RMA Amendment Act 2017

18 Apr 2017

Resource Legislation Amendment Act 2017

Overview of the changes

The Resource Legislation Amendment Act 2017 (RLAA) represents the Government’s second phase of reform of the Resource Management Act (RMA). It contains close to 40 amendments and makes significant changes to five different Acts, consequently amending several others. This is the most comprehensive package of reforms to the RMA since its inception 26 years ago.

Together these changes aim to deliver substantive improvements to the resource management system to support more effective environmental management and drive capacity for development and economic growth. In particular the amendments aim to provide stronger national direction, a more responsive planning process, a streamlined resource consent process and better alignment with other legislation.

The RLAA amends five different Acts: the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA), Conservation Act 1986, Reserves Act 1977, Public Works Act 1981, and Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Act 2013. Consequential changes have also been made to other Acts.

Timing

RLAA obtained Royal Assent on 18 April 2017. Some of the changes to the RMA take immediate effect. Other changes have transitional periods specified in the RLAA (eg, the majority of changes to the resource consent process come into force six months after enactment, on 18 October 2017).

The following checklist sets out the actions that councils need to take to implement these changes immediately and over time.

New mandatory actions from the 2017 Resource Legislation Amendments:

*Apply from day after [Royal Assent]*
Natural hazards	s6	Recognise and provide for management of significant risks from natural hazards.
Animal drinking water	s14	Treat ‘natural’ and ‘non-natural’ persons (including companies and trusts) the same as private individuals when managing animal drinking water.
Procedural principles	s18A	Incorporate new principles for efficiency, clarity and collaboration in council RMA procedures.
Development capacity	s30-31	Establish, implement and review objectives, policies and methods to ensure sufficient development capacity to meet long-term demands of the region/district/city (also see NPS Urban Development Capacity).
Hazardous Substances	s30 and s31	Be aware that regional and territorial authorities no longer have the explicit function to control certain matters related to hazardous substances.
Section 32 reports	s32	Include iwi authority advice and the response to this in section 32 evaluation reports.
Plan hearing panel	s34A	Consult iwi about including a commissioner with tikanga Maori and local iwi/hapu perspective to a plan hearing panel, and appoint if appropriate.
Monitoring RMA processes	s35	Monitor efficiency and effectiveness of council processes, powers, functions, duties.
Mana whakahono a rohe/iwi participation arrangement	s35A, s58K-T, cl 1A, 1B and 26A of Schedule 1	Respond to requests by iwi authorities for a mana whakahono a rohe/iwi participation arrangement, and prepare it within 18 months (unless otherwise agreed) – see new section 58P Keep records about these arrangements.
Combined plans	s80	Apply RMA Part 5 requirements when preparing a combined plan.
Written notice to requiring authorities about district plan reviews	Schedule 1 cl 4	State which planning process the council intends to use (SPP, CPP or Part 1 Schedule 1) in written notices to requiring authorities (and other information if the council intends to use the collaborative planning process).
Iwi input to draft plans	Schedule 1 cl 4A	Seek and have particular regard to iwi advice on draft policy statements and plans.
Land acquisition	Public Works Act s 72 – 72E	Adjust compensation payments for taking private land under the Public Works Act.
*Apply from 1 October 2017*
Public notices	s2AB	Publish public notices on an internet site, with a summary in one or more newspapers. Ensure the notice and the short summary are worded in clear and concise manner.
Subdivision	s11	Check implications of subdivision being permitted unless it is restricted by a rule in a NES or a plan.
Subdivision	s6, 106, and 220	Ensure subdivision consent processes incorporate new requirements related to natural hazards.
Fast-track consents	s87AAC and 87AAD	Apply new consent process for fast-track consent applications.
Boundary activities	s87AAB – 87BA	Establish a system to record, charge and issue notices for permitted ‘boundary activities’.
Consent Exemptions	s87BB	Establish a system to record, charge and issue resource consent waivers for marginal/temporary non-compliance.
Consent notification	s95 – 95E	Apply new step by step process to determine public or limited notification of resource consent applications.
Consent decisions	s104	Have regard to measures proposed by an applicant to offset or compensate for adverse effects
Consent decisions	s108AA	Ensure resource consent conditions comply with new section 108AA.
Consent appeals	s120	Ensure that any advice is consistent with the new limits on Environment Court appeal rights.
Electronic address	s352	If a person has specified an electronic address for service, and has not requested an alternative, ensure the electronic address is used as an address for service.
Objections to consents	s357AB, 357C, and 357CA	Incorporate independent commissioner changes to the objection process for consents.
Plan-making extensions	Schedule 1 clause s10A	If required, apply to the Minister for any extension to the 2-year timeframe for plan-making.
*Apply within one year of first national planning standards publication (which will be within 2 years of [Royal Assent])*
National planning standards	s58H	Amend planning documents to give effect to the directions provided by the national planning standards that do not require using the Schedule 1 process, unless the standard itself provides a different timeframe.
Online plans	s58J	Ensure all planning documents (and changes/variations) are freely available for use on a single website
*Apply within five years of [Royal Assent]*
Financial contributions	Schedule 12 cl 18	Amend plans to remove financial contribution provisions.
*Apply within five years of first national planning standards publication*
National planning standards	s58I	Amend planning documents to give effect to the national planning standards that require using the Schedule 1 process, unless the standard itself provides a different timeframe.