Development Contributions Policy – Update

 Progress on Resource Management Reform

Key Achievements:

Phase One Completion: Repealed the Natural and Built Environment Act and Spatial Planning Act in December 2023.

Phase Two Initiatives: Fast-track Approvals Bill: Streamlining approvals for significant projects, expected to pass by the end of 2024.

Targeted Amendments to the RMA will relieve the key issues through: Extended duration of Coastal Permits for Marine Farms Bill.

Freshwater Management and Other Matters Bill: This includes updates to freshwater management, stock exclusion, winter grazing rules, marine farming consents, and Significant Natural Areas. It also streamlines national direction changes and is expected to pass by year-end.

RMA Amendment Bill Two: Currently in development, it is expected to be introduced by the end of 2024 and passed by mid-2025.

National Direction Package: Amendments to 14 National Policy Statements and National Environmental Standards, with seven new instruments to be consulted on in early 2025.

Focus Areas:

Infrastructure and Energy: New policies to support productivity-boosting projects, including renewable energy.

Housing: Reforms to enable 30 years of housing growth and flexibility for councils.

Farming and Primary Sector: Enhancements to drive productivity and efficiency.

Emergency Response and Natural Hazards: A comprehensive framework to address natural hazard risks.

Looking Ahead:

Phase Three will replace the RMA with a new system focused on unlocking development capacity for housing and business growth, delivering high-quality infrastructure, and supporting primary sector growth.

The new resource management system will be guided by ten principles, refined by a Resource Management Expert Advisory Group (EAG). The EAG, chaired by Janette Campbell and comprising experts in resource management law, planning, and te ao Māori, will develop a blue print over the next three months, due before Christmas. This blueprint will help draft new legislation quickly. Key principles include:

Narrowing the scope of the system and its controls.

Establishing two distinct Acts for environmental effects and urban development.

Strengthening environmental limits.

Increasing the use of national standards to simplify council plans.

Shifting focus from pre-event consenting to compliance and enforcement.

Using spatial planning to reduce infrastructure costs.

Requiring councils to prepare one regulatory plan per region.

Providing rapid, low-cost dispute resolution.

Upholding Treaty of Waitangi settlements.

Ensuring faster, cheaper, and less complex processes.

Key aspects will go to Cabinet for agreement in early 2025, with legislation introduced and passed before the next election.