The Government has announced a sweeping overhaul of planning rules under the Resource Management Act (RMA) aimed at tackling New Zealand’s infrastructure deficit and energy supply challenges.
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Energy Minister Simon Watts unveiled three discussion documents today, proposing changes to 12 existing planning instruments and the introduction of four new ones.
Bishop said the RMA has long been a “complicated nightmare” that drives up costs and delays key projects, directly contributing to the country’s lagging infrastructure. The proposed changes, grouped into packages focused on infrastructure, the primary sector, and freshwater, are intended to streamline consenting, prioritise development, and boost economic growth.
A new National Policy Statement for Infrastructure will make it easier to consent essential projects, while an updated policy on renewable electricity generation will provide clearer guidance to decision-makers. Watts said the changes would help bring new energy generation online and strengthen transmission systems, helping to secure the country’s power supply and meet the Government’s goal of doubling renewable energy by 2050.
Additional proposals include updated standards for telecommunications infrastructure and a new national policy on natural hazards to improve resilience to extreme weather.
Public consultation is open until 27 July, with the Government aiming to implement 16 new or revised national policy instruments by the end of 2025.
Image credit: Christopher Burns
Sounds even more complicated than the old version. Bottom line is that the new rules are about providing more green power that will inevitably fail.
Green energy is not green, destroy the environment to in rich overseas companies with massive subsidies paid by us taxpayers. These politicians have completely screwed the countries economy with their ideology, just look at the blackouts in Europe and Australia, it’s time to drill and drop the climate change agenda. The uniparty has to go for the sake of our economy.
How are these huge projects going to benefit small mum and dad businesses? None!! Its all going to their big rich mates, and after the tapayer has paid them off theyll be mortgaged to the New York bankers!!
Each new govt is the same as the last. Believers of unicorns and fairy dust.
Replacing rules with more rules, helps no one. Once again tinkering with a problem but not solving it.
The only way to solve this crap is to Revolt the people have got the power use it or loose it.