Prime Minister and Botany MP Christopher Luxon, right. File photo supplied
By Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister and MP for Botany
One of New Zealanders’ regular “water-cooler conversations” is comparing their experiences of seeking consents for home renovations or making changes on their farm or in their small business.
Whatever the scenario, there’s a familiar theme of extra costs, extra time and immense frustration.
It’s currently too hard and too costly to get things built in New Zealand, with too many layers of red and green tape.
The Resource Management Act is the main cause of the problem.
That’s why the National-led Government is scrapping the RMA and replacing it with a new planning system that’ll make it easier and cheaper to get things done.
This is the biggest economic reform in a generation.
The new planning system will save ratepayers and taxpayers $13.3 billion by regulating only what’s necessary and reducing the number of consents required by up to 46 per cent.
It’ll also mean more growth and higher living standards for New Zealanders.
The system will unlock more housing across New Zealand, speeding up critical infrastructure like roads, energy projects, hospitals, and schools, and back our world-class farmers and growers to get on with doing what they do best.
The changes also increase certainty, with clearer consultation requirements, standardised rules and faster conflict resolution through a new low-cost planning tribunal.
That will give developers more confidence to invest in New Zealand.
National is ending the culture of “no”. We want to encourage people to develop their good ideas, not be put off by unnecessary delays, obstacles and additional costs.
We’ve passed Fast-track to help New Zealand get on with building the projects of national and regional significance the country needs, and now we’re delivering on our promise to introduce a new planning system to make all Kiwis better off.
National is fixing the basics and building the future.