Tuesday, 06 July 2021 10:55

First look at RMA's replacement

Written by  Peter Burke
David Parker David Parker

The first draft of the proposed law that will replace the controversial Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) was released by the Government last week.

Environment Minister David Parker says the draft outlines key aspects of the Natural and Built Environments Act (NBA) that will be presented to Parliament and then referred to a select committee inquiry.

The NBA covers land use and environmental regulation and is the primary replacement for the RMA which the Government has promised to repeal and replace. The 'old' RMA has drawn much criticism over the years from both rural and urban communities and there is hope the new law will speed up and improve the resource consenting process.

Parker says the document just is released is known as an 'exposure draft' meaning that stakeholders and the public can give feedback to the Government on the actual bill before it is formally introduced into Parliament. When it is introduced, there will be a second chance for the public to air their views on the bill through the parliamentary select committee process.

Parker says this unique process is intended to test and improve the contents of the bill before it goes into the formal parliamentary process.

"The initial select committee inquiry is a novel way to provide an open and transparent platform for the public to have an early say on this key legislation. A second select committee process will be held when the full bill is introduced to Parliament in early in 2022," he says.

Parker says this is a once in a generation opportunity to get this right, so we want to make sure we do get it right. The select committee inquiry is expected to run for around three months and the public will be invited to make submissions on the exposure draft of the new bill during this time.

Parker says the NBA is one of a set of new laws the Government intends to enact in order to create a resource management system that is fit for the future.

"The RMA takes too long, costs too much and hasn't protected the environment. The proposed NBA sets out how we can better protect and enhance our natural and built environments, ensuring that the way people and communities use the environment supports the well-being of current and future generations," he says.

More like this

Editorial: Sense at last

OPINION: For the first time in many years, a commonsense approach is emerging to balance environmental issues with the need for the nation's primary producers to be able to operate effectively.

Editorial: Time for common sense

OPINION: The case of four Canterbury high country stations facing costly and complex consent hearing processes highlights the dilemma facing the farming sector as the country transitions into a replacement for the Resource Management Act (RMA).

Featured

Horticulture exports hit $8.4B, surge toward $10B by 2029

A brilliant result and great news for growers and regional economies. That's how horticulture sector leaders are describing the news that sector exports for the year ended June 30 will reach $8.4 billion - an increase of 19% on last year and is forecast to hit close to $10 billion in 2029.

National

Machinery & Products

Farming smarter with technology

The National Fieldays is an annual fixture in the farming calendar: it draws in thousands of farmers, contractors, and industry…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

110,000 visitors!

OPINION: It's official, Fieldays 2025 clocked 110,000 visitors over the four days.

Sticky situation

OPINION: The Federated Farmers rural advocacy hub at Fieldays has been touted as a great success.

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter