On 20 July 2026, the Environment Select Committee reported back on the Natural Environment Bill and Planning Bill, recommending by majority that the Bills be passed with amendments. Notably, the Select Committee has retained the "two bills approach", concluding it would simplify the system, enable targeted national instruments, and clarify roles for central and local government.
The two Select Committee reports are now available:
• Natural Environment Bill – final report of the Environment Select Committee 20 July 2026
• Planning Bill – final report of the Environment Select Committee 20 July 2026
Also available are the departmental reports that informed the Environment Select Committee, in which officials from the Ministry for the Environment (now merged into the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport) "present a proposal-by-proposal, clause-by-clause summary of submitters' comments and officials’ recommended amendments" to the Bills.
• Departmental Report 1 – Ministry for the Environment, Departmental Report Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill Report 1
• Departmental Report 2 – Ministry for the Environment, Departmental Report Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill Report 2
• Departmental Report 3 – Ministry for the Environment, Departmental Report Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill Report 3
• Departmental Report 4 – Ministry for the Environment, Departmental Report Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill Report 4
There is a significant volume of detail in the reports, which reflects the fundamental reform to New Zealand's resource management system that the Bills together represent. Members of the resource management profession, including the Buddle Findlay team, will be closely reviewing the reports over the coming days and weeks.
Our national environment and resource management team has extensive experience in previous RMA-reform cycles and has been closely following the development of this new legislation, and its likely implications. We are therefore well positioned to advise you on what these changes might mean for your projects or existing undertakings, operations and responsibilities. Please contact a member of our team if you would like to discuss the potential implications of the proposed RMA reform and what this may mean for you.
This article was co-authored by Sean Chan (solicitor).
