Photo: RNZ/The Government will scrap the Resource Management Act and replace it with three new pieces of legislation. Environment Minister David Parker ordered a review last term, saying the 30-year-old law was "too costly, takes too long, and has not adequately protected the environment". The RMA has long been blamed for putting a brake on housing development and Parker said the new laws would address that "by improving how central and local government plan for housing and urban development". "The existing 100-plus RMA council planning documents will be reduced to about 14." This will include the "most important elements of the legislation", including the replacement of Part 2 of the RMA, Parker said.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 09, 2021 22:07 UTC