Latest news with #NationalPolicyStatements
Scoop
09-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Compensation Rules In Regulatory Standards Bill Deemed Unclear
ACT's much-maligned Regulatory Standards Bill could be the answer to Coasters' grievances over limits to the use and development of private land. That's the view of West Coast Regional Council deputy chair, Brett Cummings who cautions at the same time that the Bill has serious fish-hooks that could catch the council out. The Bill could become law later this year if it sustains support from coalition partner National. It proposes that no other law could take, use or impair the use of private property without consent, good justification or fair compensation. That has been welcomed by farmers and others as a way to limit restrictions placed on land by the Council for environmental reasons or compensate the land owners. But Te Uru Kahika, a network of specialist staff from the country's 16 regional and unitary Councils, says it is unclear if the Bill will apply to councils' regulation making, and if so, it has concerns about its workability. 'Parliament and councils would face unquantified costs each time they sought to regulate, rendering the legislative process unworkable,' Te Uru Kahika says in its submission on the Bill. The WCRC's Resource Management Committee chaired by Cr Cummings scrutinised the submission at its meeting this month. Chief executive Darryl Lew confirmed the proposed law was about Government directives such as National Policy Statements that require councils to identify SNAs and other overlays on people's properties. 'What they're saying as a principle, perhaps there should be a compensation package. That's as far as it goes and it's not very definitive from a whole of local government perspective because what does that mean for us and how does that work?' Mr Lew said. WCRC chair Peter Haddock said the Bill aimed to improved legislation and proposed compensating businesses for any potential lost revenue as a result of regulation, which was is a good thing. Cr Cummings said he approved of compensation in principle but was concerned that might backfire on the Council. 'When people are seeking consent to develop land, we start doing ecological reports and so on and while we go through this process, they're losing income from the farm.' The West Coast would be potentially more affected than other regions and the council needed a lot more information, on how the rule would work, Cr Cummings said. 'Say a farmer up the valley wants to clear a bit of bush, and we hold him up (through regulation). Do we have to pay his costs for not having that paddock, and he couldn't graze 15 cows that year? If someone got the right lawyer under the new rules it could get quite embarrassing and quite expensive for us as a council.' Mr Cummings told LDR his concerns were based on a recent case, when a farmer clearing scrub was initially given the green light after a site inspection by experienced WCRC staff. But the decision was over-ruled by the council's senior resource consenting officer who lived in Dunedin. 'He spots a couple of puddles in the photos, decides it could be wetland and calls for an ecological report, and that's now costing the farmer $20,000. Who would pay for that under this new rule? ' The Regulatory Standards Bill has been strongly criticised for its focus on libertarian principles and property rights and Te Uru Kahika's submission echoes some of those concerns. It appears that any 'impairment' of property in the public interest would attract compensation, however well-justified, it says. '..the Bill risks setting an expectation that polluters may be due compensation for any environmental or public health intervention that impacted upon their bottom line. This would, in our view, be perverse. ' Where national regulations were not fit for purpose, the result was often costs for councils charged with implementing them and frustration for local ratepayers, businesses and communities, Te Uru Kahika said. And frequent, rushed changes to legislation meant councils were having to redo work, at the ratepayers' expense. 'The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, for example, has been amended roughly every three years since it was introduced in 2011. It is under review once again. 'Amendments to the Resource Management Act are frequent — it was repealed, and then the replacement legislation was itself repealed for the RMA to be amended again while new replacement legislation is drafted.' The Bill also failed to provide a cohesive and balanced approach to the public interest, Te Uru Kahika said. 'Public interest should encompass both collective value, for instance waterways that are suitable for swimming and intrinsic value, such as biodiversity … 'While individual property and freedoms are fundamental, they are not the only things that communities value.' Te Uru Kahika is also unhappy at the absence of a Treaty clause in the Bill. The WCRC has asked staff to investigate if a representative could speak in support of the Te Uru Kahika submission at the Select Committee hearings on the Bill, now underway at Parliament.
