New Zealand

Property Council wants RMA reform

10:29 am on 23 September 2014

The Property Council says it wants reforms to the Resource Management Act [RMA] to be taken off the backburner and made a priority.

John Key said his new Government wants to press ahead with the RMA reforms it tried to pass earlier this year when it could not get enough support from other parties.

The commercial sector's Property Council wants the Government to have the legislation under way next year.

Chief executive Connal Townsend said the Environment Court often favours the natural environment over the built and reform will help developers tackle the housing crisis.

Conservation organisation, Forest and Bird said property developers should be more wary of pushing the Government to reform the RMA.

Advocacy manager Kevin Hackwell said the reforms would cause developers to spend more time in court as the new laws are clarified.

He said less than 1 percent of the consents processed between 2012 and 2013 were opposed or appealed against.