NZ Engine

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government’s new planning system will make it much easier and quicker to deliver the infrastructure New Zealand needs, while giving councils, investors and communities greater certainty about what can be built and where, RMA Reform and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Under-Secretary Simon Court say.

“New Zealand’s new planning system will make it easier to build the houses and infrastructure our country needs, let farmers and growers get on with doing what they do best, and boost our primary sector while protecting the environment,” Mr Bishop says.

“For too long, the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) has acted as a handbrake on growth and opportunity, delayed energy and infrastructure projects, and created enormous complexity and uncertainty for developers, councils, farmers and growers. 

“The Infrastructure Commission found that under the RMA, infrastructure developers spend $1.29 billion each year to consent their projects. In addition, they found that direct consenting costs have increased by 70 per cent since 2014, and the time to get a consent has increased by 150 per cent over the same time.  

“The Government is replacing the RMA with an entirely new planning system. The benefits for infrastructure providers and major projects are substantial, with the new system designed to reduce duplication, cut delays, and remove unnecessary barriers to nationally important projects.

“The new planning system delivers long-term certainty about where infrastructure goes, and a much faster, simpler consenting pathway. Spatial plans will map out exactly what infrastructure will be needed and by when. 

 

“These are major shifts that will unlock investment and speed up delivery, and will help us to better align infrastructure with new development and housing.”

The new planning system’s key reforms for infrastructure will mean: 

A system designed to deliver infrastructure. A goal of the system is to plan and deliver infrastructure that meets today’s needs and supports future growth.
Long-term spatial plans will show where infrastructure goes. Plans will map out what infrastructure is needed and when, giving councils, developers and investors greater certainty.
Important sites will be protected early. Land will be secured for roads, schools and utilities sooner through improved designation processes.
Consenting will be simpler. Large projects may still need consents or permits, but standardised rules and streamlined processes will make approvals more straightforward and cheaper.
Significant infrastructure will still be possible in protected areas. Critical infrastructure projects will be allowed to proceed in protected areas when there are no other options.
Rules will be more consistent. There will be national rules for common activities like earthworks and noise, reducing delays and costs.

Mr Court says the reforms introduce the direction and certainty the infrastructure sector has been seeking for decades.

“For the first time, the law will include a clear national goal for infrastructure and national policy direction will guide councils and lock in long-term planning for roads, pipes, power networks and renewable energy. 

“National standards will then codify how to manage common activities so that consents are only needed for departures. This will significantly reduce the need for bespoke consents and tiresome re-litigation of well understood solutions.

“All of this ensures regions can grow, electrification can accelerate, and nationally significant projects can proceed with much greater predictability.

“Our new system will make it cheaper and easier to deliver much-needed infrastructure by removing the unnecessary red tape that has stifled infrastructure development in New Zealand for far too long.”

The bills will be introduced to Parliament this afternoon. The Government aims to pass them into law in 2026.

National policy direction under the new system will be finalised within nine months of the bills becoming law. Mandatory national standards will be delivered in stages and aligned with council plan-making needs.  

New Zealanders will be invited to have their say on the legislation via the Select Committee process. 

Note to editors: 

More information about the new planning system can be found here: https://environment.govt.nz/news/government-unveils-major-overhaul-of-new-zealands-planning-system

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government’s new planning system will make it significantly easier to build the homes New Zealand needs and give homeowners greater freedom to improve and use their own property, RMA Reform and Housing Minister Chris Bishop says.

“For too long, the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) has acted as a handbrake on growth and opportunity. It is directly responsible for New Zealand’s housing crisis – despite us having a land mass comparable to the United Kingdom but just five million people.

“For years, report after report and inquiry after inquiry has found that our planning system, particularly restrictions on the supply of developable urban land, are at the heart of our housing affordability challenge.

“Our Going for Housing Growth programme focuses on fixing the fundamentals of our housing crisis: land supply, infrastructure, and incentives for growth. Ultimately, we want competitive urban land markets and abundant development opportunities to drive down land prices and create housing choice.

