People who pollute the environment will find their actions more expensive under recent changes to the Resource Management Act.

From 4 September 2025, fines issued under this legislation have jumped significantly. Fines for serious breaches can now be up to $1 million for individuals and $10 million for companies.

James Baty, Director of Internal Partnerships & Protection says the fines give Council more tools to protect the environment.

"These new rules allow us to hold polluters to account and gives us more power against those who habitually reoffend.

"Infringement fees for lower-level offending have more than doubled, now ranging from $600 to $4,000 depending on the offence and whether it’s an individual or a company.

"For example, open burning of rubbish on any rural or urban property could now cost an individual $600, or a company $1,200.

"Not many people know that these fines are set by central government" he added.

Other key changes include:

• A history of non-compliance can now be considered by Council in processing a resource consent application.
• Serious breaches of a consent may trigger a review of consent conditions, or in extreme cases, lead to it being suspended or revoked by the Environment Court.

Insurance will no longer be able to cover fines.

"Together, these changes simply give us stronger tools to protect the environment from big and smaller polluters, it gives us more power to hold people and companies to account and sends a clear message that non-compliance comes with serious consequences. "

Learn more about the changes introduced by the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Act 2025 here [https://environment.govt.nz/publications/compliance-and-enforcement-rma/] , changes to infringement fees here [https://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2025/0162/latest/LMS1459717.html?src=qs] or read Council’s enforcement policy here [https://www.gdc.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/27061/Compliance-Monitoring-and-Enforcement-Policy-Nov-2024.pdf]

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