No paper road too remote: what will impact of latest Court of Appeal decision be? Last week, the New Zealand Court of Appeal handed down a significant judgment in Ours Not Mines Ltd v Hauraki District Council that has implications for how councils, landowners, developers and recreationalists think about the country's vast 55,000 kilometre-long network of unformed - or "paper" - roads. Read more
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. Read more
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. Read more
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. Read more
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. Read more
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. Read more
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. Read more
Fast paced reform: RMA Amendment Bill to put the brakes on planning processes The Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill has progressed at pace and passed its third reading on 14 August 2025. The Amendment Bill is part of a series of legislative amendments (along with the Resource Management (Freshwater and Other Matters) Amendment Act), intended to progress certain Government priorities in the resource management space before the complete replacement of the RMA in 2026. Read more
New Zealand’s resource management reform: a clearer, more effective framework The report of the Expert Advisory Group (EAG), detailing a blueprint to replace the RMA, was released today. The task set for the EAG was to develop a framework for two pieces of legislation that would better enable development and improve the management of the natural environment. Read more
