Submission on the Fast-track Approvals Amendment Bill

RMLA made it’s submission on the Fast-track Approvals Amendment Bill on Monday 17 November 2025.

Preparation of this submission

RMLA’s primary objective in making submissions or providing feedback on Government proposals is to ensure that a coherent and workable body of resource management and environmental law is developed in New Zealand. Accordingly, the RMLA does not typically comment on policy matters. Instead, its submissions focus on identifying any changes needed to ensure that the proposal will:

a) be consistent with the general framework of existing laws and policies and legally sound;

b) be practicable, effective and efficient;

c) assist in promoting best practice; and

d) produce high quality environmental outcomes.

Under normal circumstances, the RMLA would ensure its members are informed of the key elements of any new Government proposal and seek feedback from its membership so as to ensure any submission made reflects the broad and diverse range of views held within the organisation. However, due to the extraordinarily short timeframe for preparing and lodging submissions on the Fast-track Approvals Amendment Bill (FTAAB/the Bill), just over five working days, this was not possible.

The RMLA is extremely disappointed with the exceptionally limited timeframe for providing feedback on the Bill, particularly given the significance and far-reaching implications of the proposed changes.