Environment and resource management law specialist Janette Campbell has been announced as Chair of an Expert Advisory Group set up by the Government, tasked with advising on one of the most significant public projects in a generation: transforming New Zealand’s resource management system.
Today, Hon Chris Bishop, Minister for RMA Reform, Minister of Housing and Minister for Infrastructure, and Simon Court, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Infrastructure and RMA Reform, gave a joint address at the Resource Management Law Association Conference, announcing the new system and its planned phases:
“The new system will provide for a greater use of national standards, setting minimum requirements for developments, infrastructure and other processes that are currently regulated via consents. Standards will reduce the number and scope of consents and simplify council plans.”
The new system is centered on the enjoyment of property rights with the aim of allowing greater flexibility for property owners while protecting them from harmful activities nearby. In practice, this means the resource management system should enable people to have more freedom to use their property, provided it doesn’t negatively impact others. If any activities do cause harm or infringe on neighbouring properties, the system would intervene to safeguard property owners' rights from unreasonable disruptions.
Two key laws will emerge from the new system. One is focussed on driving much needed urban development and infrastructure, aligning with the suite of policies in New Zealand’s Going for Housing Growth programme and the 30-year National Infrastructure Plan, announced last month and led by the country’s Infrastructure Commission. The other law is focused on environmental protection and managing the environmental effects that flow from the activities natural resources are used for.
In March 2024, Hon Chris Bishop explained the problems with the current RMA and outlined the objectives of the RMA reform programme:
“[The first objective is] making it easier to get things done by unlocking development capacity for housing and business growth, enabling delivery of high-quality infrastructure for the future, including doubling renewable energy, and enabling primary sector growth and development (including aquaculture, forestry, pastoral, horticulture, and mining). The second objective is to safeguard the environment and human health, adapt to the effects of climate change, improve regulatory quality in the resource management system, and uphold Treaty of Waitangi settlements and other related arrangements.”
Today, the Minister announced the key role of the Expert Advisory Group, chaired by Janette Campbell. Made up of experts with relevant technical knowledge ranging from resource management law, to planning and Te Ao Māori, The Expert Advisory Group are the designers of the new system’s blueprint.
Janette Campbell specialises in resource management law. She has over 30 years of experience representing clients before Councils and the Courts and has extensive practical experience in advancing resource consent applications, designations and policy documents. Janette has also served as a hearings commissioner, advised Regional and District Councils on their decision making roles and has provided advice to Boards of Inquiry. Before joining Bankside Chambers, she was a partner at Meredith Connell.
Janette is joined by the following experts:
- Christine Jones, General Manager of Strategy and Growth at the Tauranga City Council.
- Paul Melville, General Manager of Policy and Advocacy at Federated Farmers.
- Rukumoana Schaafhausen, Chair of Te Arataura, the executive arm of Te Whakakitenga o Waikato which represents Waikato-Tainui.
- Kevin Counsell, economic consultant and expert at National Economic Research Associates (NERA).
- Gillian Crowcroft Technical Director of Environment at Harrison Grierson.
- Mark Chrisp, Founding Director at Mitchell Daysh.
“I am honoured to be part of this outstanding group of experts, in what will be one of the most significant Government projects in a generation,” says Janette. “As practitioners, we know there are inefficiencies, the law is complicated, and change is needed. Therefore, being part of this transformative initiative is truly rewarding, as it paves the way for meaningful improvements and delivers more efficient outcomes."
Recommendations are expected by the end of 2024 with the introduction of legislation in 2025. The Government aims to pass it into law by mid-2026.
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