The Government is reforming New Zealand's resource management system. The Natural Environment Act and the Planning Act gained Royal Assent and became law in September 2026, beginning Otago’s transition to a new resource management system.
The reform will create a new framework for managing the environment and development and will replace the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) in stages over the next few years. Existing regional plans and many existing processes will continue during this transition.
We will be updating our website and application forms as changes come into force.
The RMA has been instrumental in our work to manage Otago’s natural resources, and we will continue this māhi under the new system.
The reform will change how natural and physical resources are managed across New Zealand. It will affect regional and district planning, resource consenting, compliance and environmental management processes.
For Otago, the changes will influence how the Otago Regional Council (ORC) and territorial authorities plan for and manage land, water, air, coast and infrastructure outcomes in the future.
The transition to the new system will happened over time. During the transition we will continue to administer the RMA while preparing for the future planning and regulatory framework established under the new legislation.
For most, there are no immediate changes. Existing consenting, compliance and planning processes remain in place throughout the transition period.
While existing consent and planning processes remain in place, some changes to the RMA will occur during the transition period. These include new permitted activity pathways for some activities, changes to the matters that can be considered in certain consent applications, new procedural requirements and updated compliance and enforcement powers.
apply for resource consents using existing processes
follow current planning rules and requirements
comply with existing consent conditions and regulatory obligations.
The Government has previously introduced targeted changes to the RMA, including automatic extensions of some resource consent expiry dates. The new legislation includes further transitional provisions that may affect some existing consents. While some changes will occur automatically, details of how and when certain provisions apply are still being worked through by central government.
For most consent holders, there is no immediate impact. We will provide further information to affected consent holders as more details become available.
fewer activities requiring resource consent or becoming permitted through new pathways
new national standards that may override existing regional and district planning provisions where there is conflict
changes to how some consent applications are assessed and processed
updated compliance and enforcement tools and higher penalties for non-compliance
more nationally consistent and streamlined resource management processes over time
new planning frameworks replacing existing regional and district plans in the longer term
Existing resource consents remain valid and enforceable during the transition period.
Some resource consents that would otherwise expire during the transition period will automatically have their duration extended. Under the new legislation, affected consents may be extended until at least two years after the new resource management system comes into effect, and potentially longer if provided for through future regulations.
Consent holders do not need to take any action for these extensions to apply. ORC will provide further information to affected consent holders as details are confirmed.
Following Royal Assent, there will be a four-year transition to the new resource management system. During this time, the RMA, as amended by the new legislation, will remain the principal planning and environmental management framework while the new resource management system is established.
During this period:
Central Government will develop national standards, regulations and other supporting instruments.
Existing resource consents and approvals will remain in effect and will ultimately transition into the new system.
Some existing resource consents will automatically have their duration extended under transitional provisions.
Regional and territorial authorities will prepare for the introduction of new planning documents and requirements.
The RMA will continue to apply, with a number of amendments taking effect during the transition period.
A new Planning Tribunal will be established to undertake specified review functions currently performed by the Environment Court or local authorities.
The transition to the new system will occur in stages ORC will continue to provide updates as further information becomes available.
An indicative timeline is set out below:
Late 2025 | The Government introduces the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill in Parliament. |
September 2026 | The Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill are passed into law. |
October 2026 | Transition period starts. |
September 2027 | First tranche of National Policy Direction and national standards published, including direction on structure and form of regional spatial plans (RSPs). |
March 2028 | National policy direction under the new system will be finalised within nine months of the Bills becoming law. Mandatory national standards will be delivered in stages and aligned with council plan-making needs. |
June 2028 | RSPs notified. Third tranche of national standards published, including plan provisions to support development of land use plans (LUPs) and natural environment plans (NEPs). |
March 2029 | Decision on RSPs. |
December 2029 | NEPs & LUPs notified. Specified transition date may be set by Order in Council once RSPs decided and LUPs and NEPs notified, ending the transition period. |
September 2030 | RMA repealed (if not repealed earlier) and all remaining Planning and Natural Environment Act provisions commence. |
December 2030 | Decisions on NEPs and LUPs. |
Visit Planning.govt.nz, the Government’s website for information on the new planning system and government guidance on transitional arrangements for existing resource consents.
