New amendment papers for the Natural Environment and Planning Bills have been released this week.

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.

‍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.

The Government has released its formal response to the independent National Infrastructure Plan, setting out how it will respond to the Infrastructure Commission’s sixteen recommendations.

The Government has introduced legislation to change New Zealand’s outdated environmental reporting regime and improve decision-making on the country’s environmental considerations.

This edition comes at an important point in the transition to New Zealand’s new planning system. Work is underway to build a more effective, nationally consistent system that supports housing and infrastructure, while protecting what matters to New Zealanders – including our natural environment.

MfE has published documents relating to the system transformation work programme that replaces the RMA.

An investigation has been launched into whether council planning rules in Wellington and Hamilton are getting in the way of new homes and economic growth.

The Government says New Zealanders will benefit from better information about natural hazard risks, and faster and more consistent planning decisions under major new investment for planning reforms.