Action on a proposed shake up of the Resource Management Act is expected before the end of the year.

The 121 members of Parliament are being sworn in today.

John Key says following this, the Governor General will tomorrow read out the Government's work programme.

He told Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking the RMA reforms are one of the top priorities.

"So once Nick Smith has a chance to get his mind around the legislation and ultimately bring that to Cabinet, then we can intro it to Parliament.

"If I had to put a timetable on it, I would say by the end of the year."