Authors: Tim Conder, Vanessa Hamm
Published: 16 May 2023
Pages: 27

Introduction

This book intends to give the general practitioner a high level understanding of the Resource Management Act (RMA) reform and the practical implications for a general practitioner’s practice.

By reading this booklet you will:

• learn about changes to the planning system in New Zealand;
• hear how the reforms will interact with advice in other areas of law and impact clients in a practical sense;
• learn about the regulatory responses that will become available to deal with environmental offending and breaches.

At the time of writing this booklet, the Natural and Built Environment Bill (NBE) and the Spatial Planning Bill (SPB) have been introduced to the House (15 November 2022), had their first reading (22 November 2022), the select committee has released an interim report (16 December 2022), and submissions to the Select Committee closed on 5 February 2023. The Fifty-third Parliament Progress of Legislation document dated 12 April 2023 states that there is to be a report by the Business Committee on their determination by 6 June 2023.

Therefore, the presentation and this booklet are to be read in light of the above information. After the committee report is released, the NBE and the SPB will need to go through a second reading, committee of the whole House, third reading, and royal assent. During these stages substantive material changes could be made to the NBE and SPB. This could extend to the NBE and SPB not receiving royal assent before the next general election on 14 October 2023.

Given the length and complexity of the reforms, and the focus of this presentation on practical implications, there are a number of topics which we have not addressed. These include:

• the proposals to give effect to the principles of te Tiriti o Waitangi and provide greater recognition of te ao Māori, including mātauranga Māori;
• the provisions directed towards the allocation of resources, environmental limits and targets, and provisions focussed on coastal resources;
• the various planning and consenting pathways available under the NBE.

Content outline

• Reforming resource management - a consenting perspective
• Continuity and change: compliance under the Natural and Built Environments Bill