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RMA changes pulled in deal with Maori Party

Author
Frances Cook,
Publish Date
Thu, 26 Nov 2015, 1:02PM
Nick Smith (Getty Images)

RMA changes pulled in deal with Maori Party

Author
Frances Cook,
Publish Date
Thu, 26 Nov 2015, 1:02PM

UPDATED 9.30pm: Labour's not convinced proposed changes to the RMA will help Auckland's housing crisis.

LISTEN TO POLITICAL REPORTER FRANCES COOK TALK TO DANNY WATSON ABOUT THE CHANGES ABOVE

The government's Bill includes 40 changes to the Resource Management Act, which it believes will simplify consent processes and mean more houses built.

But Labour's housing spokesman, Phil Twyford, said the government's been blaming the RMA for expensive housing for ten years now.

He said nothing in this Bill delivers the change needed to fix the housing crisis.

 The Government has ditched the most controversial of its changes to the Resource Management Act.

MORE: Brendan Duffy: Changes to Resource Management Act 

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

In return for that support, changes to sections 6 and 7 of the Act, which covers environmental safeguards,have been dropped.

Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox is pleased to win concessions on the way water allocations are handled by the Act.

 Environment Minister Nick Smith said he still doesn't believe changing sections 6 or 7 of the Act, would have watered down environmental safeguards. 

"I would also challenge the Green Party, that there are good provisions in this bill that will provide for better environmental protection and I would challenge them and say that bureaucracy and red tape doesn't help the situation either." 

Mr Smith admits he wanted the section of the Act to also focus on the importance of affordable housing, but it wasn't possible.

"There are those of an environmental perspective who are worried that if they were included that somehow that was watering down the environmental provisions," he said.

"I don't agree with that view, but as I've said, politics is the art of the possible."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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