Should the Resource Management Act 1991 be replaced with a new natural environment law that sets legally binding environmental limits and works alongside the Planning Bill?
The bill repeals the Resource Management Act 1991 and, alongside the Planning Bill, creates a new framework for the use, protection, and enhancement of the natural environment based on binding environmental limits. It establishes a single natural environmental plan per region in place of overlapping regional policy statements and plans.
MPs’ arguments for and against the bill
Why support it
The Minister argued the existing Resource Management Act combined too many functions and failed both economic and environmental outcomes, citing river water quality and threatened freshwater bird species, so a separate environment-focused law is needed.
Supporters said the bill sets clear, science-based, legally binding environmental limits informed by data and community input, which they argued gives certainty about likely-approved activities and incentivises efficient resource use.
The Minister argued the bill replaces duplicated regional policy statements and plans with a single natural environmental plan and a proportionate, often voluntary and farmer-led approach, reducing complexity while still allowing stronger rules where needed.
Why oppose it
Labour argued the bill lacks ambition on biodiversity at a time it described as a biodiversity emergency, and was concerned that regulatory takings provisions apply to biodiversity protections.
Opponents were concerned that environmental bottom lines could be avoided where not met, and that limits are set regionally through secondary instruments with national limits relating only to human health, rather than being fixed in primary legislation.
Labour argued separating environmental and planning rules into two bills is artificial, that urban issues like earthworks, greenspaces and stormwater are interlinked with environmental quality, and that the bills fail to address climate pollution.
These are claims MPs made in Parliament’s debate — not verified facts.
Full bill summary & link to official bill page
One of two government bills (with the Planning Bill) that would repeal and replace the Resource Management Act 1991, New Zealand's main law for managing land, water and air. It builds a new system around binding 'environmental limits' — minimum standards, for example for water or air quality, that use of the environment cannot breach. It also swaps the many overlapping regional policy statements and plans for a single natural environment plan in each region.
The government says it would cut cost, complexity and duplication in the planning system. Some legal and environmental experts argue the new framework could weaken environmental safeguards and reduce the role of iwi and hapū (Māori tribes and subtribes) in resource decisions.