Last week an urgent hearing of the Waitangi Tribunal was held regarding the upcoming reforms to the resource management system. The hearing focused on the appointment process proposed for regional planning committees under the new Natural and Built Environments Bill.
The Ministry for the Environment has welcomed the hearing as an opportunity to gain guidance on what the appointment process should look like.
If you were interested in more information, the evidence the Ministry for the Environment has presented to the Waitangi Tribunal can be found here and here.
The Waitangi Tribunal is expected to release recommendations in time for the Natural and Built Environments Bill's introduction later this year.