RMA national direction reforms complete

The Government has completed the biggest overhaul of national direction in the history of the Resource Management Act – with the final changes making it faster, easier and more affordable to build and upgrade New Zealand’s electricity and telecommunications networks, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop says. “Over the past two years the Government has developed or amended 16 national direction instruments to remove unnecessary barriers to housing, infrastructure, energy and the primary sector,” Mr Bishop says. “The final two are the National Environmental Standards for Electricity Network Activities and Telecommunication Facilities, which will replace outdated and inconsistent planning requirements with clearer, nationally consistent rules from today. “National environmental standards set the rules for how particular activities are treated under the RMA, including when straightforward work can go ahead without needing a resource consent. “Across the programme we have changed standards where they have been getting in the way of things New Zealand actually needs to do. Requiring a consent for routine or low-impact work costs money, takes time and can delay investment without necessarily

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