11. Question No. 11—EnvironmentDr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour—Christchurch Central) to the Minister for the EnvironmentQuestion No. 11—Environment11. Dr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour—Christchurch Central) to the Minister for the Environment: What announcements has the Government made regarding the resource management system? Hon DAVID PARKER (Minister for the Environment): The Government today launched a comprehensive overhaul of the resource management system to cut complexity and costs and to better enable urban development while also improving protection of the environment. Close to 30 years after the Resource Management Act (RMA) was passed it's not working as was intended. It takes too long it costs too much and it hasn't protected the environment. This cornerstone law underperforming in New Zealand in a country where we value our environment and want to properly house people needs to be fixed. Further ad hoc patch-ups and workarounds are not the answer; a thorough overhaul of the law is needed. Dr Duncan Webb: How will the Government fix the resource management system? Hon DAVID PARKER: The overhaul will be led by a resource management review panel. I'm pleased to advise the House that the recently retired Court of Appeal judge the Hon Tony Randerson QC who brings extensive resource management and legal expertise has agreed to lead the panel. The overhaul needs to address urban development environmental bottom lines and effective but not overly complex participation including by Māori. It will focus on the RMA but also include its interactions with the Local Government Act the Land Transport Act and the Climate Change Response Act. The public will have the opportunity to have a say on the proposals before any legislative changes are made. Dr Duncan Webb: What other changes to the resource management system is the Government proposing? Hon DAVID PARKER: While we await the panel's work which we expect by mid-2020 some interim changes are necessary to remedy and remove some of the unnecessary complexity introduced by the previous Government. A targeted RMA amendment bill will be introduced to reverse some of the changes. It will increase certainty restore previously excluded public participation and improve RMA processes. Perhaps most significantly it'll support the delivery of the freshwater programme by introducing a new planning process for regional plans to protect water. Current plan processes are so unwieldy that many councils will not complete their freshwater plans until 2030 13 years after National's 2017 freshwater national policy statement. Hon Judith Collins: When did the Minister first realise that he needed yet another working group? Hon DAVID PARKER: I realised that to fix a statute that under the last Government grew to 796 pages couldn't be done on the back of an envelope. I was stunned to read the brazen claim by the National Party leader—or at least on this subject—the Hon Judith Collins that National is the party that gets stuff done." on the RMA. I'm not sure what crypt she was sleeping in in the last nine years in Government. Hon Judith Collins: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I take offence at that offensive comment. Rt Hon Winston Peters: Mr Speaker. SPEAKER: Hang on. Do you want to speak to the point of order? Rt Hon Winston Peters: Yes I do. It's a well-known convention in this House that if you lead with the chin you're likely to get a knockout blow. SPEAKER: Well I don't know that that was that helpful but there is an essence of truth in that. I think it's fair to say that the Hon Judith Collins is a relatively robust member and it was a relatively robust supplementary question. I think it's fair to say that I was getting to the point of cautioning the Hon David Parker who's not normally known for that sort of approach that he was well beyond his normal limits and I think we'll just leave it where it stands. Further supplementary—Hon Judith Collins: No. I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It is not acceptable for a Minister to refer to me or any other member of this House as sleeping in a crypt. That is a totally offensive comment and he should have the honour to withdraw and—SPEAKER: Sorry I think that is a fair comment. Sorry I thought it was the South Island word for a bach not a crypt. The member will withdraw and apologise. Hon David Parker: I withdraw and apologise. SPEAKER: Thank you. Dr Duncan Webb: What reports has he received on the Government's plans to overhaul the resource management system? Hon DAVID PARKER: Reaction from stakeholders has been overwhelmingly positive. The Employers and Manufacturers Association the Environmental Defence Society Infrastructure New Zealand the Property Council and Business New Zealand have called the Government's overhaul "a significant step" that is "a nation-building opportunity that should lead to enhanced environmental and social wellbeing outcomes". I would also note that David Seymour is quoted as having welcomed the overhaul saying it's more promising than anything National did on reforming the RMA after nine years in Government."