“A specific goal of the new Planning Bill is for the system to enable competitive urban land markets by making land available to meet current and expected demand for business and residential use and development. National Direction will follow, including the establishment of housing growth targets, rules making it easier for cities to expand outwards at the urban fringe, requirements to enable greater mixed-use zoning, and prohibitions on minimum floor area and balcony requirements.

“The system will build on the existing National Policy Statement on Urban Development and strengthen it, ensuring our cities and towns can grow in ways that support more housing, better infrastructure and vibrant communities. 

“Our new planning system will deliver the most significant pro-housing reforms in a generation. The changes will give homeowners more freedom, speed up building, and create clear and consistent rules across the country.

“Planning rules will get a whole lot simpler. Right now, New Zealand has more than 1,100 different zones, each with its own set of rules. That’s a maze for anyone trying to build. 

“Under the new system, we’ll hugely reduce that complexity by standardising zones nationwide and applying consistent rules for key things like building height, site coverage, and daylight access. 

“This means developers can use the same designs anywhere in the country – no more juggling different rules for Upper Hutt versus Lower Hutt, or Christchurch versus Selwyn. It’s consistency where it counts, making development faster, easier, and more predictable.” 

The Planning Bill will also enable more housing through changes that include: 

Everyone will be able to do more without needing council consent. The new system won’t control for things like the layout of your house, balconies, or private outdoor space, giving people more freedom to use their land how they see fit.
Getting a consent will be simpler. If you do need a consent, the process will be more straightforward and cheaper. Rules will be clear, in more cases only affected people can take part in the consent process, and a new planning tribunal will help resolve disputes at low cost.
Land will be released faster through a mechanism that removes the need for extra plan changes or long consultations where the land has been previously identified as suitable for development.
Developers will have greater certainty to invest. Long-term spatial plans will show where new housing and infrastructure will go, so developers can plan projects and invest with confidence.
Subdividing land will be easier. There will be more circumstances where subdivision is allowed. 
More information about the new planning system can be found here: https://environment.govt.nz/news/government-unveils-major-overhaul-of-new-zealands-planning-system
Most Going for Housing Growth policy proposals will be implemented through national policy direction and national standards, which will be made once the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill are passed into law. 

“Our Going for Housing Growth programme will be put into action in the new system, driven through strong national policy direction and clear standards set by the Government. We’ll give councils ambitious housing growth targets and set clear expectations to unlock capacity where it makes the most sense such as around key transport corridors. We’ll also remove outdated barriers like rural-urban boundary lines and allow a greater mix of residential and commercial activities in zones, making it easier to deliver homes and everyday services like dairies and cafes where New Zealanders need them most,” Mr Bishop says.

“These changes will finally give New Zealand the planning settings needed to meet demand, bring down costs, and increase housing choice.

“Spatial planning and clear national direction will give developers and homeowners certainty about what can be built, and where. Once these decisions are made, they cannot be revisited at each stage of the planning and consenting process. That means fewer surprises, fewer disputes, and faster decisions. 

“The new system strengthens property rights and restores the freedom for New Zealanders to use their land in ways that affect nobody else. Councils will be required to provide relief when imposing heritage or indigenous biodiversity protection when these significantly affect the use of their land. This is a much-needed rebalancing away from a system that allowed councils to impose major costs on property owners without considering the impacts.”

The bills will be introduced to Parliament this afternoon. The Government aims to pass them into law in 2026.

National policy direction under the new system will be finalised within nine months of the bills becoming law. National standards will be delivered in stages and aligned with council plan-making needs. 

New Zealanders will be invited to have their say on the legislation via the Select Committee process.

Note to editors: 

More information about the new planning system can be found here: https://environment.govt.nz/news/government-unveils-major-overhaul-of-new-zealands-planning-system
Most Going for Housing Growth policy proposals will be implemented through national policy direction and national standards, which will be made once the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill are passed into law. 

 

 

Source: New Zealand Government

Farmers and growers will spend less time burdened with unnecessary paperwork and more time farming under New Zealand’s new planning system, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard say.

