The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has suggested the Government take another look at options for managing dry-year electricity risk, arguing that potentially cost-effective alternatives were excluded too early in the process.

He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission's latest report finds that adaptation in New Zealand is still not keeping pace with growing climate risks.

Amendment papers have been added to both the Natural Environment & Planning Bills this week.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has submitted on the proposed National Conservation Policy Statement. The submission supports the overall direction of conservation land reform but highlights that the system is not yet ready for implementation.

The RMLA Conference is about more than the sessions, speakers and networking. This year’s Friday Fieldshops offer attendees the chance to step beyond the conference venue and experience the places, stories, landscapes and communities that make Te Tai Tokerau truly unique.

Rapid expansion of flexible electricity use and batteries could be crucial for a secure and affordable energy system, saving energy users between $5.4 and $20.8 billion through to 2050.

RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has released an investigation report and launched consultation on Wellington’s heritage planning rules related to five key sites.

This opinion piece from Dr Greg Severinsen, reform director with the Environmental Defence Society gives a sobering assessment of how the government’s proposed regulatory relief framework could play out in Auckland.

‍RMLA, which represents lawyers, planners, judges, scientists, engineers, economists, landscape architects and other professionals working across New Zealand's resource management system, made a detailed submission on the Bills during the select committee process earlier this year. At a high level, RMLA supports the Government's intention to reform the resource management system and recognises that the Bills introduce a number of positive concepts and processes, including greater standardisation across plans, regional spatial planning and the establishment of a Planning Tribunal.

A Yale PhD candidate moved to Whanganui to investigate what nearly a decade of legal personhood has meant for Te Awa o Whanganui and its people.

The Government has introduced the Building Amendment Bill, which proposes a range of changes to New Zealand's building system, including reforms to liability settings, consenting processes and building research funding.

New Zealand's first complete national picture of public drinking water and wastewater network environmental performance shows many water networks are under severe pressure, with wastewater overflows, drinking water leakage and consent compliance emerging as significant challenges.