The New Zealand Government has introduced changes to national planning rules aimed at streamlining resource consents for quarries, mines, and coastal infrastructure projects.
The amendments, revealed by Resource Management Act (RMA) reform minister Chris Bishop alongside resources minister Shane Jones and conservation minister Tama Potaka, update five key national direction instruments under the RMA.
Bishop said that infrastructure can only continue to grow the economy with more quarries and mines.
“It is an unavoidable fact that to build more infrastructure and grow our economy, we need quarries and mines,” Bishop said.
“The RMA makes it far too difficult for these types of projects to get consent, which is why we are fixing it. These changes are part of the Government’s focus on creating jobs and growing the economy by ensuring the essential materials for infrastructure can be produced.”
According to the government, the updates are intended to remove duplication, clarify ambiguous language, and better recognise the importance of quarrying and mining to New Zealand’s economy and infrastructure pipeline.
Bishop said that the new and updated National Policy Statements will form the first tranche of revised National Direction under the new planning system.
Jones said the reforms recognise that responsible resource development goes beyond extraction alone, supporting jobs, regional development, and supply chains critical to economic growth.
“The changes to the NZCPS announced today are an important step toward making that happen,” Jones said.
“The NZCPS changes will better support aquaculture growth and strengthen how councils provide for settlement space under the Māori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act. This will support greater Māori participation in the aquaculture sector and enable marine farmers to focus on producing world-class kaimoana.”