The Government is replacing the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) with two new bills: a Planning Bill that enables development and regulates land use, and a Natural Environment Bill that manages resource impacts and protects the environment.

“Across the country farmers and growers have stressed how the previous system failed them. It was burdensome, stifled productivity, and that’s why we are replacing it,” Mr McClay says.

“Today’s announcement is a long time coming and will make the world of difference to rural New Zealand. A common-sense planning system means farmers and growers can more effectively meet their obligations while continuing to produce world-class food and fibre.”

Key changes for farmers and growers under the new planning system:

Less red tape: The new system respects property rights and removes unnecessary rules, meaning fewer resource consents and faster processing times for farmers.
Simpler rules: Standardised regional rules make compliance easier to know what applies to individual farms.
Risk-based approach: Lower-risk areas and activities will have fewer requirements, while higher-risk activities will be managed more closely. If an activity has a less than minor impact on others or the environment, it won’t need a consent.
Access to “relief” if particular planning controls or rules have a big impact on land use.
Farm plans mean fewer consents: Freshwater farm plans will be a key tool within the new system. These will be flexible and farmer-led, helping farmers identify environmental risks on their farm and then plan practical actions to manage these. In catchments under pressure, farm plans will give councils greater confidence that resources are being managed within environmental limits.

“Our farmers and growers need a fair transition to give them certainty as the new system beds in. We will deliver this so they can continue to farm without having to meet excessive consultant and RMA costs. The Government backs them to meet their environment obligations while continuing to produce revenue the country desperately needs,” Mr McClay says.

“We’re giving them the confidence to invest in higher value land use, state-of-the-art technology, improved management practices, and product supply chains that grow jobs in their communities.”

“I’ve spent months on farm visits across the country, talking to farmers in woolsheds, over gates, and around kitchen tables. The stories I have are ones of frustration and sometimes despair at the often crippling costs and uncertainty that the current system is creating,” Mr Hoggard says.

“The new system is built on a simple principle: it’s your land, you have the right to use it.

“We’re stripping out unnecessary rules so farmers can get on with what they do best – farming. But it’s also about reducing the costs and barriers to also engage in good environmental practice as well. I have spoken to farmers and groups that almost gave up on wetland creation due to the costs and hassles involved.

“Farmers are already doing a huge amount for New Zealand’s economy and way of life. Our job is to make sure the rules are practical, efficient and fit for purpose so our agricultural sector can continue to lead the world and drive our economic recovery,” Mr Hoggard says.

The bills will be introduced to Parliament this afternoon. The Government aims to pass them into law in 2026.

New Zealanders will be invited to have their say on the legislation via the Select Committee process.

Note to editors: 

More information about the new planning system can be found here: https://environment.govt.nz/news/government-unveils-major-overhaul-of-new-zealands-planning-system
National policy direction under the new system will be finalized within nine months of the bills becoming law. Mandatory national standards will be delivered in stages and aligned with council plan-making needs.

 

Source: New Zealand Government

A sweeping overhaul of planning rules will unlock economic growth and help build a stronger New Zealand, Finance Minister Nicola Willis and RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop say.

Nicola Willis says the reforms are central to the Government’s focus on creating jobs and lifting incomes. 

“To improve living standards and keep pace with other advanced economies, we need to start saying yes to investment, yes to innovation and yes to growth. 

“For too long, the Resource Management Act has acted as a handbrake on the economy. It has created cost and complexity and, at times, been misused to stifle growth and competition.

“The Government is committed to turning that around. The reforms being announced today are a cornerstone of the Government’s Going for Growth agenda, which aims to lift productivity, reduce regulatory burdens and address New Zealand’s enduring productivity challenge.”

Chris Bishop says the changes contained in two bills introduced to Parliament today are projected to save $13.3 billion in administrative and compliance costs over the next 30 years and to increase Gross Domestic Product by at least 0.56 per cent annually by 2050 and increasing thereafter.

“The introduction of the bills is a major step toward replacing the broken Resource Management Act with a modern, pro-growth planning system.