Follow Otago Regional Council news and updates for information specific to Otago as implementation progresses.
The Resource Management (Consent Duration) Amendment Act 2025 acted to bridge the gap before the new resource management system replaces the RMA.
This act automatically extended most resource consents that were due to expire before 31 December 2027. The exceptions to this were water permits and consents to discharge to water or discharge to land where contaminants may enter water that already have a 35-year consent term.
If you have an application in to ‘replace’ a current consent, but a decision has not yet been made by Council, your consent will be reinstated and extended until 31 December 2027. The options for these applications are outlined below.:
What this means for your existing consent issued by ORC:
If it was due to expire between December 2025-2027, your expiry date will be automatically extended to 31 December 2027 or a maximum of 35 years (if your consent is a water permit or discharge permit to water or discharge of contaminants to land where they may enter water)
You can continue to rely on your existing consents and you must comply with all consent conditions.
No action is required from you to receive the extension. Council will reissue your consent with this new consent term in early 2026.
Consent holders can still decide to apply to ‘replace’ their consent before this new expiry date. These applications will be processed under Regional Plans and follow the RMA process.
If you currently have a consent application in with ORC:
If you have lodged an application to ‘replace’ an existing consent that you hold, you will need to decide whether to continue with the processing of the application or withdraw it.
All applications will be processed in line with the RMA 1991.
If your replacement application includes activities not covered by your existing consent, you will still need a new consent for those activities.
If you decide to withdraw your application:
You may still need a new consent for any additional activities not covered by your existing consent.
You may need to lodge a new replacement application before 31 December 2027.
In line with our fees and charges costs incurred to date will be invoiced. All charges will be reviewed to ensure they are fair and reasonable.
What you need to do:
Let us know if you wish to withdraw your application.
If we do not hear from you, we will continue processing your application as usual.
Please contact our consent enquiries team via consent.enquiries@orc.govt.nz if you would like to discuss your situation or need help understanding your options.
The Government has introduced the Resource Management (Consent Duration) Amendment Act. All consents due to expire before 31 December 2027 have been automatically extended to this date.
The exception to this are: water permits, or discharges to water or discharges to land where contaminants may enter water that already have a 35-year consent term. These will get no further extension.
The Duration of Consents Amendment Act does not change the approach for Otago water permits. If a water permit qualifies for Otago’s five-year legislative extension that extension still applies. The national Act does not add or remove time from these permits it simply sets a general maximum duration of up to 35 years for water permits.
Eligible permits will continue to have their expiry dates extended under the existing Otago legislation and all current conditions remain the same. We have begun re-issuing these consents starting with those that expire soonest.
If there are associated consents to the water take e.g. damming, diversion or discharge consents and these expire before 31 December 2027, they will be automatically extended until 31 December 2027.
No, the extension is automatic and all consents that get the extension will have their consents re-issued. There will be no cost to you for this.
You can choose to continue progressing or withdraw your application. Processing will continue unless you instruct us otherwise.
You will still need a new consent for any additional activities if you withdraw your application.
Yes. Replacement applications already lodged but not yet determined will have the consent being replaced reinstated and extended to 31 December 2027.
What does not yet determined mean and how do I know what the status of my application is?
This means a decision had not been made on your consent application, please contact your assigned consents planner to understand the status of your application. If you do not have their details contact our consent enquiries team via consent.enquiries@orc.govt.nz
Contact us in writing to request withdrawal.
In line with our fees and charges costs incurred to date will be invoiced to you. All charges will be reviewed to ensure they are fair and reasonable.
Yes. You may continue operating under your existing consent until 31 December 2027.
Yes. All statutory requirements remain in place unless you withdraw your application.
Please contact our consent enquiries team via consent.enquiries@orc.govt.nz if you would like to discuss your situation or need help understanding your options.