Why RMA reform matters

By Luka Jansen, DINZ Environmental Stewardship Manager 

Luka Jansen, DINZ Environmental Stewardship Manager 

New Zealand is on the verge of some of the biggest changes to its planning and environmental laws in a generation. 

After more than 30 years, there is broad agreement that the RMA is no longer delivering the outcomes New Zealand needs. While the legislation was introduced with good intentions, it has often become costly, complex, and time-consuming to implement. 

Significant changes are already well underway. While the new legislation is expected to be passed before the coming election, the transition to the new system will take several years to complete. 

As of 1 July 2026, the standalone Ministry for the Environment was absorbed into the new Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT) as part of a wider public service restructure. In addition, Local Government Reform is underway, which means new local entities will be formed, but, through the merging of District, City and Regional Councils functions, the total number of councils across the country will be reduced.   

The replacement of the Resource Management Act, together with broader local government reforms, presents an opportunity to rethink how we manage our natural environment while supporting a prosperous economy and resilient infrastructure. The new system places a greater emphasis on national consistency. Once national instruments are in place, local authorities will have less planning discretion, and inconsistencies should have simpler pathways. The overall effect of these changes is a tangible shift towards central government policy making. 

Regional Spatial Plans (RSPs) are one of the most significant structural changes proposed under the replacement planning system. For the deer industry, this shift could be substantial, and it is important that we stay informed about the development of RSPs across New Zealand and the implications each may have for deer farming businesses. 

Environmental limits and the methodologies used to establish regional natural resource limits will increasingly be directed by central government. It is expected that freshwater farm plans will provide a more consistent approach to farm management instead of each local authority doing things slightly different with different conditions to meet. 

One of the deer industry's long-standing concerns has been the cost of complying with environmental regulations and regional planning rules developed under the RMA framework. In many cases, the system adopted a highly precautionary approach, making even environmentally beneficial activities difficult to undertake. For example, in some regions, farm environment projects such as wetland construction and erosion protection can require resource consent. Rather than encouraging practical environmental improvements, regional rule frameworks have sometimes created barriers due to the cost and complexity involved. 

Communities want strong environmental protection. They want rivers, coastlines, and natural resources protected for future generations. At the same time, they need jobs, healthy homes, resilient roads, flood protection, reliable water infrastructure, and economically sustainable rural industries that support local regions. 

Balancing these priorities has never been easy, but the challenge is becoming more complex. This is why RMA reform matters. Across the country, councils are faced with growing financial pressure. Infrastructure built decades ago is reaching the end of its life. Climate-related events are increasing demands for flood protection and resilience projects, while insurance is becoming more difficult or expensive to obtain in some areas. Communities are feeling the impact of rising costs, and ratepayers are increasingly questioning how much more they can afford. 

At the same time, central government is also facing financial constraints. There is growing recognition that governments cannot simply spend their way out of every problem. Decisions about priorities, funding, and trade-offs are becoming unavoidable. 

For deer farmers, certainty is critical. Farm businesses operate on long investment cycles. Decisions about fencing, wintering systems, water storage, erosion control, forestry, diversification, and environmental improvements often involve significant capital investment. Farmers are more willing to invest when they understand the rules and have confidence that approval processes are fair, efficient, and predictable. 

DINZ’s goal is not to reduce environmental protection or diminish social values. Rather, going forward we aim to help establish a new framework where the right balance is being achieved. 

• How do we protect the environment while enabling a growing deer industry? 
• How do we ensure cultural perspectives are respected under the new resource management framework while maintaining transparent and predictable legislative processes for deer farmers? 
• How do we fund essential infrastructure when both councils and central government face financial pressures? 
• How do we support growth while ensuring future generations inherit healthy natural resources? 

These are not simple questions but avoiding them will not make them disappear. 

The impacts of getting these decisions wrong are already visible. Productive farmland can be lost through erosion, flooding, pests, disease, and land use. Communities become vulnerable when infrastructure is not replaced as fast as it ages. Economic opportunities can be lost when approval processes become uncertain or prohibitively expensive. 

For deer farmers, these issues are not theoretical. They affect land use decisions, farm profitability, environmental investment, succession planning, and the long-term viability of rural communities. 

Ultimately, achieving our goals will require honest conversations about budgets, costs, priorities, responsibilities, and trade-offs. Most importantly, it will require leadership that brings people together rather than driving them apart. 

In a world increasingly defined by division, the deer industry must focus on practical solutions, common sense, and a shared vision for the future so the reforms underway today help create a stronger, more resilient New Zealand for generations to come. 

Now is the time to let me know about the challenges you face in your region. The reality is that opportunities to influence the new system may be limited, and this may be one of the few chances to advocate for meaningful change. We are competing with a range of other interests and priorities but aim to work collaboratively with other stakeholders; that requires conversations well before formal consultation and public submission processes begin. 

To contact the DINZ Environmental Stewardship Manager and share your thoughts, email Luka.Jansen@deernz.org.