Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill
The Resource Management Act (RMA) is being replaced by two new laws:
- The Planning Bill
- The Natural Environment Bill
These laws will shape how our whenua and wai are managed for generations.
This guide is here to help you understand what’s changing and to support you to make a submission.
You don’t need to be an expert.
Your lived experience, values, and local knowledge matter.
What you might want to comment on
Who makes decisions
The new Bills move more planning decisions to central Government to create consistency and speed.
- Do you support national, one-size-fits-all rules?
- Or should local councils, hapū, iwi, and communities have more power to decide what works for their own places?
Housing vs community wellbeing
The Bills aim to speed up development and increase housing supply by removing some local planning rules.
- Will this help deliver affordable housing where it’s needed?
- Or could it reduce neighbourhood quality, access to green spaces, privacy, or community character?
Te Tiriti o Waitangi
The Bills shift Māori involvement from a partnership approach to “participation.”
- Is participation enough to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi?
- Or should iwi and hapū be equal decision-makers through partnership?
Protecting nature
The Bills set national environmental limits for things like water, air, and biodiversity.
- Are national “bottom lines” strong enough to protect your local awa, whenua, or ngahere?
- Should communities be able to set stronger local protections where the environment is already under pressure?
Closing date
4.30pm, Friday 13 February 2026