The Government says changes to planning rules aimed at making it easier to consent mines, quarries and certain coastal activities have now come into force.
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop, Resources Minister Shane Jones, and Conservation Minister Tama Potaka say amendments to five national direction instruments under the Resource Management Act will support infrastructure development and economic growth.
The changes amend the following:
- National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity 2023
- The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020
- The National Environmental Standards for Freshwater Regulations 2020
- The National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land 2022
- The New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010.
Bishop says the reforms are intended to address barriers to infrastructure development.
“It is an unavoidable fact that to build more infrastructure and grow our economy, we need quarries and mines. The RMA makes it far too difficult for these types of projects to get consent, which is why we are fixing it,” Bishop says.
He says the changes reduce duplication and remove conflicting language between planning instruments, allowing the system to operate more efficiently.
“Making these changes now mean that New Zealanders can see some of the benefits from a more enabling, simpler planning system now, rather than waiting until our new planning system fully takes effect,” Bishop says.
Jones says the reforms recognise the wider role of resource development beyond extraction.
“We are ensuring that during consenting quarrying and mining are consistently treated as strategic activities that help meet our national and regional mineral needs, drives economic growth, and supports development, while being carried out responsibly,” Jones says.
“Developing our resources doesn’t begin and end with extraction and shouldn’t be considered as such; it’s about securing supply chains, boosting exports, and delivering lasting benefits for all New Zealanders.”
Jones says the Government has committed to growing aquaculture to generate $3 billion in annual revenue by 2035.
“The changes to the NZCPS announced today are an important step toward making that happen,” he says.
“The NZCPS changes will better support aquaculture growth and strengthen how councils provide for settlement space under the Māori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act. This will support greater Māori participation in the aquaculture sector and enable marine farmers to focus on producing world-class kaimoana.”
The amended national direction instruments were gazetted on December 18 and take legal effect today. They form the first tranche of revised national direction following public consultation in 2025.
The Government says all amended instruments will continue to operate under the RMA and will be integrated into the new planning system established under the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill introduced in December.
A second tranche of national direction instruments, including further National Environmental Standards, is expected to be considered by Cabinet in the coming months.
