More New Zealanders have access to safer drinking water, with hundreds of thousands more people getting water from supplies that are better protected from contamination.

The Government is progressing a new development levies system to improve infrastructure funding for housing and urban growth across New Zealand, with several changes confirmed following consultation with councils and developers. 

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has engaged Concept Consulting to develop a set of monetary values for New Zealand’s ecosystem services.

The Planning Bill and the Natural Environment Bill, which will replace the Resource Management Act, have passed their third reading in Parliament.

The latest Energy Quarterly data release from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) shows renewable sources generated 92% of New Zealand's electricity in the June 2026 quarter.

The Water Services Authority - Taumata Arowa has begun consulting on two further national environmental performance wastewater standards addressing odour and metals discharged to water.

The Government has introduced a further two amended national direction instruments to add to twelve new and amended instruments approved since December 2025. These instruments continue to deliver the aim of making it easier for councils to plan and deliver infrastructure, and to support growth in the primary sector.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has made a submission on the investigation into planning provisions in the Hamilton City Operative District Plan. The submission focuses solely on the deep soil and canopy cover requirements introduced through Hamilton’s Plan Change 12 (PC 12).

The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Hon Chris Bishop delivered a keynote address at last week’s RMLA conference.