The Government is changing how planning decisions get made in New Zealand, and it wants to hear from the property sector.
Under the new resource management system (created by the Planning Bill and the Natural Environment Bill), central government will set national priorities to guide how councils make planning decisions. The goal is more consistency and certainty for everyone, no matter where in the country you are working.
What’s happening now
The Government has released an illustrative National Policy Direction, or NPD. Think of it as a working example, a way to test the proposed approach before the real consultation on the final NPD happens next year.
The example NPD is built around five themes:
- housing and development.
- infrastructure.
- primary production.
- resources.
- public values.
Our view
Property Council has long supported the idea of a National Policy Direction. Done well, it gives everyone clear and consistent rules to work with, cuts down on lengthy and costly disputes over planning policy, and gives developers and investors the long-term certainty they need to commit to projects.
What happens next
Over the coming weeks, Property Council will review the illustrative NPD in detail. We are also looking to run a workshop with our Resource Management System Taskforce to shape Property Council’s position, before pulling together a formal submission based on what we hear from members. Submissions are due on Friday 16 October.
Want to have your say? Get in touch with Samantha Lay Yee at samantha@propertynz.co.nz to join the taskforce.
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.
