Introduction of Planning and Natural Environment Bills

We welcome the Planning and Natural Environment Bills, which herald a new resource management system that aims to better enable infrastructure while also looking after the environment.

The Commission has consistently recommended changes to the resource management framework – as highlighted in both the New Zealand Infrastructure Strategy (2022) and the draft National Infrastructure Plan (June 2025).

The current resource management system fails to provide a strong enough imperative for infrastructure. Our research has shown that it places a high and increasing consenting burden on providers – around $1.29 billion each year.

Failure to plan for and enable infrastructure at the same time as land use has also led to inefficient development patterns, exacerbating housing affordability challenges and lifting the cost of infrastructure.

A new resource management framework could help address some of our country’s significant infrastructure challenges, from increasing renewable energy, to renewing ageing water assets and addressing wastewater discharge consent renewals. As part of that, the resource management system needs to manage the environmental and community impacts of new projects to maintain the social license to build infrastructure.

The Planning Bill acknowledges the contribution of infrastructure and provides for spatial planning with legal weight, which should better coordinate future land use and infrastructure. The Natural Environment Bill proposes new ways to protect the environment.

To be most effective, the legislation will need to be followed with new national standards, improved plans and institutional capability.

We will continue to watch the process closely and provide advice as required.