The New Zealand Government has unveiled a comprehensive set of transition measures designed to ensure a fair, smooth and orderly shift from the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) to the country’s new planning and environmental management framework by 2031. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Under-Secretary Simon Court reaffirmed that these steps will provide certainty for consent holders, councils and communities during one of the most significant planning reforms in decades.
Urgent Legislation to Extend Existing Consents
To prevent disruption during the transition, Bishop confirmed that legislation will be introduced and passed under urgency in the coming days. The new law will automatically extend the expiry dates of existing consents, sparing thousands of consent holders from costly and unnecessary renewal processes while the RMA is phased out.
Bishop noted that over the past 30 years, the RMA has slowed housing delivery, delayed infrastructure projects, increased complexity for councils and businesses, and frustrated farmers and agribusinesses. He said the new planning framework aims to reduce red tape, unlock development and strengthen environmental outcomes. Ensuring stability during the changeover, he said, is essential.
What the Transition Will Look Like
Under the Government’s proposed Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill, the transition from the RMA will be structured around several major features intended to align the entire consenting system with the new framework.
Extension of Existing Consents
All existing consents will receive an extension of up to two years beyond the end of the transition period, which currently projects most consents to run until around 2031. Thousands of consents due to expire in the coming year will also be temporarily extended to 31 December 2027, preventing short-term renewals that would later become redundant.
Bishop said it would be unfair to force consent holders into immediate renewals when the Government has already committed to extending them. The urgent legislation ensures consistency and fairness throughout the transition period.
Transitional RMA Consent Process
During the transition years, new consent applications will still be processed under a modified version of the RMA. The updated system includes limits on when public notification is required, a narrower scope of environmental effects for councils to assess, and the immediate introduction of core national standards. These include consent-free activity pathways and procedural principles such as proportionality, offering applicants greater clarity and reduced delays.
These changes are intended to simplify consenting during the interim phase and ensure applicants understand what to expect as the old system winds down and the new one takes full effect.
Ensuring Confidence and Reducing Waste
Under-Secretary Simon Court said the temporary consent extensions provide essential certainty for individuals and businesses while the replacement framework is established. Aligning expiring consents with the transition period places all consent holders on equal footing, avoids unnecessary spending on short-term renewals, and gives councils and applicants space to prepare for the new planning environment.
The measure mirrors the Government’s earlier plan stop mechanism, which paused planning processes to prevent wasted effort ahead of reforms.
Importantly, the Government also emphasised that applicants retain choice. They may continue to apply for replacement consents under the current RMA system if they wish. Court said many may choose to seek long-term certainty by applying through the transitional rules.
“This avoids wasted time, money and effort resources that are better directed towards preparing for a modern planning system designed to deliver growth, more housing and stronger environmental outcomes,” he said.