We’re now in the early days of the four-year transition period from the resource management framework to the new planning system. As we await election results, Property Council has taken a moment to check whether the new system will deliver on our recommendations.
Our submission to the Government on the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill called for a more enabling, consistent and efficient planning system that supports investment and development. Now that both Acts have passed into law, it’s encouraging to see that 25 of our recommendations have been reflected in the final legislation, as well as the Government’s initial thinking about planning system regulations. While not every ask made it across the line, there are some important wins for our sector.
What has the Government taken on board?
- An early seat at the planning table for our sector. The Planning Act 2026 requires councils to consult infrastructure providers, development sector representatives and other stakeholders before notifying draft plans. This creates an important role for our sector in shaping decisions about where, when and what type of development is enabled, bringing practical insights on land availability, infrastructure capacity and development feasibility.
- Strong protection for nationally consistent plan rules. We recommended tighter controls on councils looking to develop their own bespoke rules. Where councils propose departures from national standards, the legislation requires justification reports, including analysis of impacts on development and investment. This will help reduce unnecessary regional variation, complexity and uncertainty for developers while allowing for justified local differences.
- An independent and well-supported Planning Tribunal. Property Council advocated for a well-resourced Tribunal with qualified adjudicators and adequate administrative support. The legislation establishes Principal Adjudicator and Deputy Principal Adjudicator roles to strengthen independent decision-making, alongside Registrar and Deputy Registrar positions to support its effective operation. These are important steps towards timely decisions and reducing the risk of the Tribunal becoming a bottleneck.
- More predictable consenting and planning decisions. Compared with the existing resource management framework, the legislation delivers on our asks for stronger consent processing timeframes, greater flexibility for private plan changes and opportunities for earlier reviews of land-use plans. The Government’s illustrative National Policy Direction also signals clearer approaches to resolving conflicts between development and environmental objectives.
- Proportionate, evidence-based environmental management. The Natural Environment Act 2026 provides for measurable environmental limits, nationally consistent methodologies and ongoing monitoring. These outcomes reflect our advocacy for evidence-based settings that deliver genuine environmental protections and improvements without imposing unnecessary constraints on development.
What does this mean for our sector right now?
These changes offer some important foundations for greater certainty. Earlier sector engagement, more consistent planning rules, and stronger decision-making processes should help make the new system more workable in practice.
However, some important recommendations were not adopted. These include extending consultation periods for National Policy Directions and National Standards and allowing more time for development of the first generation of regional spatial plans.
Other matters, including natural hazard thresholds, proportionality in information requests and consistent activity classifications, remain dependent on the development of National Policy Direction and National Standards.
What happens next
The legislation is just the beginning. The Government must now develop the national instruments that will determine how the new system operates, while councils begin preparing Regional Spatial Plans. Property Council will stay closely involved in this next phase, working with Government and members to ensure our advice is carried through into implementation.
There is meaningful progress to recognise, but ongoing sector involvement will be necessary to ensure the new system delivers what we’ve been asking for: a planning system with clear direction and consistent rules that unlocks development and infrastructure in the right place at the right time.
Author | Samantha Lay Yee
Samantha brings a sharp policy mind and deep understanding of urban development to her role as Senior Advocacy Advisor. With a Master of Laws specialising in environmental law, she has built her career at the intersection of government, regulation and city-shaping policy.
Prior to joining Property Council, Samantha held a senior advisory role at Kāinga Ora where she led a complex investment management work programme. She also brings policy experience from the Ministry for the Environment and the Department of Internal Affairs. In those roles, she developed regulatory advice for Ministers and contributed to nationally significant urban development reforms. Her experience spans cross-agency collaboration, stakeholder engagement and translating complex policy into clear, actionable insights.
Analytical, thoughtful and highly respected, Samantha combines strategic thinking with a practical approach – helping shape policy settings that enable better outcomes for New Zealand’s built environment.
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