Resource Management Act 1991
The Resource Management Act (RMA) passed in 1991 in New Zealand is a significant, and at times, controversial Act of Parliament. The RMA promotes the sustainable management of natural and physical resources such as land, air and water. New Zealand's Ministry for the Environment describes the RMA as New Zealand's principal legislation for environmental management.
| Resource Management Act 1991 | |
|---|---|
| New Zealand Parliament | |
| |
| Royal assent | 22 July 1991 |
| Commenced | 1 October 1991 |
| Legislative history | |
| Introduced by | Simon Upton |
| Passed | 22 July 1991 |
| Amended by | |
| 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 | |
| Related legislation | |
| Crown Minerals Act 1991 | |
| Status: Current legislation | |
The RMA and the decisions made under it by district and regional councils and in courts affect both individuals and businesses in large numbers, and often in very tangible ways. The Act has variously been attacked for being ineffective in managing adverse environmental effects, or overly time-consuming and expensive and concerned with bureaucratic restrictions on legitimate economic activities.
The Sixth Labour Government replaced the RMA with two separate acts: the Natural and Built Environment Act 2023 (NBA), and the Spatial Planning Act 2023 (SPA); and planned to add the Climate Change Adaptation Bill (CAA). Following the 2023 New Zealand general election, the National-led coalition government repealed Labour's NBA and SPA legislation. It also promised to reform the RMA and eventually replace it with new resource management laws.