by: Kate Woods, Special Counsel
4 June 2026
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Law reform in the resource management and local government space has been moving at a rapid pace this year. In March, we provided you with an update on four new Bills to watch out for. In this article, we take a brief look at three new Bills to keep an eye on.
This Bill proposes significant changes to the Conservation Act 1987, including changes to the purpose-related provisions of the Act to “enable more development on conservation land, while protecting conservation values”. The Bill also proposes changes in relation to streamlining the management planning framework, concession processing, management and allocation, enabling more flexibility for land exchange and disposals, charging international visitors a levy for access to some areas of conservation land and changes in relation to Treaty settlements (among other changes).
If enacted, the changes will affect the application of the Conservation Act to concessions and project development going forward. Submissions on this Bill are currently open and close on 2 July 2026.
This Bill proposes changes to the Fisheries Act 1996 and is “intended to deliver on Government priorities to grow the value of seafood sector exports while continuing to ensure sustainability” by improving the responsiveness, certainty, and efficiency of the fisheries management system.
Proposed changes include enhancing protection of on-board camera footage, flexibility regarding how deemed value rates for QMS stocks can be set, and new rules regarding QMS fish, when these must be landed and when they can be returned to sea.
While the explanatory material alongside the Bill notes that it will continue to ensure sustainability, the Bill has received some criticism regarding environmental concerns and accountability.
Submissions on this Bill have now closed, with the Primary Production Committee set to report back on 6 August. Whether you operate in the fisheries space or are interested to see how the concerns raised in submissions will be addressed, the Bill’s progression will be one to watch.
This Bill facilitates the Government’s plan to combine the functions of the following four government agencies into a new Ministry of Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT):
Since the Ministry for the Environment is created by the Environment Act 1986, this Bill is required to amend that Act. This Bill passed its third reading on 27 May 2026, meaning that it will become law once it receives royal assent.
MCERT was formally established on 1 April 2026 and will become fully operational on 1 July 2026. Jeremy Lightfoot (formerly Secretary for Corrections) has been appointed as chief executive of MCERT.
Bringing together the functions of four separate government agencies under one roof is no small task. How MCERT navigates this consolidation in practice (and whether it delivers the efficiency gains the Government is hoping for) will be worth watching closely.
If you’re interested in these issues, don’t miss the opportunity to make a submission on the Conservation Amendment Bill before 2 July 2026, and watch for changes to that Bill and the Fisheries Amendment Bill as they progress through Parliament. While the Environment (Disestablishment of the Ministry for the Environment) Amendment Bill has passed its third reading and will be enacted, we will be watching with interest to see how the new MCERT operates in practice.
If you have any questions about how these potential changes might impact you, or require assistance to prepare a submission on the Conservation Amendment Bill, please contact our specialist local government and environment team.
Kate Woods, Special Counsel – Wynn Williams Local Government team
Tracey Ellis, Solicitor – Wynn Williams Local Government team
WWW.WYNNWILLIAMS.CO.NZ
