Navigating the New RMA Rules
Major RMA Reforms Proposed – Impacts for Infrastructure, Housing, Rural Development & Freshwater
Last week, the Government released three discussion documents proposing updates to 12 National Policy Statements and National Environmental Standards with the goal of replacing or updating 16 of them by year’s end, ahead of new legislation replacing the RMA in 2026.
The Government proposals focus on simplifying and streamlining consent pathways while maintaining environmental protections in the following areas:
• Infrastructure & development
• Housing supply
• Rural land use & primary production
• Freshwater & wetlands management
Key elements include:
• A more balanced approach to managing freshwater and wetlands, with flexibility for councils to respond to local conditions
• Relaxed rules for papakāinga and granny flats, supporting housing diversity without excessive red tape
• Practical reforms for rural land use, including changes to synthetic fertiliser limits and forestry regulations
• Simplified pathways for energy infrastructure and EV charging, plus stronger resilience measures via natural hazard policies
• Relaxed rules for papakāinga and granny flats, supporting housing diversity without excessive red tape
• Practical reforms for rural land use, including changes to synthetic fertiliser limits and forestry regulations
• Simplified pathways for energy infrastructure and EV charging, plus stronger resilience measures via natural hazard policies
Consultation is open until 27 July 2025.
While full legislative change is still ahead, these proposals may directly affect projects already underway or in early planning stages.
At Horizon Surveying and Land Development, our planning and surveying teams are closely tracking these developments. We’re actively advising clients on how these reforms could impact their current and future projects, both opportunities and new considerations.
If you’d like to understand how this could impact your project, get in touch with our Planning team. Contact us
To find out more regarding the consultation on updating RMA national direction, you can visit the Ministry for the Environment website here for more information.
This article was written by our Senior Planning team, Rakesh Mistry and Mike Dance.
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