These Bills fundamentally change the way that Aotearoa New Zealand manages all facets of our environment, impacting our economy, cultural values and community life. We are deeply concerned by the lack of priority given to nature and the biodiversity that lives within it – as nature underpins all aspects of New Zealanders’ lives and livelihoods.
The resource management system is critical for managing impacts of human activities on nature. Reforming the Resource Management Act 1991 presents an opportunity to create settings that ensure biodiversity recovers and the environment thrives for future generations.
However, in their current form, these Bills prioritise private property rights and economic growth above the environment, which will set New Zealand on a course for further environmental degradation, loss of precious taonga and species, and increased costs from impaired ecosystem services.