Latest news with #Government
Scoop
35 minutes ago
- Business
- Scoop
National Direction In Support Of Growth
BusinessNZ welcomes the Government's proposed consultation on national direction under the Resource Management Act, as a step towards a better planning system. BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich says the proposed updates in direction on infrastructure, renewable energy, housing, mining, and primary sector development, recognise New Zealand's need both to grow the economy and protect the environment. "This is the most comprehensive overhaul of national direction we've seen, and it reflects many of the changes BusinessNZ has advocated for. We're encouraged by moves to simplify consenting for energy, housing and farming, and to replace overly complex freshwater rules that have frustrated producers without delivering better environmental outcomes," Mrs Rich said. BusinessNZ supports the intention of transitioning these changes into a new RMA framework based on clearer property rights and long-term certainty to encourage investment and growth. "We look forward to engaging constructively during consultation to help ensure the final package delivers on its promise to reduce red tape, restore balance, and support economic recovery," Katherine Rich said.
Wall Street Journal
44 minutes ago
- General
- Wall Street Journal
With Israeli Intel, Lebanon Is Dismantling Hezbollah in the South
BEIRUT—Lebanon's army has largely disarmed Hezbollah in its southern strongholds—in part with the help of Israeli intelligence—as the country's new government moves to enforce a cease-fire that halted an intense wave of fighting with Israel last year. U.S. and Israeli officials say they have been pleasantly surprised by the progress, which has been critical in maintaining the fragile truce struck in November. The question now is whether the Lebanese state can complete the task in the south and extend its efforts to the rest of the country.
Scoop
an hour ago
- Business
- Scoop
Council Backs Joint Approach For Water Services
Press Release – Kaipara District Council Kaipara District Council Mayor Craig Jepson says collaborating with the other Northland councils is necessary. Kaipara District Council has completed its deliberations on the future delivery model for water services, following community consultation as part of the Government's Local Water Done Well (LWDW) legislation. After reviewing feedback from 66 submitters, including businesses, organisations, and individuals, elected members agreed to pursue a multi-council controlled organisation as its priority model for water and wastewater services. This approach also received the strongest support from the community, with 60% of submissions favouring a collaborative Northland-wide effort to deliver infrastructure, maintenance, and service delivery for waters. Alternative options considered included a shared service contract model with one or more councils, and an in-house business model. Kaipara District Council Mayor Craig Jepson says collaborating with the other Northland councils is necessary. 'Reliable water services are important for our communities, so we need to make smart choices that keep them as affordable as possible and running smoothly for the long haul,' said Mayor Jepson. 'We know the cost of delivering water services is going to increase but we need to be in a position where we not only maintain efficient and affordable services but still maintain our community input on how these are managed. Representatives of Kaipara District Council are working alongside elected representatives from other Northland councils through a Local Water Done Well Working Group, with the goal of further investigating collaborative opportunities for water service delivery. Kaipara District Council Chief Executive Jason Marris said the decision today means staff will be working to finalise the Water Services Delivery Plan within the legislative timeframes. 'We're working closely with our Northland counterparts to support the working group in shaping a path forward. The decision today provides a good step to achieve what our community has signalled.'
Scoop
an hour ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Government Launches Consultation On Freshwater National Direction
Press Release – New Zealand Government This is a key step toward restoring balance in how freshwater is managed across the country and ensuring the interests of all water users, including farmers, growers, and rural communities, are properly reflected, Mr McClay says. Minister of Agriculture Hon Andrew Hoggard Associate Minister for the Environment The Government has today opened public consultation on options to reform New Zealand's freshwater national direction Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard announced today. National direction refers to rules and policies sitting under the Resource Management Act (RMA) that inform how councils develop and implement local plans and rules. The Government is today releasing three discussion documents proposing amendments to 12 different instruments and the introduction of four new instruments, centred on three packages: infrastructure and development, the primary sector and freshwater. 'This is a key step toward restoring balance in how freshwater is managed across the country and ensuring the interests of all water users, including farmers, growers, and rural communities, are properly reflected,' Mr McClay says. This move follows the Government's decisive intervention in 2024 to stop the Otago Regional Council from pushing ahead with a freshwater plan that would have imposed unnecessary costs and uncertainty on rural landowners. 'Regional councils must work within national direction that is fit for purpose, not pursue agendas that undermine local economies or the people who rely on the land,' Mr McClay says. 'We're committed to a freshwater system that protects the environment while also supporting the people who feed and grow New Zealand,' Mr Hoggard says. 'The current rules are too complex, too expensive, and too often ignore the practical realities of landowners. We're fixing that.' The consultation proposes replacing the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 and related regulations with a more practical, efficient, and regionally adaptable system. 'The current system's Te Mana o te Wai has caused frustration across rural New Zealand, with some councils applying it in a way that sidelines the very people working to improve water outcomes,' Mr Hoggard says. 'Farmers aren't asking for a free pass – they're asking for a fair go,' Mr McClay says. 'We won't stand by while councils weaponise Te Mana o te Wai, to push ideology over common sense. It must reflect the importance of freshwater to all New Zealanders.' The proposed changes would: Replace the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 and the National Environmental Standards for Freshwater; Give councils greater flexibility to balance environmental goals with economic impacts and allow longer timeframes to reach targets where needed; Remove unnecessary consents for practices like crop rotation and enable commercial domestic vegetable growing; Support long-term water security by enabling water storage; Improve the protection of drinking water sources; and Review and simplify data requirements under synthetic nitrogen fertiliser regulations. These are practical, farmer-focused reforms will restore confidence and reduce red tape, while still delivering environmental gains. 'We've heard from farmers across the country that nationally determined bottom lines are not always appropriate and can be unachievable even in some catchments dominated by native bush. They also take away flexibility from local communities to achieve the environmental outcomes they want,' Mr Hoggard says. 'We're putting outcomes ahead of process and backing rural New Zealand to be part of the solution,' Mr McClay says. Public consultation is now open on the Ministry for the Environment's 'Have Your Say' website and will run until 27 July 2025. Submissions from all New Zealanders are encouraged. This is the first of a two-stage process. Feedback will inform final decisions on what to amend in national direction, with a draft set of proposals to follow later in the year. Notes: Fact sheet attached here: Freshwater consultation package National direction includes national policy statements, environmental standards, and other RMA instruments that guide how regional and local councils manage resources. Updated direction is critical to ensure consistent, practical, and efficient freshwater management across New Zealand.
