Natural and Built Environment Act and Spatial Planning Act passed by Parliament
The Acts create a new resource management system to be phased in over the next 10 years.
The NBA is the main replacement for the Resource Management Act 1991. It provides a new framework for regulating both environmental planning and land-use planning. The SPA requires the development of a long-term regional spatial strategy in each region of New Zealand. The NBA and the SPA are expected to work together as a single system.
Note: The future of the new Acts is currently uncertain as the National Party has indicated it will repeal the new Acts “by Christmas” if elected to Government this year.
For all the latest updates, see Resource Management — What's New and Salmon Environmental Law - What's New on Westlaw New Zealand.
Stephen Blakeley is a Senior Legal Editor, Writer & Editorial Coordinator in the New Zealand Analytical Law team at Thomson Reuters. He has more than 20 years' experience in legal publishing in New Zealand, Australia and the UK.