National Policy Statement a powerful tool under the RMA

Property Council believes there is an urgent and pressing need for a National Policy Statement (NPS) on urban development under the Resource Management Act (RMA).

An NPS would be a powerful tool for local government as it would provide a guidance framework for future urban development.

Chief Executive Connal Townsend says an NPS would clarify and reassert the RMA’s ultimate purpose of both protecting the environment and fostering the development and growth of New Zealand’s cities.

“By 2043, Auckland’s population will grow by about one million, which is 60% of New Zealand’s total population growth. Other cities such as Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton and Tauranga are growing too.

“To reap the benefits of population and economic growth in our cities and regions, and in fact to encourage and account for such growth, we need processes that consider the trade-offs and encourage growth, while protecting the things we value.

“A sense of complacency has produced a planning system that is not robust or adaptive. In its current state, it cannot meet our increasing housing and infrastructure needs in growth areas.”

According to Property Council, an NPS on urban development would consider and assess housing and infrastructure needs alongside achieving the RMA’s purpose of sustainable management.

“While the RMA was well intentioned when it was first developed, it has not achieved its intended outcome to protect our natural environment while enabling the housing and urban development we need. Couple that with limiting our capacity to grow and adapt, and we are faced with legislation that is failing and utterly detrimental to the economic and social prosperity of New Zealand.

“The RMA has become deeply ideological in New Zealand and has been the subject of political football and point scoring for 25 years. It is well overdue that we took a practical and realistic approach to the debate.

“We need a robust framework that considers the current and future needs of growing cities. A National Policy Statement has the power to provide clarity, consistency, and sustainable solutions; all of which have been painfully lacking in our land use planning rulebooks to date.”

ENDS

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