Scoop
an hour ago
- Business
- Scoop
Enabling More Housing: National Direction On Granny Flats And Papakāinga
Press Release – New Zealand Government The RMA is broken, and its a big part of the reason for many of New Zealands biggest problems with infrastructure, housing and energy, Mr Bishop says. The Government is taking action to address the country's housing crisis through the biggest package of proposed changes to national direction in New Zealand's history, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka say. National direction refers to rules and policies sitting under the Resource Management Act (RMA) that inform how councils develop and implement local plans and rules. The Government is today releasing three discussion documents proposing amendments to 12 different instruments and the introduction of four new instruments, centred on three packages: infrastructure and development, the primary sector and freshwater. 'The RMA is broken, and it's a big part of the reason for many of New Zealand's biggest problems with infrastructure, housing and energy,' Mr Bishop says. 'Addressing this is critical to boosting economic growth, improving living standards and meeting future challenges posed by natural hazards and climate change. 'We've already repealed Labour's botched RMA reforms and are making a series of quick and targeted amendments to unlock land for housing, build infrastructure, and allow communities to share the benefits of growth. We've also passed the Fast-track Approvals Act to make it much easier to deliver projects with regional or nationally significant benefits – and the first projects including Delmore (1,250 residential dwellings in Auckland) are already going through the Fast-track process. 'Next year we'll replace the RMA with new legislation premised on property rights. Our new system will provide a framework that makes it easier to plan and deliver infrastructure and energy projects, as well as protecting the environment. 'In the meantime we're making targeted, quick changes through our second RMA amendment Bill which is expected back from the Environment Committee next month, and changes to national direction. 'Addressing housing affordability and supply is a key focus for the Government. We want to make it easier for families to build a granny flat of up to 70 square metres on an existing property through proposed new National Environmental Standards for Granny Flats. This NES will require all councils to permit a granny flat on sites in rural, residential, mixed use, and Māori purpose zones without the need to gain a resource consent subject to certain conditions. It will sit alongside our parallel work to amend the Building Act to remove the need for a building consent for those same granny flats.' 'Existing resource management rules are a barrier for Māori to build papakāinga housing on ancestral land. Our proposed new National Environmental Standard for Papakāinga would allow papakāinga on some rural land, residential zones, and Māori purpose zones, subject to certain conditions. It would enable Māori to develop papakāinga housing more efficiently and quickly,' Mr Potaka says. 'We are committed to providing better housing options for whānau, and one of the ways we will achieve this is by making it easier for Māori landowners to unlock opportunities for their whenua. 'Currently, inconsistent rules for building papakāinga in council district and unitary plans across the country are preventing Māori landowners from using their land to house their whānau, exercise autonomy over their whenua, and build wealth. 'We're proposing to introduce a consistent national framework – called National Environmental Standards – that will reduce consenting inconsistencies, remove planning barriers, and make consenting less costly and complex. 'If accepted, consenting standards would become uniform across the country, regardless of which district plan the land falls under, and small-scale – up to 10 homes – papakāinga would no longer require resource consent. 'These changes, developed in consultation with papakāinga and Māori planning experts, will reduce bureaucracy and make it easier for Māori landowners to develop papakāinga so more whānau are able to live in warm, dry, healthy, affordable housing. 'Papakāinga provide multiple benefits to whānau, hapū and Iwi. As well as economic, social, and wellbeing benefits, papakāinga provide holistic and cultural benefits because our connection to the whenua is such a key part of being Māori. 'This proposal would also complement our granny flats policy. Together the two proposals provide options for Māori to build on their existing assets. While the papakāinga development provides more scope for multiple homes on communally owned Māori land, the granny flats policy provides an option for homeowners to build one additional dwelling on their residential property without consent building or resource consent.' Consultation on these proposals will remain open until 27 July 2025. The Government intends to have 16 new or updated national direction instruments in place by the end of this year. Notes: Infrastructure and development is one of three national direction packages released today as part of the Government's wider reform of the resource management system. The other two packages cover changes for the primary sector and freshwater management.
