Environment Minister Nick Smith is planning "the most significant overhaul" to the Resource Management Act (RMA) since its introduction 25 years ago.
The wide-ranging changes were outlined during a speech in Nelson tonight, in which Dr Smith said the enormous amount of red tape was delaying the development of new houses, jobs and doesn’t manage resources such as freshwater well.
The RMA governs the use of water, land, air and coast and protects heritage, native plants and animals.
"The Act is not working for New Zealand or New Zealanders. It is making housing too expensive. It is hampering job and export growth. It is stymying much needed infrastructure," he says.
"Tinkering with the RMA won't do. The Act has some fundamental design flaws that require substantial overhaul."
The Government hopes to have the re-worked Bill before Parliament and through the full select committee process this year. But Dr Smith says there is a "power of work" to get through before that point including with officials, support parties and Cabinet committees to finalise and draft the Bill.
Dr Smith also released an independent report by Motu Economic and Public Policy Research commissioned by Treasury and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment into the impact of planning rules and delays into the residential property market.
The report says the RMA is adding $30,000 to the cost of an apartment, $15,000 to the cost of a home and reducing the capacity of housing development by 22 percent.
Dr Smith believes the report shows the "high administrative burden of our system of environmental regulations".
"It indicates that over the last decade, the RMA has added $30 billion to the cost of building and reduced housing stock by 40,000 homes."
He says there are "hundreds" of examples of the legislation "wrecking Kiwi family dreams" of building their own homes.
The Government has already made changes to the legislation, including a quicker consent processing, and this year wants to include prioritising housing affordability, giving greater weight to property rights, national planning templates and recognising urban planning.
Dr Smith says changing the RMA will be his most challenging job this year because it is so broad.
But it won't be a challenge for the Government to pass the legislation, only needing the ACT Party's vote to get the legislation through.
United Future and the Maori Party both refused to support the changes to the Bill during the last parliamentary term because of their concerns the proposals would have on the environment. Withdrawing their support meant the Bill could not get enough votes.
Yesterday, United Future leader Peter Dunne urged the Government not to pass the legislation using just ACT's vote.
He said doing so would "send the wrong signals" and changes to the legislation would be a "real test" for the Government on its environmental protection credentials.
3 News
source: newshub archive
