Overview
The Government is replacing the Resource Management Act (RMA) two Acts:
- a Natural Environment Act to establish a framework for the use, protection and enhancement of the natural environment
- a Planning Act to establish a framework for planning and regulating the use, development and enjoyment of land
The key components include:
Features of the proposed system agreed to by cabinet include:
- Two new Acts: one to enable urban development and infrastructure / other to manage environmental effects
- Simplified national direction and cohesive national policy direction under each Act
- A single combined plan per region with spatial, natural environment plans and land use plan chapters
- A prescribed framework for environmental limits
- Standardised planning provisions and performance standards, including nationally standardised zones
- Fewer activity categories and a higher threshold for determining affected persons
- Higher threshold for adverse effects managed through consenting / permits
- Shift away from consenting towards monitoring and enforcing national standards and consented activity
- A Planning Tribunal for minor dispute resolution
- Treaty of Waitangi settlements and Crown’s obligations upheld
Latest Taituarā updates
Taituarā are working with the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT), alongside the New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI), and Te Ura Kahika to support implementation of the new planning system.
Our focus at Taituarā is on local government leadership and supporting organisational readiness for the significant change ahead.
In partnership with NZPI, Taituarā delivered a roadshow around the motu to help build understanding and readiness for regional spatial planning.
Council kaimahi can view the information discussed in the roadshows on the Taituarā Council Toolkit including detailed briefing notes that supported the presentations.
Coming up
Taituarā is working with MCERT on a series of webinars to help councils prepare for the new planning system. Planned topics and dates include:
- 12 October – New system overview
- 14 October – Readiness for transitional consenting
- 16 October – Regional spatial planning: preparing your region
- 11 November – Upholding Treaty settlements in the new planning system
- 18 November – Transitional consenting panel (1)
- 1 December – Transitional consenting panel (2)
- 2 December – Digital and data foundations in the new planning system
- 9 December – National instruments in the new planning system
Regional spatial planning roadshow 2026
Hear from Jim Palmer on why regional spatial planning needs to be treated as a strategic priority, with the right leadership, partnerships and resourcing in place from the outset. Watch the recorded session videos and download briefing notes from the sessions below.
Briefing notes from Regional Spatial Planning Roadshow
- Briefing Note 1: Working Regionally for Regional Spatial Planning – Issues and Options for Council Managers
- Briefing Note 2: Implications for Council Managers of Head Start for Regional Spatial Planning Readiness
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Briefing Note 3: Treaty Redress and Iwi/Māori Partnering and Participation in Regional Spatial Planning – What Council Managers Need to Know
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Briefing Note 4: Process Agreements – What are the requirements and steps in their formation
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Briefing Note 5: Regional Spatial Plan Committees – Briefing for Managers on Establishment and Operations
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Briefing Note 6: Establishing a Secretariat – likely options, requirements, and roles
- Briefing Note 7: Change Readiness for Regional Spatial Planning
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Briefing Note 8: What does RSP mean for Auckland’s spatial planning as a large metropolitan unitary authority?
Background
30 September – the Planning Act and Natural Environment Act pass Royal Assent and become law.
20 July 2026 – The Environment Select Committee reported back on the Natural Environment Bill and Planning Bill – Simpson Grierson highlights the 10 key takeaways from the Report.
20 March 2026 – Taituarā submits a written and oral submission on the Environment Committee on the Natural Environment Bill and Planning Bill. Read the summary here and the full written submission here.
28 January 2026 – Clare Wooding gives an update on the draft submission to the reform and some of the key highlights.
10 December 2025 – Update from Taituarā on the introduction of the two Bills to replace the RMA.
9 October 2025 – Read about how Taituarā is working with the sector, the immediate challenges facing councils and what we are planning next.
July 2025 – Submission regarding the Consultation on the RMA National Direction
February 2025 – Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) – Submission to the Environmental Select Committee
Latest Government updates
30 September 2026 – the Planning Act and Natural Environment Act have received Royal assent and are now law
23 September 2026 – Bills to replace the Resource Management Act pass their third reading in Parliament.
20 July 2026 – Final Select Committee report on the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill released.
18 December 2025 – MfE announced ten national direction instruments, three new and seven are amendments to existing instruments, that will come into force on 15 January 2026.
9 December 2025 – Government released the two new Bills to replace the RMA: the Planning Bill and the Natural Environment Bill. They also provided an information pack: Better Planning for a Better Environment.
25 November 2025 – Government announced their proposal to Simplify Local Government – read the proposal and the implications for RM on the Department of Internal Affairs website.
MfE has put out two resources that could be helpful – a key message bank for local government partners and a PowerPoint presentation on replacing the RMA.
The Expert Advisory Group (EAG) report published in March 2025 provides a good foundation to understand what the Government proposes regarding the replacement of the RMA. This report continues to be referred to as “the blueprint”.
And here are cabinet decisions that help us understand how the EAG’s report is being refined and developed into two Bills that will replace the RMA.
MfE’s website is a good resource: Changes to resource management | Ministry for the Environment you can sign up to receive their updates here.
Resources
Check our Events and Learning Calendar for any upcoming webinars on this topic.
Check our Recorded Webinars page for discussions covering this topic.
MCERT has provided a New Planning System presentation – feel free to use information provided as and when is helpful.
Find information about the new system at Planning.govt.nz
