Resource Management reform must work for Canterbury
Environment Canterbury media release: 21st July 2026
The proposed resource management reforms have the potential to reshape how Canterbury plans for growth, infrastructure and environmental protection, but significant questions remain about how the new system will work in practice.
Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) Chair Dr Deon Swiggs says the council is reviewing the Environment Select Committee report on the Government’s proposed Natural Environment Bill and Planning Bill which will replace the Resource Management Act.
“These two large and complex Bills fundamentally change how New Zealand manages land, water and the natural environment,” Chair Swiggs said.
The Select committee has recommended that the Bills proceed, with extensive amendments aimed at improving their workability and addressing issues raised through the submission process.
Chair Swiggs said the Council supports the objectives of a clearer and more efficient planning system, including greater national consistency and emphasis on regional spatial planning.
“Canterbury continues to experience population growth, increasing infrastructure demands and pressure on natural resources. Effective long-term regional planning will remain critical,” he said.
Regional voice must not be lost
However, Chair Swiggs said the Bills still contain matters requiring careful scrutiny.
“Greater national consistency may address some of the difficulties experienced under the RMA, but the proposed reforms would also shift significant decision-making from regions and local communities towards central government.
“Ministers would have greater influence over national priorities and how competing goals are balanced. This raises important questions about the place of regional knowledge, local accountability and community participation.”
Environmental stewardship
Chair Swiggs said provisions that allow environmental limits to be overridden need to be closely examined.
“Canterbury communities rightly expect strong environmental stewardship alongside economic development,” he said.
“The new system needs to provide certainty for investment, housing and infrastructure while maintaining robust protections for freshwater, biodiversity, air quality and the wider environment.”
Chair Swiggs said the potential cost to ratepayers and landowners because of the proposed regulatory relief regime also remains uncertain.
“Reform must retain meaningful regional stewardship, reflect local conditions, and avoid transferring unfunded costs or environmental risks to communities,” he said.
Iwi involvement
The Government has announced that Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements will not transition into the new system and will instead introduce iwi participation agreements.
Chair Swiggs says the Council values its close relationships with Papatipu Rūnanga and has, for many years, worked successfully within the Tuia Agreement.
“I am interested to see how the new arrangements will operate in practice and whether they provide an effective basis for ongoing partnership," he said.
What happens next
The Select Committee has extended the timeframes for implementation, with regional spatial plans required to be prepared 21 months after enactment, instead of 15.
Chair Swiggs said this is a pragmatic response given the concurrent reform programmes in process. However, many of the practical implications remain unclear because key national policy directions, standards and regulations are yet to be developed.
“The detail will matter. Much of how the new system operates in practice, and the costs councils and communities may carry, will be determined through secondary legislation,” Chair Swiggs said.
The Select Committee report is an important step, but it’s not the final step. There is still a process which may result in further changes before the Bills become law.
Canterbury Regional Council will continue engaging with the Government, mana whenua, Canterbury’s territorial authorities and affected sectors as the Bills progress through Parliament.
“Our focus is ensuring the final framework is workable for Waitaha Canterbury, supports responsible development and infrastructure investment, and protects the natural environment for current and future generations,” Chair Swiggs said.