Why the system is changing

Find out why New Zealand's planning system is changing and what the new system is designed to achieve.

Planning rules affect many parts of everyday life in New Zealand. They influence where homes are built, how infrastructure is delivered, how farms and businesses operate, how natural resources are used, and how the environment is protected.

For more than 30 years, these decisions have largely been managed under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). Over time, the system has become more complex, making planning rules, council plans and consent processes harder for people to understand and navigate.

The new planning system is designed to:

  • make planning and consent processes simpler and more consistent
  • support more housing and infrastructure development
  • support economic growth, productivity and higher living standards
  • support farming, forestry, aquaculture and other primary industries
  • protect natural resources and human health by setting environmental limits
  • help communities manage natural hazards and adapt to climate change.