Reforming New Zealand’s Resource Management Act: An overview of what the new Proposed Legislative Changes Mean

Reforming New Zealand’s Resource Management Act: An overview of what the new Proposed Legislative Changes Mean

Overview of the Reform

New Zealand is moving to replace the Resource Management Act (RMA) with a new, more streamlined system focused on enabling development while protecting the environment. The Government has confirmed that the RMA is to be replaced by two new Acts, the Planning Act and the Natural Environment Act, aimed at simplifying processes, reducing delays, and improving housing and infrastructure delivery. Currently the proposed bills are both at select committee stage, with the aim to pass them into law later this year. This is especially significant now that the general election has been confirmed for 7th November, this year.

New Zealand’s Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) has long been criticised for being slow, complex, and costly. In response, the Government has announced a major overhaul of the system, replacing the RMA with two new pieces of legislation designed to separate land use planning from environmental protection.

The reform aims to create a system that is:

• Simpler and faster.
• More enabling of development and infrastructure.
• More responsive to housing needs.
• Clearer in its environmental protections.
• More consistent across regions.

 

Two New Acts

1. The Planning Act

According to the Ministry for the Environment, the Planning Act will focus on land use planning and regulation, with an emphasis on enabling urban growth and infrastructure development.

Key features include:

• Supporting the Government’s Going for Housing Growth plan.
• Aligning with the 30 year National Infrastructure Plan.
• Creating well functioning urban and rural areas.
• Separating incompatible land uses to reduce conflict.
• Streamlining consenting processes for development.

2. The Natural Environment Act

The Natural Environment Act will focus on managing and protecting the natural environment, including freshwater, biodiversity, and ecosystems.
Its purpose is to:

• Provide clear environmental limits.
• Ensure sustainable management of natural resources.
• Shift from a precautionary approach to a more permissive, outcomes based framework.

 

Why Replace the RMA?

The Government and the Expert Advisory Group have highlighted several issues with the current RMA system:

• Excessive complexity.
• Long consenting timeframes.
• High compliance and litigation costs.
• Inconsistent regional decision making.
• Barriers to housing and infrastructure development.

The proposed reforms aim to address these challenges by creating a more efficient and predictable system.

 

Targeted Amendments Ahead of Full Replacement

Before the full repeal of the RMA, the Government has already passed the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Act 2025, which introduces short to medium term improvements to consenting processes.

These include:

• Faster consenting pathways.
• Reduced procedural requirements.
• More flexibility for councils and developers.
• Measures to support housing and infrastructure delivery.

 

What the Changes Mean for Property Owners, Developers, and Councils

For Property Owners

• Potentially faster and more predictable consenting.
• Clearer rules around land use and environmental limits.
• More consistency across regions.

For Developers

• A more enabling planning framework.
• Reduced delays and lower compliance costs.
• Greater certainty for long term projects.

For Councils

• A shift to a more centralised, standardised planning system.
• New responsibilities under the Planning Act.
• A need to transition existing plans into the new framework.

 

Timeline

The Government has indicated that the new legislation will replace the RMA once fully drafted and passed, which is anticipated later this year. In the meantime, transitional arrangements will be phased in to allow councils and stakeholders to adjust.

 

Conclusion

New Zealand’s proposed replacement of the Resource Management Act marks one of the most significant legislative reforms in decades. By separating planning from environmental management and streamlining processes, the Government aims to create a system that better supports housing, infrastructure, and environmental outcomes which is intended to result in more positive outcomes for everyone. As with any major legislative reform, there remains the potential for unexpected issues to emerge over time. At this stage, with the bills still progressing through the legislative process, it remains uncertain what specific issues might emerge imminently or in the future. The full impact of the new planning framework, as well as how councils and stakeholders will adapt, will become clearer once the legislation is fully implemented and operational.