The Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 (FTAA) introduced a streamlined approvals pathway for infrastructure and development projects of regional or national significance. From the outset, a key question for developers, stakeholders and practitioners has been: how quickly will decisions be made?
In this update, we provide a snapshot of FTAA decision timeframes so far, covering:
- Substantive applications (from the Environmental Protection Authority's (EPA) completeness decision to the panel's final decision on the approvals sought)
- Referral applications (from the date the application was lodged to the panel's final decision on whether to refer the project into the FTAA process).
Substantive application timeframes
The FTAA operates on significantly compressed timeframes compared to the familiar Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) processes. Once a substantive application is lodged, the EPA has 15 working days to assess whether the application is complete and in scope. Once the expert consenting panel is appointed, it must begin working on the application within five working days.
Our analysis of the 23 substantive decision timeframes to date (see Table 1) reveals:
- The shortest decision timeframe was that of the Wellington International Airport Southern Seawall project, which took 110 working days (181 calendar days, or approximately 5.9 months)
- The median project is the Drury Quarry Expansion – Sutton Block, which took 133 working days (214 calendar days, or approximately 7 months)
- The longest was the Ryans Road Industrial Development, which took 233 working days (357 calendar days, or approximately 11.7 months).
The FTAA timeframes are based on 'working days' which, consistent with the definition in the RMA, exclude the period from 20 December to 10 January. For projects that span this window, the calendar-day total increases while the working-day count does not.
At an average of 142 working days (216 calendar days, or approximately 7.1 months) from completeness decision to final decision, the FTAA process is significantly faster than traditional RMA pathways for large projects – even when the referral stage is taken into account.
Referral application timelines
Projects that are not listed in Schedule 2 of the FTAA require referral into the fast-track process before a substantive application can be lodged.
Table 2 demonstrates there has been some variation in processing times for the 46 referral applications where decisions have been made. In summary, the average referral application to referral decision timeframe is 81 working days (approximately 126 calendar days or 4.1 months).
In practice, an applicant can apply to have a new project referred into the fast-track system and a substantive application approved within 12 to 14 months – a fast approval timeframe by the standards of any consenting system.
If you would like advice on the FTAA process, please get in touch with a member of our team.
