News

The future of resource management

29 July 2021

Motueka river viewed from river bed - close up of boulders and water with trees in the distance.

It's a busy time for the Tasman District Council Policy Planning Team as they progress work to create a new resource management plan for the Tasman District, while also keeping across changes to national legislation.

Resource management covers everything from how we look after our air, land, and water, while also providing for the development of healthy, happy places for us all to live, work, and play.

Following a review commissioned in 2019, the Government has decided to repeal and replace the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). The RMA is New Zealand's principal legislation for environmental management and provides the framework under which our local resource management plans are developed. The RMA will be replaced with three new Acts: the Natural and Built Environments Act, the Strategic Planning Act, and the Climate Change Adaption Act.

RMA reform follows other central Government policy that directs aspects of how we manage freshwater, enable urban development, and prepare for natural hazards and climate change. Further policy documents are expected in the near future.

Waimea Ruby Bay Subdivision

While these changes are designed to bring about better outcomes for people and our environments, Environmental Policy Manager Barry Johnson said he recognised that uncertainty and the pace of change can be a real challenge.

“We’re actively working through what the new legislation will mean for us here in Tasman.

“Our District is underpinned by primary production, so it’s vital that we continue to engage with our communities and have strong knowledge of our local issues and options so that we're well prepared to respond to future legislative changes.

“We will continue to work with our communities through the Tasman Environment Plan project to better understand local challenges and opportunities for managing our environment, providing for development, and building resilience.

“Ultimately, we all want to look after our place for future generations and that’s why even though these conversations are hard at times, we need to have them,” said Mr Johnson.


Listen to Mr Johnson talk about the Tasman Environment Plan


Council is organising a series of community conversations over the next 12 months to talk about some of the big issues and opportunities we identified together through community engagement last year, and some of the options we have for addressing them. These conversations include how we respond to sea level rise and natural hazards, manage freshwater, and the strategy for our future development.