5. Question No. 5—RMA ReformLAN PHAM (Green) to the Minister responsible for RMA ReformQuestion No. 5—RMA Reform5. LAN PHAM (Green) to the Minister responsible for RMA Reform: Does he agree with the Prime Minister's statement that this is a Government that believes in localism and devolution"; if so why is the fast-track consenting process concentrating so much power in three Ministers?Hon TAMA POTAKA (Minister of Conservation) on behalf of the Minister responsible for RMA Reform: Absolutely. We are a determined Government that believes in devolution and decentralisation of pūtea and decision making where appropriate to enable whānau and communities to do what is the best for their people—like that fantastic announcement last weekend from the Prime Minister and my learned colleague from Pakuranga Minister Brown to deliver Local Water Done Well for Tāmaki-makau-rau affording a 25 percent water rates increase while retaining local control of water assets. I also stand by the Prime Minister's statement that we're going to get things built in this country in this whenua. For too long Māori and all New Zealanders have had to suffer from a lack of development in their communities often meaning less productivity slower growth a lot of cousins moving to Australia and marae up and down the country having fewer people to serve in their kitchen on their paepae because there are no jobs or industries in their regions.Lan Pham: At what point in the fast-track consenting process will local communities be able to participate?Hon TAMA POTAKA: On behalf of the Minister responsible for RMA Reform there are different points within the process where communities including iwi and Māori organisations can engage with those organisations and groups that are seeking to propose projects through the fast-track approvals process and I encourage all members to read the bill and to tautoko it.Lan Pham: Will the Minister require local government planning frameworks and regional strategies developed at a local level in partnership with iwi and hapū to be mandatory when considering whether to approve projects under the fast-track process?Hon TAMA POTAKA: On behalf of the Minister responsible for RMA Reform as you will see throughout the legislation there are different touch points in which policy planning documentation is important. So for example Te Ture Whaimana in relation to the Waikato River and its tributaries and also the legislation around ngā hapū o Ngāti Porou me ngā rohe moana.Lan Pham: What assurances then can the Minister provide to concerned communities that their local environment will be protected under the fast-track process when the usual environmental protections can be ignored?Hon TAMA POTAKA: On behalf of the relevant Minister there is no licence to desecrate the taiao in this process. We are very focused to actually get things done and within the Fast-track Approvals Bill you see various protections for the taiao whether or not that's the panel suggesting and setting conditions to protect or Ministers declining projects where they create too many adverse environmental effects. We hope that the proposed projects also for fast-track approvals include those projects that seek to reduce net emissions across this country. Kia ora tātou.Lan Pham: How are local communities meant to have their say on the projects impacting their environment and their community when these projects haven't been announced?Hon TAMA POTAKA: On behalf of the Minister responsible for RMA Reform let's ensure that the excellent select committee processes the bill in due process and we can bring that matter back to Parliament for decision. Kia ora tātou.Lan Pham: Does the Minister agree with Te Uru Kahika the collective of regional and unitary councils that "local views risk being bypassed for expedience" in the granting of fast-track consents and if not why not?Hon TAMA POTAKA: On behalf of the Minister responsible for RMA Reform I can state that yesterday I heard Helmut Modlik of Ngāti Toa Rangatira talking about his aspiration to have more sustainable developments in Porirua and we absolutely tautoko that. We see that there can be an appropriate balance between the economy the taiao and society and for too long we have seen too much red tape green tape and all-coloured tape ramping things up and going nowhere. I want my cousins to have jobs in New Zealand and not have to move to Australia to look for jobs."