“The new bills are: a Planning Bill to enable development and regulate land use, and a Natural Environment Bill to protect nature and encourage the efficient use of land and resources,” Mr Bishop says.

“The new planning system strengthens property rights and restores the freedom for New Zealanders to use their land in ways that affect nobody else. Councils will be required to provide relief to property owners when imposing significant restrictions like heritage protections or significant natural areas. This is a much-needed rebalancing away from a system that allowed councils to impose major costs on property owners without considering the impacts. 

“It is a system designed to get New Zealand building again, support our productive sectors, and bash through the bureaucracy holding back economic growth.”

Mr Bishop and Under-Secretary for RMA Reform Simon Court will introduce the two new Bills in Parliament today. The Government aims to pass the Bills into law in 2026. 

New Zealanders will be invited to have their say on the legislation via the Select Committee process.

Note to editors: 

More information about the new planning system can be found here: https://environment.govt.nz/news/government-unveils-major-overhaul-of-new-zealands-planning-system

Source: New Zealand Government

New Zealand’s new planning system will make it easier to build the homes and infrastructure our country needs, give farmers and growers the freedom to get on with producing world-class food and fibre, and strengthen our primary sector while protecting the environment, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Under-Secretary Simon Court say.

“This Government’s central ambition is to lift growth, productivity and living standards,” Mr Bishop says.

“The Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) has failed. It has slowed down energy and infrastructure projects, and fuelled a housing crisis in a country the size of the United Kingdom but with only about seven per cent of its population. It has created enormous uncertainty for developers, councils, farmers and growers – but it hasn’t protected the environment, with many environmental indicators worsening since 1991.

“Successive governments have complained about the constraints imposed by the RMA. This Government is delivering on the ACT-National coalition agreement by replacing it with an entirely new regime premised on the basis of liberal market economies: property rights. 

“Our reforms are a once-in-a-generation opportunity to free ourselves from a millstone that has weighed on both our economy and our environment.

“The economic benefits of our new planning system are significant. Independent analysis shows the new planning system is projected to boost GDP by an additional 0.56 per cent every year by 2050, worth up to $3.1 billion annually. A cost benefit analysis estimates $13.3 billion in savings over 30 years through reduced administrative and compliance costs. 

“Officials also estimate that up to 46 per cent of consent and permit applications required under the RMA could be removed under the new system. Based on 2023/24 volumes, that represents between 15,000 and 22,000 consents no longer needed.”

Major features of the new system include:

1. Fewer, simpler consents: fewer activity categories, with low-impact activities no longer requiring consent.
2. Fewer, faster plans: more than 100 existing plans will be reduced to 17 regional combined plans that bring together spatial, land use and natural environment planning in one place, making it easier for New Zealanders to know what they can do with their property.
3. Spatial planning: 30-year regional spatial plans to identify growth areas, infrastructure corridors and areas needing protection.
4. Clearer direction nationally: More consistency through nationally set policy direction will leave less up for debate.
5. A more proportionate system: all consent conditions must be necessary and proportionate, reducing red tape. Positive effects of development must be taken into account.
6. More standardization: planned national standards on zoning and common activities will cut red tape and speed up the system.
7. Consultation only where it matters: clarity about who must be consulted and when, including with iwi.
8. Regulatory relief: councils must provide practical relief mechanisms when imposing restrictions such as heritage protections and significant natural areas.
9. Faster conflict resolution: the establishment of a Planning Tribunal will provide a low cost, fast way of resolving simple conflicts.
10. Better environmental protection: enable community decision making over water quality and improve the efficient use of resources. We will be centralising responsibility for enforcement to deliver it more consistently.

“A core failure of the RMA was the absence of clear direction from central government,” Mr Bishop says.

“Most national direction was not introduced until two decades after the RMA passed, leaving huge interpretation gaps that fuelled uncertainty, inconsistent council decisions, and extensive litigation. When national direction finally did arrive, it was confusing, often contradictory, and impossible for councils or communities to navigate with confidence.

