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Labour attacks 'draconian, Muldoonist' RMA changes

Author
Gia Garrick,
Publish Date
Wed, 15 Mar 2017, 6:33AM
Labour housing spokesperson Phil Twyford (NZ Herald)
Labour housing spokesperson Phil Twyford (NZ Herald)

Labour attacks 'draconian, Muldoonist' RMA changes

Author
Gia Garrick,
Publish Date
Wed, 15 Mar 2017, 6:33AM

The Labour Party believes the bill to reform the Resource Management Act is draconian and reminiscent of the Muldoon era.

The controversial RMA bill passed its second reading in parliament last night 61-59. National and the Maori Party supported it, while all others - including government support partners ACT and United Future - opposed.

The RMA law governs environmental and planning decisions. Changes include the implementation of national planning standards to supposedly reduce complexity and cost, new requirements for councils to free up land for housing, more generous compensation for land required for public works, and improved Maori participation arrangements.

However, Labour's housing spokesperson Phil Twyford insists the current amendment bill both undermines and adds complexity to the RMA.

Twyford argues Building and Construction, and Environment Minister Nick Smith, is taking away the decision-making powers of local authorities and placing them in his own lap.

Further, Twyford said it won't address the country's housing issues.

"To dress this up as some kind of solution to the housing crisis and the failure of our biggest city to properly manage its growth is audacious in its spin - even for Nick Smith," he told parliament.

Marama Fox of the Maori Party has so far supported the government legislation through the early stages, but Fox says that will stop if National doesn't put the right protections in place for our environment.

She also responded to criticism her party's only there to make up the votes.

"If I wanted to wear blue undies, I would be, but I'm not," she pointed out. "Therefore we seek to have an independent voice and we bring an independent voice to this bill."

 

 

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