Managing Natural Hazards Must Be In RMA

media release

22 January 2015

Managing Natural Hazards Must Be In RMA

The Insurance Council of New Zealand welcomes the Government’s intention to include the management of natural hazards in a revamped Resource Management Act (RMA).

The Council was commenting on Environment and Housing Minister Nick Smith’s announcements on proposed changes to the RMA this year.

“New Zealand is highly vulnerable to natural hazards, so we welcome the Minister’s intention to include the management of significant natural hazards as one of the significant critical changes to the Act. We would hope this aspect gets cross-party support if it leads to better protection for New Zealanders and their assets, “ said ICNZ Chief Executive Tim Grafton.

The Insurance Council recently released a position paperProtecting New Zealand from Natural Hazards which set out a 15-point plan to reduce the economic and social risks to the country. This called for a review of key legislation to address natural hazards planning.

“There has been this vague assumption that risk reduction requirements are managed under our main piece of planning legislation, the RMA, but the term ‘risk reduction’ is not mentioned in the Act and nor is the management of natural hazards. Hopefully, the new Act will address this glaring anomaly,” Mr Grafton said.

“Insurers take the long view and our concern has been that in the necessary push to increase the supply of affordable housing, poor quality land that is highly vulnerable to natural hazards would be released for development. It is reassuring to hear the intent is to avoid these becoming the platform for future disasters,” he said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media