Scoop
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
'Don't Be Fooled': Govt's Freshwater Reforms Means More Pollution In Your Water & Commercial Control Of Public Resources
Press Release – Choose Clean Water Choose Clean Water says its important for the public to make submissions on the changes (these can be made until 27 July 2025) but its just as important for the public to contact MPs and Ministers directly to voice their opposition. 29 May 2025 Freshwater campaigners are saying 'don't be fooled' by the Coalition Government's rhetoric in today's freshwater policy announcement. What it really means for New Zealanders is more pollution in rivers, lakes, and drinking water sources and the handing over of more power to commercial interests to control a fundamental public resource. The Coalition Government made its long-awaited announcement on freshwater policy reform today and Choose Clean Water's spokesperson Tom Kay says it confirms what has been feared. 'Ministers are using comforting words like 'balance' but the details of this policy demonstrate that this is not about balance or protecting the public. The Government is proposing to remove existing bottom lines and change the long overdue prioritisation of the health of people and waterways provided by Te Mana o Te Wai.' 'Don't be fooled, this is a massive blow for the health of our water and the health of our communities.' Te Mana o te Wai is a vastly improved decision-making framework in the existing National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020. It requires regional councils to provide for the protection of the health of waterways and the health needs of people (i.e. access to safe, good quality drinking water) before commercial uses can be considered. It was strengthened following the failure of previous National Policy Statements in 2011, 2014, and 2017 to improve the health of freshwater in New Zealand, and widespread public support for the Government to act. 'What Te Mana o te Wai finally provided, in the 2020 version of our national freshwater policy, was sufficient weight to the public interest and need for healthy water. Before this, people's drinking water and waterways were regularly losing out to commercial pressures, which we saw result in sick rivers and lakes, the drying up of rivers and groundwater, and undrinkable water sources around the country.' 'In the 2020 national policy statement, it was finally recognised that communities couldn't continue like that—it was unstable, unsustainable, and unhealthy.' The group says Minister Hoggard's ACT party has consistently misrepresented Te Mana o Te Wai and used race-baiting to generate misguided anger towards a policy that protects all New Zealanders. Leader of the ACT Party, David Seymour, has stated that Te Mana o te Wai is 'the same as waving crystals over the water to drive out evil spirits, and it's truly bonkers.' 'This is not only nasty and insulting but it's also plain wrong,' says Kay. 'Te Mana o te Wai is simply a framework that says we have to ensure our water is healthy enough to support itself and our people before it can support commercial interests. It doesn't rule out business—it just says that business can't occur at the cost of our communities' health.' Previous consultation on changes to freshwater policy under the Resource Management Act demonstrated most regional councils support Te Mana o te Wai. 'Not only that, groups from Water NZ to Seafood NZ to Forest & Bird to public health advocates support Te Mana o te Wai because it makes priorities clearer for decision makers and provides better protection for the health of waterways and people.' Minister Hoggard and Minister McClay's announcement is consistent with the Coalition Government's approach to handing over more power to extractive commercial interests and removing basic protections for New Zealanders. 'Polluting industries have massively influenced this freshwater policy. The Government is following the requests of groups like DairyNZ who have asked the Government to remove bottom lines and for industry control of instruments like farm plans. This Coalition Government is captured by big industries, we saw it with tobacco and now we're seeing it with agribusiness.' Choose Clean Water says it's important for the public to make submissions on the changes (these can be made until 27 July 2025) but it's just as important for the public to contact MPs and Ministers directly to voice their opposition. 'We have a good existing national policy statement for freshwater. It puts us all on the path to restoration and health over time and still allows for productive land use to support communities. The Coalition Government is making changes New Zealand simply doesn't need and that will take us backwards.'
Scoop
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
'Don't Be Fooled': Govt's Freshwater Reforms Means More Pollution In Your Water & Commercial Control Of Public Resources
29 May 2025 Freshwater campaigners are saying 'don't be fooled' by the Coalition Government's rhetoric in today's freshwater policy announcement. What it really means for New Zealanders is more pollution in rivers, lakes, and drinking water sources and the handing over of more power to commercial interests to control a fundamental public resource. The Coalition Government made its long-awaited announcement on freshwater policy reform today and Choose Clean Water's spokesperson Tom Kay says it confirms what has been feared. 'Ministers are using comforting words like 'balance' but the details of this policy demonstrate that this is not about balance or protecting the public. The Government is proposing to remove existing bottom lines and change the long overdue prioritisation of the health of people and waterways provided by Te Mana o Te Wai.' 'Don't be fooled, this is a massive blow for the health of our water and the health of our communities.' Te Mana o te Wai is a vastly improved decision-making framework in the existing National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020. It requires regional councils to provide for the protection of the health of waterways and the health needs of people (i.e. access to safe, good quality drinking water) before commercial uses can be considered. It was strengthened following the failure of previous National Policy Statements in 2011, 2014, and 2017 to improve the health of freshwater in New Zealand, and widespread public support for the Government to act. 'What Te Mana o te Wai finally provided, in the 2020 version of our national freshwater policy, was sufficient weight to the public interest and need for healthy water. Before this, people's drinking water and waterways were regularly losing out to commercial pressures, which we saw result in sick rivers and lakes, the drying up of rivers and groundwater, and undrinkable water sources around the country.' 'In the 2020 national policy statement, it was finally recognised that communities couldn't continue like that—it was unstable, unsustainable, and unhealthy.' The group says Minister Hoggard's ACT party has consistently misrepresented Te Mana o Te Wai and used race-baiting to generate misguided anger towards a policy that protects all New Zealanders. Leader of the ACT Party, David Seymour, has stated that Te Mana o te Wai is 'the same as waving crystals over the water to drive out evil spirits, and it's truly bonkers.' 'This is not only nasty and insulting but it's also plain wrong,' says Kay. 'Te Mana o te Wai is simply a framework that says we have to ensure our water is healthy enough to support itself and our people before it can support commercial interests. It doesn't rule out business—it just says that business can't occur at the cost of our communities' health.' Previous consultation on changes to freshwater policy under the Resource Management Act demonstrated most regional councils support Te Mana o te Wai. 'Not only that, groups from Water NZ to Seafood NZ to Forest & Bird to public health advocates support Te Mana o te Wai because it makes priorities clearer for decision makers and provides better protection for the health of waterways and people.' Minister Hoggard and Minister McClay's announcement is consistent with the Coalition Government's approach to handing over more power to extractive commercial interests and removing basic protections for New Zealanders. 'Polluting industries have massively influenced this freshwater policy. The Government is following the requests of groups like DairyNZ who have asked the Government to remove bottom lines and for industry control of instruments like farm plans. This Coalition Government is captured by big industries, we saw it with tobacco and now we're seeing it with agribusiness.' Choose Clean Water says it's important for the public to make submissions on the changes (these can be made until 27 July 2025) but it's just as important for the public to contact MPs and Ministers directly to voice their opposition. 'We have a good existing national policy statement for freshwater. It puts us all on the path to restoration and health over time and still allows for productive land use to support communities. The Coalition Government is making changes New Zealand simply doesn't need and that will take us backwards.'
