The Labour Party will back the government's proposed resource management legislation to at least select committee stage, it says.
Labour environment spokesperson David Parker said the party would back "sensible process improvements to the RMA". Photo: RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson
The Resource Legislation Amendment Bill is aimed at speeding up planning and consenting processes, in part to enable more houses to be built.
It would also give iwi the opportunity to be involved in project planning by local councils at an early stage, and allow for Maori corporations to draw water for stock without consent.
The government secured initial support for the bill from the Maori Party last week.
Labour environment spokesperson David Parker said the changes were modest and would not fix the housing crisis but he said they would "have some positive impacts around the margins".
"We have always said we would support sensible process improvements to the RMA [Resource Management Act]", he said.
"We are pleased National lost the battle to undermine the core environmental protections in the act."
But the legislation was not a magic solution, Mr Parker said.
"It is an abject surrender by National because - after years of blaming the RMA for out-of-control housing prices - they know gutting the act is not the solution."
The bill will have its first reading in Parliament on Thursday.