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Resource Management Reform Phase II

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RMII reform progress and milestones

This page describes progress and key milestones for Phase Two of the Government’s resource management reforms.


So far the reforms have resulted in the passing of the Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Act 2009, set in train changes to the way aquaculture will be managed, and established the Environmental Protection Authority. There is also on-going reform of our freshwater management.


The Government wants New Zealand’s cities, towns and rural communities to better support the way we live, work and play, the quality of our environment and how we manage growth in the future.  All of these things affect New Zealand’s global competitiveness so the Government is looking at how the resource management planning system could be improved to support our future needs.


A discussion document, Building Competitive Cities, was released for public feedback from October–December 2010. It looked at options for improvements to the resource management system for urban planning and infrastructure. In response to the discussion document, we received 284 submissions. A summary of those submissions is here.


Review of sections 6 and 7 of the Resource Management Act 1991

In October 2011 the Government established a technical advisory group (TAG) to review the principles (sections 6 and 7) of the Resource Management Act. The TAG, chaired by Auckland barrister Alan Dormer, is to report back to Cabinet with recommendations by the end of February 2012.


These principles give direction to achieving the purpose of the Act (Section 5), which is to promote the sustainable management of natural and physical resources, and they must be considered when any RMA decision is made


The Government is due to consider a range of possible changes to the resource management system in early 2012 as part of the second phase of its resource management reforms. During the exploratory work for this second phase, sections 6 and 7 were cited as aspects of the Act that also warranted examination. A review of these sections will allow any recommendations to be considered with the rest of the second phase of reforms next year.


Further information:

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Next steps

Cabinet has considered the progress of the Phase Two urban and infrastructure resource management reforms, and has agreed to an ongoing work programme, which now also includes a review of sections 6 and 7 of the RMA.


The Ministry will continue to work on options to reform the resource management system for urban planning and infrastructure to ensure that they continue to better support New Zealand's future needs. Cabinet will consider proposals for a national policy statement which will give greater recognition to the urban environment. Broader policy recommendations will also be developed for Ministers, and then Cabinet, to consider in 2012.

RMA Phase 2 Reform Cabinet papers and background documents

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Building Competitive Cities: Reform of the urban and infrastructure planning system

“Building Competitive Cities” focuses on the problems identified with the current system for urban planning and infrastructure development and sets out a range of possible options for consideration by the community.  Building Competitive Cities is the main consultation document, but there are several other documents available that can be read alongside this report.   These include the Technical Working Paper, which provides background evidence of the problems and the reports of the Minister’s technical advisory groups. 

Consultation papers: Building competitive cities: Reform of the urban and infrastructure planning system

Publication Topics covered Brief description

Building competitive cities: Reform of the urban and infrastructure planning system
  • Planning and urban design (including spatial planning)
  • Infrastructure approvals
  • High-level presentation of the perceived problems with the current systems
  • Key options to change the urban and infrastructure planning systems, including Urban Technical Advisory Group and Infrastructure Technical Advisory Group recommendations
  • Glossary with explanation of technical terms
  • Non-technical summary of current urban and infrastructure planning systems

Building competitive cities
  • Problem evidence for planning and urban design
  • Problem evidence for infrastructure approvals
  • Technical presentation of the perceived problems with the current systems, including evidence of scale and magnitude of problem

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Technical Advisory Group Reports

Two reports prepared by the Urban Technical Advisory Group and the Infrastructure Technical Advisory Group for the Minister for the Environment are available to inform debate and the preparation of submissions.  

Document

Topics covered

Brief description
Urban Planning Technical Advisory Group report (PDF, 929 KB) Urban planning – particularly spatial planning and urban design
  • Independent report prepared for the Minister for the Environment
  • Identifies problems with the current urban planning system
  • Report provides recommendations to the Minister for the Environment
  • Officials’ background working paper
Infrastructure Technical Advisory Group report (PDF, 1.4 MB) Infrastructure – particularly designations
  • Independent report prepared for the Minister for the Environment
  • Identifies problems with the current planning system for infrastructure approvals
  • Report provides recommendations to the Minister for the Environment
  • Officials’ background working paper

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Additional background papers to 'Building Competitive Cities'

A number of additional background papers, referred to in the discussion document and technical working paper, are also available.   

Contact for queries

Consult the frequently asked questions here.

Please direct any queries to:

Freephone: 0800 RMREFORM (0800 767 336)
DDI: +64 4 439 7421
Facsimile: +64 4 439 7700
Email: rmreform@mfe.govt.nz
Postal: RM Reform, PO Box 10362, Wellington 6143

 

Last updated: 7 October 2011