“The new system fixes this by requiring one clear, simple piece of national planning direction under each bill. These will set out the Government’s aspirations topic by topic in a concise, easy to understand format, supported by national standards that translate policy into practical rules for councils. This structure resolves conflicts between goals, provides certainty for plan making and consenting, and ensures the delays and confusion that plagued the RMA can never be repeated.

“The new planning system will protect the environment by setting clear, science-based limits on what impacts are acceptable, ensuring councils and communities know exactly what must be protected and where development can occur. Mandatory regional spatial plans will safeguard important natural and biodiversity areas, while nationally consistent rules will provide a fair, modern framework for managing indigenous biodiversity and natural hazards.”

“When you put property rights at the core and remove excessive government rules from people’s lives, the benefits will quickly follow,” says Mr Court.

“But this requires a monumental shift, and not just in legislation but in culture.

“The creeping excesses of the RMA have eroded Kiwis’ property rights and suffocated our number 8 wire culture in the process – a culture we must revive.

“This is why we’ve built in ways to drive this change.

“The regulatory relief mechanism will force councils to confront the costs of many restrictions on private property that for too long have been costless to them. If they want to impose significant restrictions, they must justify them, provide relief to the landowners, and convince their ratepayers the public benefit warrants it.

“A new Planning Tribunal will drive further accountability by providing a low-cost clearing house for people to challenge old council habits and overreach – no more unchecked information requests, no more disproportionate consent conditions.

“All of this sits within a slimmer system with less to do, less scope for Tom, Dick and Harry to insert themselves into consent processes that don’t affect them, and a reclaimed freedom for people enjoy their property.” 

The bills will be introduced to Parliament this afternoon. The Government aims to pass them into law in 2026. 

“Our bills are based on the work done last year by an Expert Advisory Group, led by environmental barrister and former Environmental Defence Society director Janette Campbell. We thank the group for their thorough analysis and advice,” Mr Bishop says.

National policy direction under the new system will be finalised within nine months of the bills becoming law. Mandatory national standards will be delivered in stages and aligned with council plan-making needs. 

New Zealanders will be invited to have their say on the legislation via the Select Committee process.

Note to editors: 

More information about the new planning system can be found here: https://environment.govt.nz/news/government-unveils-major-overhaul-of-new-zealands-planning-system

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Construction on the new Hikuwai No. 1 Bridge on State Highway 35 (SH35) has reached a significant milestone, with piling works now underway, laying the foundations for a stronger, more resilient connection for East Coast communities.

The piling marks a major step forward in the permanent replacement of the original Hikuwai  No. 1 Bridge, which was severely damaged during Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023. Since then, a temporary Bailey bridge and the Pourau Road bypass have provided vital access along SH35.

Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) Project Manager Richard Bayley says the start of piling is a huge moment for the region.

“It signals the beginning of major bridge construction activity that will deliver a safer, stronger and more reliable connection for years to come. But it doesn’t come without its complexities.”

“Working on the East Coast means it is common for the soil to be soft and highly erodible which presents its challenges and our crews may need to drill through layers of silt, river gravel or even tree logs to reach solid ground. Accuracy is critical down to millimetres and we’re using specialised machinery and technology to achieve it.”

Once piling is complete, the bridge will rise quickly, with crews moving on to pile caps, columns, beams and finally the deck. 

Sixteen pile casings, each weighing upwards of 13,000kg and measuring up to 12m long and 1.8m across, will act as protective sleeves for the 8 bridge columns, ensuring alignment and stability. Some casings will be welded together on-site to reach depths of 50–60 metres, deeper than any other bridge on the East Coast.

The piles are being installed using a rotary drilling method (where a continuously rotating drill cuts through the ground). Steel pile casings will then be inserted to stabilise the soil. A reinforcement cage is then lowered into place before concrete is poured around the casing, with the below ground casing left as a permanent part of the structure.

Anne McGuire of local Iwi Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti and Ngati Ira says the milestone carries deep meaning.

