Report of the EDS TAG on the review of Sections 6 & 7 of the RMA 1991

In December 2008, the Government initiated a two-phase programme of reform of resource management in New Zealand. The Government was concerned that the costs, uncertainty and delays of the Resource Management Act 1991 (the Act) were adversely affecting New Zealand jobs, infrastructure, and productivity, and promised changes to the Act to simplify and streamline processes without compromising environmental protections.

In 2011 the Government announced its intention to consider amendments to sections 6 and 7 of the Act within the scope of its Phase 2 reforms and announced the establishment of a technical advisory group (RMA Principles TAG) to review sections 6 and 7 and report back to
Cabinet with recommendations by March 2012.

In November 2011 EDS convened a technical advisory group (EDS TAG) to review sections 6 and 7 of the Act, and produce a report with recommendations. In forming the EDS TAG, EDS sought to assist Cabinet and the Minister for the Environment in their review, by providing
the advice of a highly experienced and multi-disciplinary team of resource management professionals.

The EDS TAG’s recommendations have been produced independently of the RMA Principles TAG’s work. EDS’s TAG has, however, adopted the terms of reference, scope of work, and general timeframe of the RMA Principles TAG in order to provide relevant and timely advice to the
Government. This report sets out EDS TAG’s recommendations.