On the eve of the house rising for the last time before the election, Government released the highly anticipated new national direction on freshwater management - a new National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPSFM 2020), new National Environmental Standards for Freshwater (NESFW), new stock exclusion regulations, and amendments to the regulations for the measurement and reporting of water takes.
In a report released Wednesday 29 July, the Resource Management Review Panel (Panel) recommended major changes to New Zealand’s resource management system.
The Associate Minister of Transport has proposed an ‘Accessible Streets’ rule package which seeks to improve the safety and efficiency of multiple types of transport.
The Ministry for the Environment has extended the consultation timeframes for the proposed National Environmental Standards for the Outdoor Storage of Tyres and proposed amendments to the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality. In addition, the Ministry of Transport has extended the consultation timeframe for the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport.
The Government is seeking feedback on the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport for 2021/22 – 2030/31 (GPS 2021). The GPS 2021 aims to provide direction to those who are planning, assessing and making decisions on investment of the National Land Transport Fund (Fund) over the next 10 years.
This update focuses on the changes to the LGA and the LGOIMA, in relation to holding meetings through audio or audiovisual link, and amendments regarding public access and posting of agendas.
The Government is seeking feedback on the proposed National Environmental Standard for the Outdoor Storage of Tyres (NES). When tyres are stored outdoors, they pose a fire risk and can leach toxic substances into the soil and harbour pests.
Nine years on from the devastating earthquake of February 2011, the Government has heralded a movement to a new era of regeneration for Christchurch through the introduction of the Greater Christchurch Regeneration Amendment Bill (Bill) to Parliament.
The Government announced on Wednesday 26 February that it is consulting on proposed amendments to the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality (NESAQ). The NESAQ is the primary mechanism for regulating air quality at a national level, with standards covering particulate matter and other pollutants.
Last week the Minister for the Environment, Hon David Parker, introduced the Resource Management Amendment Bill (Bill) to the house. The Bill proposes to repeal a number of the changes to the RMA that were introduced by the previous coalition Government in the Resource Legislation Amendment Act 2017 (RLAA) and otherwise includes some easy ‘wins’ for this Government.
The Government has announced consultation on a new National Policy Statement on Urban Development, intended to replace the National Policy Statement on Urban Development Capacity 2016.
In Christchurch, and around the country, home owners and renters alike have been renting out their spare bedrooms and baches to visitors via websites like Airbnb. The explosion in listings on these sites has led to complaints from neighbours about noisy guests (in turn leading to compliance action being taken by district and city councils), and complaints that the hosts (i.e., the person renting the room to guests) are not paying their fair share in rates.
As we count down to the National Environment Standards for Plantation Forestry coming into force on 1 May 2018, amendments have been gazetted this week that will have implications for how local authorities recognise the NES in their plans.
From 15 May 2018, all commercial and recreational vessel operators will need to comply with the Craft Risk Management Standard (the Standard) for Biofouling on Vessels arriving into New Zealand Territory. This represents a significant step forward in marine biosecurity management in New Zealand as we will become the first country in the world to introduce a nationwide standard for biofouling to prevent pests entering our waters from overseas.
The Conservation (Infringement System) Bill is currently with the Environment Committee and is open for submissions until Friday, 6 April 2018. The Bill provides central and local government agencies with infringement notices as another tool for dealing with lesser offences under conservation legislation.
The much anticipated National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry Regulations were notified in the NZ Gazette on 3 August 2017. These Regulations, which come into force on 1 May 2018, establish a new nationwide consenting regime for plantation forestry activities.
Events such as the Christchurch earthquake sequence of 2010-2011, the November 2016 earthquake in Kaikoura and flooding in the Bay of Plenty earlier this year illustrate the need to effectively plan for, and respond to, natural hazards. Accordingly, the management of natural hazards has been given increasing importance in the recent amendments to the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA or Act).
The Marlborough District Council notified the proposed Marlborough Environment Plan (MEP) on 9 June 2016. Now is your opportunity to have your say by lodging a submission.
The review of the Christchurch City Plan and Banks Peninsula District Plan will be streamlined by an Order in Council made under the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act 2011 ("CER Act"). The Canterbury Earthquake (Christchurch Replacement District Plan) Order 2014 (the "Order"), which came into force on 8 July 2014, requires the Christchurch City Council ("the Council") to review the existing district plans and develop a replacement district plan. The Order modifies the provisions and application of the Resource Management Act 1991, and remains in force until 19 April 2016.
Over the last ten years, the focus in Canterbury has been on getting water. Now that water has been allocated, the focus is now moving to securing the reliability of that water and controlling the discharges associated with its use. This new focus is wider than just dairying, and includes the use of land for any primary production.
A recent decision of the High Court in Creswick Valley Residents Association Inc v Wellington City Council [2012] NZHC 644 may have significant implications for Councils and their public notification obligations under the First Schedule of the RMA.