The New Zealand government is replacing the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) with two new laws: the Natural Environment Bill (environmental protection) and the Planning Bill (land use and development). The aim is to speed up infrastructure/housing development, reduce compliance costs, and replace over 100 regional plans with 17 combined regional plans.
The RMA has been instrumental in our work to manage Southland’s natural resources and so too will be the new laws.
Our submission to central Government on the new Bills in February 2026 called for greater opportunity for local public input to be taken into account; safeguards so undue costs (due to ministerial interventions etc) do not fall on councils and ratepayers; and strongly opposed aspects of centralisation that do not sufficiently provide for regional discretion and community participation.
Other concerns highlighted include no guarantee of mana whenua representation; no early community engagement around the development of a spatial plan nor the setting of human health limits; higher thresholds for public and targeted notifications of consents; the requirement for local authorities to compensate landowners when regulations to protect biodiversity or landscapes impact property rights. It would be unequitable for this cost to fall on ratepayers.
Environment Southland submission on Natural Environment Bill and Planning Bill – February 2026
Environment Southland media release
Resource management reform - Ministry for the Environment
