Good standards need good data: exploring the PCE’s review of the LUC system

In December 2025, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE) published a detailed review of the Land Use Capability (LUC) system and how it is used across a range of regulatory instruments. The headline finding is that the LUC system has real limitations that make it a poor fit for the regulatory work it is increasingly being asked to do. However, the report's implications reach well beyond the LUC system itself and are worth paying attention to as New Zealand's resource management framework is reshaped.

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National Policy Statement for Natural Hazards (NPS-NH): what you need to know

New Zealand communities, including the places people live, their property and supporting infrastructure, have been (and continue to be) developed in locations or in ways which mean they are at high risk from natural hazards. Cyclones, flooding and slips keep delivering the same message – the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) has not delivered acceptable natural hazard management outcomes.

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Fast-track approvals: making your comment count

If you have been invited to comment on a fast-track application, you will want to make the most of the opportunity. The fast-track approvals process moves quickly, and Panels operate under significant time pressures with an enormous volume of information. A well-crafted comment can make a real difference to outcomes, but only if it is directed at the right issues and in the right way.

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Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 changes from 31 March 2026: What you need to know

Are you preparing a fast-track approval application? If so, you need to be aware of changes taking effect on 31 March 2026. The Fast-track Approvals Amendment Act 2025 amends the fast-track approvals process in several respects. It will affect how applications are prepared, consulted on, assessed and decided. The key amendments are summarised below.

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Water cooler chat: what you need to know about proposed RMA reform

On 23 August 2023, the previous attempt to repeal and replace the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) became law. It lasted a mere 122 days before it was repealed by the National-led Coalition Government on 23 December 2023, just in time for Christmas.

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A rubbish decision? Supreme Court opens door for waste “effects” to be considered under RMA

In a three-two split, the Supreme Court’s most recent decision under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) has confirmed that the disposal of plastic bottles can be a relevant “effect” on the environment in resource management decision-making.

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