RMA Reform: Major battles still to be fought as Government moves to legislate

RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. (Image: NZME)

Wed, 10 Dec 2025

Major battles over the replacement of the Resource Management Act remain to be fought, although long-awaited legislation to replace the planning system has been broadly welcomed.The Government revealed two long-awaited bills to replace the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) on Tuesday, giving a high-level view of the new planning system, but without the nationally set rules and regulations still to be drawn up.Resource management lawyers are already forecasting major litigation over spatial plans, with developers, businesses, and landowners con...

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