Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the Government's Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms "will make building infrastructure easier, faster and more affordable," as a select committee reports back with 142 pages of changes to the reform bills. RNZ

The RMA is the main law governing how land, air, and water are used and protected in Aotearoa New Zealand. The Government wants to replace it with a new planning system.

One element of the reforms is a "regulatory relief" scheme. Under it, councils would have to compensate landowners when regulatory changes affect their property. A report by consultancy Martin Jenkins, commissioned by the ministry, put the cost of that scheme anywhere between $7 million and $1.99 billion. RNZ

The select committee also removed a clause that required the use and development of the environment to be kept "within environmental limits." That provision was meant to act as a binding floor for environmental protection in the new system. RNZ

Labour submitted a minority report calling the bills "even more unpalatable and unworkable" after the committee process. The Green Party opposed the regulatory relief regime "in its entirety," according to RNZ's reporting on the committee reports. RNZ

Hon Chris Bishop is the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, and Simon Court is a minister involved with the new planning legislation. The portfolio sits within the National-ACT-New Zealand First coalition government. Court said the new legislation will make it easier to get things done while protecting the environment. Beehive

Budget 2026 allocates NZ$294 million over four years to support the rollout of the new planning and environmental management system. Beehive

The RMA replacement is designed to reduce costs and paperwork for farmers and growers. The new planning system is also intended to be easier for local government to use and navigate, delivering better value for ratepayers. Beehive Beehive

The Government wants the replacement legislation enacted before the 2026 general election. Some targeted RMA amendments are set to expire on 30 September 2026. Ministry for the Environment Ministry for the Environment

The Government also plans to replace the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management — the document that sets direction for councils on freshwater — using the full statutory process set out in the RMA. Reforms include enabling resilient infrastructure projects through fast-track consenting. Ministry for the Environment Ministry for the Environment

The broader context here is that removing the environmental limits clause narrows the reform package's scope. The original provision set a binding floor for environmental protection; stripping it out shifts the balance toward enabling development.

The regulatory relief scheme raises fiscal questions for councils already navigating ratepayer pressure. The Martin Jenkins range is wide, reflecting uncertainty about how many landowners would trigger compensation and at what cost. Local government will carry the implementation risk.

With the 2026 general election as the Government's enactment target, the legislation now enters a narrow window. The select committee stage has produced substantive changes. Opposition parties have staked out clear positions that will carry into the campaign.