McKelvie Ian: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
McKelvie Ian: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 28 February 2013. Volume:687;Page:8331. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
8. 
IAN McKELVIE (National—Rangitikei) 
 to the  
Minister for the Environment 
: What announcements has the Government made today aimed at improving our resource management system? 
Hon AMY ADAMS (Minister for the Environment) 
: 
 Today I have launched a discussion document detailing an extensive programme of potential reforms focused on revamping our resource management system. The package aims to improve our planning consenting and appeal processes to increase certainty and predictability attract investment and reduce unnecessary duplication and cost while continuing to protect the environment. As well as proposing a number of changes to consent processes the reforms consider the appropriate roles of central government and local government as well as the courts system and propose more central guidance aimed at promoting consistency and ensuring national objectives are given effect to. 
Ian McKelvie 
: What are the key objectives of the proposed reforms? 
Hon AMY ADAMS 
: The overall objective for the proposed resource management reforms is to ensure the Act is meeting the needs of New Zealand and to address the unreasonable time and cost of many Resource Management Act processes. Those delays have real impacts on Kiwi households and businesses. They can be a barrier to new jobs. They mean houses are more expensive and that communities do not know what they can expect in their neighbourhoods. We want a system where New Zealanders know what they can and cannot do with their land businesses have the certainty they need to grow and create jobs and communities do not find themselves having to fight consent by consent to protect their local values. 
Ian McKelvie 
: What will the next steps be in advancing these proposals? 
Hon AMY ADAMS 
: The proposed reforms represent a significant revamp of the Resource Management Act. I am looking forward to the debate that will be had on each of the proposals in the discussion document. The difficulties with Resource Management Act processes are well known to councils communities and businesses alike. I will be very interested to hear what alternative suggestions opponents of the proposals come up with. There will be a number of public meetings and hui taking place across the country during March. Public submissions are open now and can be made any time until 2 April. Final policy decisions will be made only once we have had the opportunity to consider all submissions and feedback. 
Hon Maryan Street 
: Is giving the Minister the power to direct councils to change plans remove consultation requirements by regulation and prevent people making submissions on matters relating to consents aimed at improving the Resource Management Act or is it just another power grab by this Government at the expense of local communities? 
Hon AMY ADAMS 
: Well I welcome that member to the portfolio and as she is new to it she may not be aware that the power to do— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Minister will start the answer again and simply answer the question. 
Hon AMY ADAMS 
: I point out to the member that the power to direct plan changes was introduced to the Resource Management Act by the Labour Government in 2005. The power to dictate through regulations what proposals should be subject to consultation is already in the Resource Management Act. I do accept that there is no requirement to have public consultation on proposals such as the need to extend a deck which is what the majority of consents in this country are.