Scoop
29-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Resource Management Act Announcements On Right Track
Press Release – Employers And Manufacturers Association Resource Management Act (RMA) changes announced are a significant step forward in making the building and connection of networks and critical infrastructure much easier, says the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA). Today's Resource Management Act (RMA) changes announced by Ministers Bishop, McClay and Watts, are a significant step forward in making the building and connection of networks and critical infrastructure much easier, says the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA). 'Creating firm national direction through National Policy Statements and National Environmental Standards, which consenting councils then have to follow, simplifies the process for construction, maintenance and renewal of electricity and telecommunications networks,' says EMA Head of Advocacy, Alan McDonald. 'In addition, making the consenting of new quarries and expansion of existing sources of aggregate easier is also critical to any plans to build new infrastructure. From building a simple family home to multi-billion dollar construction projects, you've got to have aggregate. 'The existing rules are far too restrictive and difficult to navigate.' The steps announced today are part of the government's RMA 2 changes, and are now going out for consultation. They will also feature in the RMA 3 legislation expected to be passed next year. While quite technical, the changes go a long way to easing consenting in those sectors, without easing environmental protections. 'Councils have to give effect to these national directives, and that will effectively end the multiple differing interpretations and standards that councils, often within the same region, apply to current RMA legislation,' says McDonald. 'Many of our members have to navigate different rules from different councils just to do the same thing.' Proposed changes to freshwater regulations were also announced, while housing policy changes are also on the way. 'I'm sure our farmers will welcome many of those changes, as will the quarrying industry which has run afoul of very strict changes to wetland definitions that effectively stopped quarrying on some existing sites,' says McDonald. 'We're aware of instances in the Auckland region where water running out of native bush areas, in theory, has to be cleaner when it leaves the farm than when it entered the property.'
Scoop
29-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Resource Management Act Announcements On Right Track
Press Release – Employers And Manufacturers Association Resource Management Act (RMA) changes announced are a significant step forward in making the building and connection of networks and critical infrastructure much easier, says the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA). Today's Resource Management Act (RMA) changes announced by Ministers Bishop, McClay and Watts, are a significant step forward in making the building and connection of networks and critical infrastructure much easier, says the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA). 'Creating firm national direction through National Policy Statements and National Environmental Standards, which consenting councils then have to follow, simplifies the process for construction, maintenance and renewal of electricity and telecommunications networks,' says EMA Head of Advocacy, Alan McDonald. 'In addition, making the consenting of new quarries and expansion of existing sources of aggregate easier is also critical to any plans to build new infrastructure. From building a simple family home to multi-billion dollar construction projects, you've got to have aggregate. 'The existing rules are far too restrictive and difficult to navigate.' The steps announced today are part of the government's RMA 2 changes, and are now going out for consultation. They will also feature in the RMA 3 legislation expected to be passed next year. While quite technical, the changes go a long way to easing consenting in those sectors, without easing environmental protections. 'Councils have to give effect to these national directives, and that will effectively end the multiple differing interpretations and standards that councils, often within the same region, apply to current RMA legislation,' says McDonald. 'Many of our members have to navigate different rules from different councils just to do the same thing.' Proposed changes to freshwater regulations were also announced, while housing policy changes are also on the way. 'I'm sure our farmers will welcome many of those changes, as will the quarrying industry which has run afoul of very strict changes to wetland definitions that effectively stopped quarrying on some existing sites,' says McDonald. 'We're aware of instances in the Auckland region where water running out of native bush areas, in theory, has to be cleaner when it leaves the farm than when it entered the property.'
