The Government has announced major changes to New Zealand’s planning and local government systems, promising a simpler, faster and more cost-effective way to manage land use and environmental protections.
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Local Government Minister Simon Watts say the changes will benefit ratepayers by reducing complexity and speeding up planning decisions.
“Last month, the Government announced proposals for the biggest changes to local government since 1989, including how we plan our cities and regions,” Mr Bishop said.
“Our new planning system is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to cast off the shackles imposed by the broken Resource Management Act, and set New Zealand on a path to economic growth that lifts our living standards and protects the environment.”
“Today’s announcement confirms how the new planning system will work alongside our proposed local government reforms to reduce complexity, cut duplication and improve outcomes for communities,” said Mr Watts.
According to the ministers, the proposed planning system will reduce the number of consents needed, shorten decision-making times and focus more clearly on the issues that matter to communities and the environment.
“Our reforms will strip out duplication in the system, standardise processes, and drive down complexity and compliance costs,” they said.
Currently, over 100 policy statements and plans are managed across 78 local authorities. The reforms will remove all Regional Policy Statements and replace them with 17 regional combined plans, which will be developed within two years rather than seven.
Regional councils will have a smaller role, with more national direction, standardised rules and increased use of permitted activities.
The Planning Bill and the Natural Environment Bill will require regional councils to support the creation of regional spatial and natural environment plans. Under proposed local government reforms, these will be overseen by combined territories boards.
Territorial authorities will continue to create land-use plans, which will be integrated into a regional plan for approval by the boards.
The Government will also conduct a rapid review of regional council functions, including enforcement and compliance roles, to assess whether they should be centralised.
Environment Southland Chair Jeremy McPhail welcomed the potential for reduced regulation but stressed the importance of maintaining environmental protections.
“There’s a lot of promise riding on these bills. We all want a streamlined, fit-for-purpose alternative to the cumbersome RMA, which we’ve had to work within for so long,” Mr McPhail said.
He added that while the current Water and Land Plan involved lengthy processes, it also allowed for strong local input, and any new framework should continue to support both economic progress and sustainability.
The new planning legislation will be introduced to Parliament this afternoon and is expected to become law in 2026. National policy direction will follow within nine months, with mandatory standards introduced in stages.
Public consultation on the local government reform proposals is open now until 20 February 2026 via the Department for Internal Affairs website.