RMA Reform Underwhelming And a Broken Promise
RMA Reform Underwhelming And a Broken
Promise
THURSDAY
26 NOVEMBER 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
“Underwhelming” sums up the initial impression of the Taxpayers’ Union to the Government’s reform legislation of the Resource Management Act, introduced this afternoon. Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director, Jordan Williams, says:
“The RMA is the largest regulatory tax on innovation, growth and living standards currently on the books. Our lawyers are still trawling through the detail, but it appears that rather than the promised reform this would be better described as 'tinkering around the edges'.”
The Taxpayers’ Union is particularly concerned with the negotiated provisions with the Maori Party which are designed to increase the power Iwi have over RMA planning. Mr Williams says:
“In a climate where Auckland Council requires consent applicants to pay Iwi for reports on Maori spiritual implications of consents, it is incredible that the National Party would promote reform to require councils to give even more power to groups based on race.”
“The National Party still lists among its values 'equal citizenship' and 'equal opportunity'. This kowtow to the Maori Party suggests that the Government is kidding itself.”
The Taxpayers’ Union report examining Auckland Council’s Mana Whenua provisions in the Unitary Plan, which have required thousands of property owners to obtain cultural sign-off on consents is available at http://taxpayers.org.nz/taniwha_tax.
ends