Hi All
A few updates in the resource management space:
- New planning laws are now in place
The Planning Act 2026 and Natural Environment Act 2026, which will eventually replace the RMA, became law on 29 September 2026. However, the change will happen gradually over several years. For now, councils will continue processing consents under the RMA and most growers should see little or no immediate change to their day-to-day operations. - When will the new system take effect?
The RMA will remain in place until a “specified transition date” is set by the Government. That date cannot be set until all regions have notified their new planning documents, including the Natural Environment Plans (NEPs) and Land Use Plans (LUPs) that will replace existing regional and district plans. Current implementation timeframes suggest it is likely to be in late 2029 or early 2030. - What does this mean for water permits?
In 2025 most consents were reinstated and extended through to 31 December 2027 (by the Resource Management (Duration of Consents) Amendment Act 2025). The new planning laws go further and now allow those permits to continue until 24 months after the specified transition date. In practical terms, this means most water permits expected to end in 2027 are likely to be able to continue until late 2031 or 2032. The extension also applies to permits continuing under section 124 of the RMA. - TANK
There has been some chatter recently about the progress of the TANK Plan Change (PC9), and the possibility of the Regional Council withdrawing it. At this stage the Regional Council has decided to continue with the current Environment Court appeal process, which means that TANK remains relevant. The Regional Council is going to revisit this after the General Election in November, but in the meantime, there is no change to the situation that we have been in for the last few years.
- Accurate Water Records Matter More Than Ever
As we head into a new irrigation season, make sure your water meter and telemetry system are working properly and accurately recording your water use. Good water-use records are becoming increasingly important and are likely to play a key role in future water allocation and consent decisions. Take the time to regularly check your equipment throughout the season to ensure it continues operating correctly and recording reliable data.
If anyone has any questions or queries in the resource management space, please do not hesitate to contact Charlotte Drury on 027 3225595, or Charlotte.Drury@hortnz.co.nz
