Submission on the Natural and Built Environment Bill and Spatial Planning Bill
Federated Farmers agrees that Resource Management (RM) Reform is needed. Currently, Resource Management Act (RMA) processes are too expensive, too time consuming and lack predictability. Expensive, drawn-out and unpredictable processes slow down and prevents investment, reducing New Zealand’s productivity.
RM Reform is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. There will be a significant cost transitioning from the RMA to a new system. It is vital therefore that any proposed reform clearly demonstrates significant improvements over the existing RM system.
The “reform package” as outlined in these two bills is not demonstrably an improvement on the current RMA (in fact, it will likely be worse).
Federated Farmers disagrees the reform package will result in cheaper, faster and better resource management law. The reform package will still require resource consents for the same farming activities yet new terms and requirements in the reform package mean greater uncertainty and cost for farming activities.
To view the full feedback click opposite
Contact:
Paul Melville
Principal Advisor - Water and Environment Strategy