Questions remain over resource management Bill

The Government has announced this afternoon several policy directions that have been agreed with the Maōri Party on changes to the Resource Management Act.

Of particular interest to the local government sector are provisions to strengthen requirements to manage natural hazards and to create national planning standards to reduce complexity and cost. Local Government New Zealand is very supportive of moves in these directions.

LGNZ Chief Executive Malcolm Alexander says there are a range of important issues with our resource management system that require attention.

“Based on today’s announcements we have reason to be optimistic that it will address some of our concerns and we look forward to the Local Government and Environment Committee reporting back,” Mr Alexander says.

“However LGNZ and our member councils raised some significant other issues with the Bill and we don’t yet know where these have landed. This includes the greater use of regulation-making powers which may result in the undermining of local decision-making. This issue remains of great concern to local government,” Mr Alexander says.

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