New Zealand’s environment is under pressure and the reform of our resource management system presents an opportunity to do more to enhance the natural environment, alongside social, economic, and cultural outcomes for New Zealanders.

This whitepaper, written by Hugh Leersnyder, provides an overview of the Resource Management Act (RMA) reform journey in New Zealand, from the perspective of a contractor. It highlights the challenges faced, such as inconsistency in application, ballooning costs of consenting, impractical conditions, and poor recognition of Māori values and tikanga. It draws on case studies of infrastructure projects delivered in different regions, with varied success, to highlight effective strategies to overcome these challenges, such as early contractor involvement in the consenting process, innovative development responses, and the importance of collaboration between stakeholders. The paper also details the need for a legislative framework that achieves an optimal balance across all well-beings, with clearly articulated “bottom lines”. This will enable projects to leave a social legacy along with the built infrastructure, as well as positive outcomes for the environment and the communities they disrupt. The RMA reform presents an opportunity to do more to enhance the natural environment, alongside social, economic, and cultural outcomes for New Zealanders. Readers are invited to read the full article to gain deeper insights into the RMA reform journey and the vision for the future.

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