The Resource Management Act is being replaced, and some parts of the consenting process will change during the transition period.

Moving from the RMA to the new planning system

New planning laws are replacing the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). They are called the ‘Planning Act’ and ‘Natural Environment Act’. They will bring significant change to the way that land use planning and consenting works. Eventually we will have to develop a replacement for the District Plan, but this is a while away.

Because this is a big change, there is time in between the RMA system being replaced by the new laws. This is known as the ‘transition period’.

The transition period will start from 30 October 2026 and will continue for some time, likely into at least 2029.

What the transition period means for resource consents

During this time resource consent applications will continue to be processed under the RMA, but there will be some changes to how applications are assessed.

When assessing applications for residential activities the following effects must be disregarded:

• the area of glazing
• the presence or absence of balconies
• outdoor living space
• the internal layout
• the size of a residential unit
• the size of landscaped areas except in relation to permeability.

They still apply where historic heritage is being considered.

The following effects must also be disregarded:

• negative effects of development on trade competition, including on competing providers of input goods and services
• effects on retail distribution
• for a project, any lack of demand for the project or whether the project is financially viable
• the type of residents to be housed in a new development
• views from private property.

Applications lodged before the transition period starts

All applications lodged up to the date of the transition period must be assessed against the existing District Plan provisions.

If you have already lodged an application and want your application to be assessed under the new RMA provisions, you will have to withdraw it and lodge a new application.

Contact your agent or the planner assessing your application for more information.

Which parts of the District Plan are affected

Council will update the District Plan and remove provisions that can no longer be considered, once interpretation of the new matters becomes clear.

There will also be changes to how applications will be assessed that may not be reflected in the District Plan.

We are working with other Councils in the Canterbury region on new processes for consenting during the transition period.

Contact us

If you have any questions, contact the Duty Planner.
Phone: 0800 965 468
Email: duty.planner@wmk.govt.nz