning system can be found at the following link:
Government unveils major overhaul of New Zealand’s planning system | Ministry for the Environment
Transition Periods for Consents
The Government has also introduced a separate Resource Management (Duration of Consents) Bill under urgency on 9 December 2025. The Bill will be enacted once it receives Royal Assent.
This Bill will allow existing consents with expiry dates before 31 December 2027, or which have already expired and are still being used under section 124 of the RMA, to be extended until 31 December 2027. In the case of already expired consents that are within the scope of the extension, they are ‘reinstated.’