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 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 latest version of the Planning & Natural Environment Bills are now on the legislation website.

Adrift: What future does the Emissions Trading Scheme have? traces the evolution of the NZ ETS, explores significant risks emerging from its current design, and considers the choices facing decision-makers if the NZ ETS is to more effectively contribute to emissions reduction goals.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has written to Housing and Planning Minister, Chris Bishop, urging the Government to consider how its new planning system can support climate-resilient urban development

The government will establish an independent economic umpire to ensure councils achieve competitive urban land markets through the new planning system.

The Climate Change Response (Tort Liability) Amendment Bill became law on 23 August 2026.

Feedback is invited on an illustrative National Policy Direction (NPD) for the new planning system.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment welcomed the Environmental Reporting Amendment Bill, a long-awaited step toward strengthening New Zealand’s environmental reporting system.

The Government has announced a further package of proposed amendments to the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill as the legislation progresses towards the Committee of the Whole House stage.

The Government has agreed to progress the recommendations in the Ministry for Regulation’s Sector Review Report to make residential and small to medium scale solar panel installation in New Zealand the simplest in the developed world.

The Government will strengthen infrastructure funding settings to ensure the costs of growth from incoming Fast-track developments can be recovered.