Planning reform: the Select Committee clock is ticking

Property Council completed its submission on the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill in mid-February. Since then, the Environment Select Committee has been working through more than 3,100 submissions, with its report due on 26 June 2026 — though officials have hinted this deadline may slip.

The Government is still committed to passing both Bills and beginning consultation on draft national instruments before the election. Property Council supports the new planning system, which aims to make it easier to develop within clear environmental limits. But we’ve been direct with the Government about one critical issue: New Zealand’s economy needs certainty, and the transition timeline is tight.

The Bills propose compressed consultation timeframes for draft national instruments and regional spatial plans. It took Auckland Council six years after amalgamation to deliver a fully operative Unitary Plan. Getting the right expertise and robust evidence in the room to make good long-term decisions about how our towns and cities should grow — in just three years — is a significant challenge.

With local government reform also in play, the picture will continue to evolve. Property Council will stay ready to respond to draft national instruments at pace over the coming months and into 2027.