“Seeing the bridge piles going in is more than just progress on a construction site, it represents a strong foundation for the future of our community. With Iwi and TREC working side by side, there is real momentum now.

“We share a strong commitment to this project and look forward to the benefits this connection will bring to the East Coast. What made it even more special was having tamariki from local kura kaupapa visit last Thursday, watching on. They are the future generations who will inherit this bridge, and their presence reminded us of the legacy we are building together.”

Traffic impacts will be kept to a minimum throughout construction, with road users continuing to use the Bailey bridge and Pourau Road bypass until completion.

The new 2-lane bridge will span approximately 100 metres and sit on deep piles designed to better withstand flooding, earthquake activity and debris build-up. Completion is expected by late 2026, weather and conditions permitting.

Source: Maritime Union of New Zealand

The Maritime Union of New Zealand today welcomed the decision by Associate Transport Minister James Meager to decline NovaAlgoma Cement Carriers’ (NACC) application to operate a foreign-flagged vessel carrying Holcim cement on the New Zealand coast.

The failed application for an exemption under Section 198 of the Maritime Transport Act sought permission for the Panamanian-flagged and overseas-crewed NACC Vega to replace the New Zealand-flagged and crewed MV Buffalo.

Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Carl Findlay says the Minister has made the right decision.

He says the decision confirms New Zealand law cannot be ignored and side-stepped by multinational corporations seeking to destroy local jobs through Flag of Convenience shipping.

“This is a win for local jobs and New Zealand shipping.”

Mr Findlay says the situation was a clear test on protecting Kiwi jobs, and this decision sends a strong message to Holcim about its obligations to New Zealand.

In November, Holcim gave a month’s notice of redundancy to 32 skilled New Zealand seafarers crewing the MV Buffalo.

Mr Findlay says Holcim must now accept their plan to replace experienced New Zealand crews with foreign labour has failed.

“MUNZ calls on Holcim to commit to supporting New Zealand shipping and retaining local jobs. The highly skilled crew of the MV Buffalo is ready, willing, and able to continue serving New Zealand’s coastal distribution network.”

He says Holcim’s previous threat to use road transport for their cement if they didn’t get their way was a nonsense and a bluff.

The Maritime Union congratulates the crew of the MV Buffalo for standing strong throughout this protracted dispute.

Mr Findlay says the entire episode has highlighted the vulnerability of New Zealand’s maritime trade.

He says the Maritime Union is campaigning on a plan to rebuild New Zealand’s domestic coastal shipping.

“New Zealand requires a robust and permanent policy framework to rebuild a dedicated New Zealand domestic coastal shipping fleet, crewed by New Zealanders, ensuring security and resilience in our supply chains.”

This capability proved critical during national crises such as the Christchurch and Kaik?ura earthquakes and Cyclone Gabrielle, he says.

Mr Findlay says the Maritime Union looked forward to an ongoing discussion about the future of the maritime industry with Associate Minister Meager in the New Year.

 

Background information on Flags of Convenience

Flag of Convenience (FOC) shipping is a regulatory loophole where shipowners register vessels in foreign nations (such as Panama or the Cook Islands) rather than their home country, primarily to maximize profit at the expense of safety and workers’ rights.

This practice allows owners to sever the “genuine link” between a ship and its actual ownership, enabling them to bypass national labour laws, tax obligations, and safety standards.

Shipping companies can effectively operate “floating sweatshops,” exploiting vulnerable crews with poverty wages and minimal legal protections, which creates a race to the bottom that undercuts responsible operators.

For New Zealand, the encroachment of FOC shipping is a direct threat to our economic sovereignty, biosecurity, and local jobs.

Multinational companies use FOC vessels to displace New Zealand-flagged and crewed ships on domestic coastal routes, destroying local jobs and eroding our maritime capability.

Relying on FOC shipping compromises supply chain resilience and environmental safety, as fatigued crews on substandard vessels significantly increase the risk of maritime accidents.

Domestic coastal freight should be protected by strong laws, ensuring it is carried by New Zealanders on safe, regulated vessels rather than outsourced to the lowest global bidder.