Environment Minister David Parker has today confirmed that New Zealand’s planning system will not get the overhaul it needs in order to deliver affordable housing.

"The Minister says he wants a first principles review of the Resource Management Act, but then goes on to say he will be a 'staunch defender of Part 2 of the RMA'”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.

"Part 2 of the RMA [partially reproduced below] is a mishmash of vague and even contradictory directions from Parliament. No wonder Council processes make it nearly impossible to build homes.

"That Parker wants to protect this part of the Act over delivering affordable housing for New Zealanders is baffling and means his promise of a comprehensive review is a sham.

“The RMA is choking the ability of the private sector to build new homes. In Auckland, land use regulation could be responsible for up to 56 per cent, or $530,000, of the cost of an average home.

"Environment Ministry officials have told Parker that the RMA has completely failed to deliver sufficient housing for New Zealanders and needs to be reformed root and branch.

“The Minister has told me, via written parliamentary questions, that he agrees with this view.

"Only a true, first principles review of our planning system will deliver the affordable housing New Zealanders need”, says Mr Seymour.

Section 7 of the Resource Management Act 1991
7 Other matters
In achieving the purpose of this Act, all persons exercising functions and powers under it, in relation to managing the use, development, and protection of natural and physical resources, shall have particular regard to—
(a)
kaitiakitanga:
(aa)
the ethic of stewardship:
(b)
the efficient use and development of natural and physical resources:
(ba)
the efficiency of the end use of energy:
(c)
the maintenance and enhancement of amenity values:
(d)
intrinsic values of ecosystems:
(e)
[Repealed]
(f)
maintenance and enhancement of the quality of the environment:
(g)
any finite characteristics of natural and physical resources:
(h)
the protection of the habitat of trout and salmon:
(i)
the effects of climate change:
(j)
the benefits to be derived from the use and development of renewable energy.

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