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Consultation

The government’s timeframe for implementing the first phase of RMA reform has ruled out comprehensive public consultation – best endeavors were, however, made to ensure public and professional input into the policy development process.

The Ministry for the Environment led a series of workshops in mid to late 2008 with officials from the natural resources inter-agency network, comprising the Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Department of Conservation, Ministry of Fisheries, Ministry of Economic Development, Land Information New Zealand, Te Puni Kōkiri, Treasury, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, and the State Services Commission. This work, amongst other things, established a common position across these agencies on problems with the RMA and high level options for addressing them within the context of environmental sustainability. Although this consultation primarily involved the core agencies in the natural resources inter-agency network, other agencies with overlapping interests, such as the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Fisheries were also involved.

From November 2008 to January 2009 the Ministry for the Environment convened a working group comprised of officials from all government departments and conducted a series of workshops aimed at building on the problems and high level options agreed by the natural resources network and identifying potential solutions.

On 1 December 2008, the Minister for the Environment sent a letter to all local authorities inviting comment on potential options for addressing problems with the RMA and any further suggestions. The Minister’s request was complemented by postings on the Ministry for the Environment website inviting comments and suggestions. By 20 December 2008 the Minister for the Environment and Ministry for the Environment had received 121 letters and emails (including 45 letters from local authorities) with detailed comments and suggestions from professional associations, legal practitioners, industry representatives, district and regional councils and iwi authorities.  All responses were analysed and suggested amendments were evaluated by the officials working group and Minister’s Technical Advisory Group. 

Key messages extracted from responses to the Minister’s request include:

  • retain the fundamental purpose and principles of the RMA
  • improve plan making processes
  • ensure independent high-quality decision-making on resource consents
  • simplify processes for minor applications
  • establish an Environmental Protection Agency and reduce delays for infrastructure projects
  • clarify and simplify the cost benefit analysis councils are required to undertake with promoting plan changes
  • improve the processing of resource consent applications, particular in relation to requests for further information and decisions on notification
  • prevent frivolous and vexatious objections and the abuse of RMA processes by trade competitors
  • remove the Minister of Conservations “veto” over coastal consents
  • Improve enforcement
  • provide clearer and more effective central government direction to local authorities on matters of national importance
  • reduce overlaps and improve linkages with other related legislation such as the Local Government Act 2002 and the Conservation Act 1987.

On 16 December 2008 the Minister for the Environment announced the appointment of a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to support the Government's programme of reform of the RMA.  Ministry for the Environment officials provided the TAG with background material, a report reflecting the outcome of workshops attended by the officials working group, supplementary reports to address matters arising from TAG workshops and copies of responses to the Minister’s request for comment and suggestions. Between December 2008 and January 2009 the TAG, supported by Ministry for the Environment officials, held six full-day meetings to consider potential options for addressing problems with the RMA.

 

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