The Rural Supplies Technical Working Group recently released its Report into rural drinking water supplies. This is relevant specifically to those councils with rural drinking water and mixed-use supplies in their rohe. In this article our Chief Executive Karen Thomas outlines key takeaways from the Report and shares thoughts on future directions for this work.
Category: resource management
Updating protections for indigenous biodiversity
The Ministry for the Environment has just released an exposure draft of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity. It is a key plank of the Government’s response to biodiversity decline and aims to protect, maintain, and restore our indigenous biodiversity in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Resource management reform update
Last week the Taituarā Resource Management Reform Reference Group met to discuss the progress of the reform programme and how they can support the sector through the transition to the new system.
Boosting local voice and accountability in the new resource management system
The Local Government Resource Management Reform Steering Group is currently consulting on how to better enable local democratic input and accountability in the future resource management system. Feedback should be provided by 15 March 2022. Taituarā invites you to join us online for an opportunity to ask the Steering Group members any questions you have on 24 February 2022.
Improving disclosure of natural hazard information in LIMs
Councils would have greater confidence with respect to providing natural hazard information on LIMs through nationally consistent legislation now on the horizon. The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) will be engaging with local government from February through to April on the operation and implementation of changes to LGOIMA, focussing on how this can be implemented successfully and the role of regional councils.
Updates on climate change work at the Ministry for the Environment
The Ministry for the Environment is working on an array of climate change adaptation-related plans, legislation and guidelines which have direct relevance to local government. We outline some important developments.
Reforming the Resource Management Act
The Government’s reform of the Resource Management system is progressing at pace with three new Bills expected to replace it by the end of 2022.
Contributing to the Resource Management Act reform process
At Taituarā we are committed to ensuring the very best outcomes from the reform of Aotearoa’s 30-year-old Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). Although the RMA is a key driver of much that happens in local government and our communities, it is urgently in need of a major overhaul to enable our nation to address new challenges going forward. Ways to contribute to this enormously important and wide-reaching programme of reform include joining our Resource Management Reform Reference Group (RMRG) as well as engaging through a dedicated Discussion Group.
Natural and Built Environments Act exposure draft: out for consultation soon
The Government’s reform of the resource management system is continuing to progress apace. The ‘first cab off the rank’ is an Exposure Draft of the Natural and Built Environments Act (NBA) – the core piece of legislation to replace the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA).
Taituarā Resource Management Reform Reference Group appointed
Taituarā is pleased to announce that it has now appointed its Resource Management Reform Reference Group (RMRG). The purpose of the RMRG is to help Taituarā identify and advise on issues with the package of reform proposals that have potential to impact significantly on local authorities, and in particular their ability to operationalise the three new pieces of legislation that are proposed to replace the Resource Management Act 1991: the Natural and Built Environments Act, the Spatial Planning Act, and the Climate Change Adaptation Act.