The Resource Management Review Panel (Panel) has recommended a statutory framework for resource management in New Zealand which involves the repeal and replacement of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). In the first of a series of three articles, we discuss what can be expected under the primary Act that the Panel proposes should replace RMA, the proposed Natural Built and Environment Act (NBEA).
Before you start on your tiny house project it is important to understand what a tiny house is and whether your tiny house will pass muster. This article discusses the two recent decisions about tiny houses in New Zealand and explains what factors you need to consider before you start your tiny house project.
Further to our first article in this series which provided an overview of the Waikato Regional Plan Change 1, this second article expands on the PC1 rules and explains how they are likely to impact on farming activities around the region.
As you may know that on 22 April, Waikato Regional Council has notified its decision on the Proposed Waikato Regional Plan Change 1 for the Waikato and Waipa River Catchments. The article below provides an overview about the Plan Change 1, new rules and its effect on farming activities.
This is not the first time in our history that the government has looked to kick-start the economy with large infrastructure, job-creation projects. There are some lessons to be learned from the past: perhaps we need to take just a little time and accept some community input in order to get it right!
Cabinet has now approved an initiative to fast-track approval of resource consents for large-scale infrastructure and development projects. The change is designed as a short-term intervention to help with the economic recovery from Covid-19. In this article we discuss the key features of the streamlined process.
When interpreting “Avoidance Policies” in the National Coastal Policy Statement (the NZCPS), the courts are adopting a strict approach that requires absolute avoidance of adverse effects on the values protected. That approach could significantly limit the ability to obtain a resource consent for any activities on and around New Zealand’s coastal area where “Avoidance Policies” are triggered. It could also apply to other resource management areas.
A farmer was fined $14,400 plus costs for allowing waste product to be burnt on his farm. This provides a timely reminder to landowners to ensure that they understand what activities are taking place on their land and to ensure that these are being carried out in a lawful manner.