There are concerns proposed changes to the Resource Management Act could weaken our environmental protection. 

The Government's announced reforms that it says will cut the red tape around housing consents, and will mean more houses built. They hope the 40 proposed changes will pass into law next year.

MORE: RMA changes pulled in deal with Maori party

Among the proposed changes, the Government wants to slash the numbers of consents needed to build every year by thousands. 

Sections protecting the environment will stay as part of a deal with the Maori Party.

In return for that support, changes to sections six and seven of the Act, which covers environmental safeguards, have been dropped.

 

Greens Environment spokesperson Eugenie Sage is concerned that what this actually means is weaker environmental protection.

"We don't want changes that short cut good process, good informed decision making and promote urban sprawl."

 

Fish and Game New Zealand has said it will be watching the Government very closely over its reform process.

Fish and Game's Don Rood believes the RMA is far too important for changes to be rushed through, and they won't stand for any attempts by the Government to undermine existing case law, restrict access to the Environment Court, or extend private property rights in relation to water.

"We can't just go flat out trying to make money and ignoring the environment because ultimately we're going to cut our own throats. Environment is what underpins our economy, it underpins our way of life," Rood said.

"Anything that erodes the possibility of New Zealand being able to earn a living in the years to come in the future by short sighted development now is just not acceptable."

Labour housing spokesman Phil Twyford said all these moderate process changes aren't doing anything to help ease the market. He pointed to special housing areas, which are essentially fast-tracked consenting areas, as one example

"They've made very little difference to the number of houses. I think that shows that while speeding up consenting might be a good thing, it's certainly not the root cause of the housing crisis."

Iwi pleased with RMA water allocation concessions

Alongside a win over environmental protections, Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox is also pleased to win concessions on the way water allocations are handled by the Act.

"We've had some concerns about the allocation of water, that was a first hands up ... iwi were often at the end of that process."

Iwi is hailing the Government's RMA announcement as the catalyst for further discussions, and future agreement with the crown.

The Freshwater Iwi Leaders Group has been in talks with the Crown about our waterways since 2009. They want hapu rights and interests considered when it comes to looking after our lakes and streams.

Iwi leader Rahui Papa said the RMA Bill puts everything on the table for discussion.

"This is really the first step in a discussion, and we're hoping to put forward in February how we're going to work together with the New Zealand Government about fresh water."

 

Proposed changes 'a win for our economy'

The Employers and Manufacturers Association is thrilled the Government's finally looking at changing legislation that currently halts our economy.

EMA chief executive Kim Campbell said currently about one-percent of our GDP growth is tied up in administrative delays from the RMA and other legislature.

He believes any loosening of those rules should be welcomed by everyone.

"Bits of legislation sit behind every time you want to build a road, or a factory, or add a room on your house, or put in a gas station, or indeed even build and airport or a port."