Table 1 – Decision timeframes for substantive applications from the date of the completeness decision to the final decision
|
Project |
Completeness Decision |
Final Decision |
Calendar Days |
Months |
Working Days |
|
Bledisloe North Wharf & Fergusson North Berth Extension |
12 Mar 2025 |
21 Aug 2025 |
162 |
5.3 |
111 |
|
Maitahi Village |
12 Mar 2025 |
18 Sep 2025 |
190 |
6.2 |
131 |
|
Milldale – Stages 4C and 10 to 13 |
24 Apr 2025 |
3 Oct 2025 |
162 |
5.3 |
113 |
|
Sunfield |
29 Apr 2025 |
10 Mar 2026 |
315 |
10.3 |
206 |
|
Drury Metropolitan Centre – Consolidated Stages 1 and 2 |
30 Apr 2025 |
7 Nov 2025 |
191 |
6.3 |
134 |
|
Waihi North |
2 May 2025 |
18 Dec 2025 |
230 |
7.6 |
161 |
|
Tekapo Power Scheme – Replacement Resource Consents |
7 May 2025 |
3 Nov 2025 |
180 |
5.9 |
125 |
|
Ryans Road Industrial Development |
15 May 2025 |
7 May 2026 |
357 |
11.7 |
233 |
|
Drury Quarry Expansion – Sutton Block |
21 May 2025 |
11 Dec 2025 |
204 |
6.7 |
143 |
|
Rangitoopuni |
30 May 2025 |
27 Nov 2025 |
181 |
5.9 |
126 |
|
Kings Quarry Expansion – Stages 2 and 3 |
4 Jun 2025 |
18 Dec 2025 |
197 |
6.5 |
139 |
|
Homestead Bay |
8 Jul 2025 |
18 Feb 2026 |
225 |
7.4 |
144 |
|
Green Steel |
29 Jul 2025 |
18 Mar 2026 |
232 |
7.6 |
149 |
|
Arataki |
12 Aug 2025 |
24 Feb 2026 |
196 |
6.4 |
123 |
|
Ashbourne |
13 Aug 2025 |
21 Apr 2026 |
251 |
8.2 |
160 |
|
Pound Road Industrial Development |
13 Aug 2025 |
1 May 2026 |
261 |
8.6 |
167 |
|
Takitimu North Link – Stage 2 |
22 Aug 2025 |
19 Mar 2026 |
209 |
6.9 |
132 |
|
Waitaha Hydro |
29 Aug 2025 |
17 Apr 2026 |
231 |
7.6 |
146 |
|
Ayrburn Screen Hub |
12 Sep 2025 |
14 Apr 2026 |
214 |
7.0 |
133 |
|
Southland Wind Farm |
18 Sep 2025 |
2 Apr 2026 |
196 |
6.4 |
123 |
|
Waitākere District Court |
1 Oct 2025 |
7 Apr 2026 |
187 |
6.1 |
114 |
|
Wellington International Airport Southern Seawall |
14 Nov 2025 |
15 May 2026 |
181 |
5.9 |
110 |
|
Kaimai Hydroelectric Power Scheme Re-Consenting |
16 Oct 2025 |
15 May 2026 |
211 |
6.9 |
131 |
Table 2 – Decision timeframes for project referral from the date the application was lodged to the Minister's decision on referral
|
Project |
Application Lodged |
Minister's Referral Decision |
Calendar Days |
Months |
Working Days |
|
Ayrburn Screen Hub |
11 Feb 2025 |
11 May 2025 |
89 |
2.9 |
60 |
|
Ashbourne |
11 Feb 2025 |
12 May 2025 |
90 |
3.0 |
61 |
|
Grampians Solar Project |
12 Feb 2025 |
14 May 2025 |
91 |
3.0 |
62 |
|
Waitākere District Court |
21 Mar 2025 |
15 Jun 2025 |
86 |
2.8 |
56 |
|
The Point Mission Bay |
11 Mar 2025 |
15 Jun 2025 |
96 |
3.2 |
64 |
|
Auckland Surf Park Community Stage 2 |
21 Mar 2025 |
24 Jun 2025 |
95 |
3.1 |
63 |
|
Gordonton Country Estate Development |
12 Feb 2025 |
25 Jun 2025 |
133 |
4.4 |
91 |
|
Waipiro Marina |
24 Mar 2025 |
17 Jul 2025 |
115 |
3.8 |
78 |
|
Southland Wind Farm |
3 Apr 2025 |
31 Jul 2025 |
119 |
3.9 |
80 |
|
Twizel Solar Project |
11 Apr 2025 |
1 Aug 2025 |
112 |
3.7 |
75 |
|
Lake Pukaki Hydro Storage and Dam Resilience Works |
