RMA Reform
Resource Management Act Reform: Moving to the Planning Act and Natural Environment Act
The Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) has been New Zealand's core law for managing land use, development and natural resources for over 30 years. South Waikato District Council administers its District Plan and processes resource consents under this framework.
A new replacement was developed from 2024, with the Natural Environment Bill and Planning Bill introduced in December 2025 (public submissions closed February 2026). Both Bills have now passed into law as the Planning Act 2026 and Natural Environment Act 2026, received Royal Assent in September 2026.
What's changing
- Amendments to the RMA to transition resource consent processing to the new system
- A new planning hierarchy, with more decisions set nationally rather than argued case-by-case at consent stage
- National Policy Direction and national standards will progressively set detailed rules for councils (first tranche expected September 2027)
- Regional spatial plans, land use plans and natural environment plans will eventually replace district and regional plans like SWDC's District Plan
- A staged transition is underway, with full RMA repeal expected around early 2030 once new regional plans are notified.
What the transition period means for resource consents
During the transition period which commences on 30 October 2026, resource consent applications will continue to be processed under the RMA, but there will be some changes to how applications are assessed.
For consents lodged on or after 30 October:
When assessing applications for residential activities the following effects must be disregarded:
- the area of glazing
- the presence or absence of balconies
- outdoor living space
- the internal layout
- the size of a residential unit
- the size of landscaped areas except, in relation to permeability.
They still apply where historic heritage is being considered.
The following effects must also be disregarded:
- negative effects of development on trade competition, including on competing providers of input goods and services
- effects on retail distribution
- for a project, any lack of demand for the project or whether the project is financially viable
- the type of residents to be housed in a new development
- views from private property.
The special circumstances public notification test is removed.
Public and limited notification processes continue under the RMA, including the ability to make a submission. However, the ability for Council to publicly notify an application because special circumstances exist under section 95A(9) is removed.
Applications lodged before 30 October 2026
All applications lodged up to the date of the transition period must be assessed against the existing District Plan provisions.
If you have already lodged an application and want your application to be assessed under the new RMA provisions, you will be required to withdraw it and lodge a new application. This will require payment of an additional deposit.
Contact your agent or the planner assessing your application for more information.
Which parts of the District Plan are affected
We are reviewing our district plan to identify the provisions affected by the changes.
Further updates
This webpage will be updated with more information as this is available.
More information about the new legislation and transition to the new resource management system is available from the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport and the Government's planning information website:
Contact us
If you have any questions, contact the Resource Consents team.
Phone: 07 885 0340
