Beehive, 22 September 2026
New Zealand is moving on from the Resource Management Act (RMA), which has shaped the country’s planning and consenting system for more than 30 years. In future, the Planning Act and Natural Environment Act will form the basis for planning, consenting and environmental management.
For businesses, one of the key changes is the aim to make the system simpler and easier to navigate. More than 100 existing planning documents are expected to be reduced to 17 regional plans, alongside more consistent national rules and longer-term regional planning.
According to the Government, around 45 per cent of current consent and permit applications could be removed under the new system. This could be particularly relevant for major infrastructure, energy, construction and development projects.
The change will not happen overnight. Existing RMA plans and consents will remain in place while the new system is rolled out, with full implementation planned by 2030.
For German companies looking at investment or project opportunities in New Zealand, the reform could make the planning environment considerably easier to navigate over time.
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