9 May 2025 |
14 Aug 2025 |
97 |
3.2 |
67 |
|
Southern Link Inland Port |
20 May 2025 |
24 Aug 2025 |
96 |
3.2 |
66 |
|
Brymer † |
28 Apr 2025 |
3 Sep 2025 |
128 |
4.2 |
90 |
|
Kuratau Hydro-Electric Power Scheme |
3 Jun 2025 |
21 Oct 2025 |
140 |
4.6 |
99 |
|
Pohutukawa Business Park |
26 Jun 2025 |
1 Oct 2025 |
97 |
3.2 |
68 |
|
Beachgrove Kaiapoi Expansion † |
5 Mar 2025 |
20 Nov 2025 |
260 |
8.5 |
180 |
|
Ridgeburn † |
23 May 2025 |
6 Oct 2025 |
136 |
4.5 |
94 |
|
Rogerson Block, SL1 |
3 Jul 2025 |
15 Oct 2025 |
104 |
3.4 |
74 |
|
Harlow Lifestyle Village |
10 Jul 2025 |
27 Oct 2025 |
109 |
3.6 |
76 |
|
Mill Road |
15 Jul 2025 |
11 Nov 2025 |
119 |
3.9 |
84 |
|
Mangahao Hydro-Electric Power Scheme |
24 Jul 2025 |
6 Nov 2025 |
105 |
3.5 |
74 |
|
Te Kowhai East † |
29 May 2025 |
6 Nov 2025 |
161 |
5.3 |
112 |
|
Hobbs Bay Marina |
8 Aug 2025 |
25 Nov 2025 |
109 |
3.6 |
76 |
|
188 Beaumont Street |
4 Sep 2025 |
18 Dec 2025 |
105 |
3.5 |
74 |
|
Brookvale Green |
29 Sep 2025 |
15 Dec 2025 |
77 |
2.5 |
54 |
|
Kingseat Village |
13 Oct 2025 |
9 Feb 2026 |
119 |
3.9 |
68 |
|
Parkburn |
31 Oct 2025 |
15 Feb 2026 |
107 |
3.5 |
59 |
|
Clutha Pumped Hydro |
12 Nov 2025 |
17 Mar 2026 |
125 |
4.1 |
73 |
|
Hobsonville Retirement Village † |
30 May 2025 |
16 Mar 2026 |
290 |
9.5 |
187 |
|
Waimauku West |
24 Nov 2025 |
2 Mar 2026 |
98 |
3.2 |
54 |
|
Matakana Country Club |
17 Nov 2025 |
2 Mar 2026 |
105 |
3.5 |
59 |
|
Warkworth Residential Development |
2 Dec 2025 |
2 Mar 2026 |
91 |
3.0 |
49 |
|
Orawaahi Project |
18 Nov 2025 |
19 Mar 2026 |
121 |
4.0 |
71 |
|
Bangor Village |
3 Dec 2025 |
26 Feb 2026 |
85 |
2.8 |
45 |
|
Milldale North |
28 Nov 2025 |
22 Mar 2026 |
114 |
3.7 |
64 |
|
Otaihanga Retirement Village |
5 Dec 2025 |
22 Mar 2026 |
107 |
3.5 |
59 |
|
Marlborough Sounds Aquaculture |
5 Dec 2025 |
4 May 2026 |
150 |
4.9 |
87 |
|
Waikato West Coast Mussel Spat Nursery |
3 Dec 2025 |
4 May 2026 |
152 |
5.0 |
89 |
|
Tahimana |
22 Dec 2025 |
25 Mar 2026 |
93 |
3.1 |
52 |
|
Powerhouse Queenstown Development † |
10 Feb 2025 |
13 Apr 2026 |
427 |
14.0 |
281 |
|
Ngā Wairau Stage 1 |
18 Dec 2025 |
17 Apr 2026 |
120 |
3.9 |
68 |
|
Orchard Grove |
15 Dec 2025 |
29 Mar 2026 |
104 |
3.4 |
58 |
|
Pōkeno Housing and Tourism † |
24 Nov 2025 |
1 Apr 2026 |
128 |
4.2 |
76 |
|
Ardmore Business Park |
16 Jan 2026 |
9 Apr 2026 |
83 |
2.7 |
56 |
|
Queenstown Cable Car |
5 Nov 2025 |
2 Apr 2026 |
148 |
4.9 |
90 |
|
Redvale Landfill Expansion |
20 Nov 2025 |
21 Apr 2026 |
152 |
5.0 |
90 |
† Total time taken – the Application Lodged date is the first lodgement date across all referral applications, and the Minister's Referral Decision date is the date of the final accepted referral. Calendar days and working days span the entire period from first attempt to ultimate acceptance, including intervening return periods and re-lodgement gaps.
Special thanks to Lisa Bazalo (Senior Associate), Mikayla O'Brien (Solicitor) and Noah Kerbers (Law Clerk) for their help in preparing this update.
