New Zealand’s Planning Laws Set for Most Radical Overhaul in 30 Years

The New Zealand right-leaning coalition government has announced a major overhaul of what it says are outdated planning laws that hamper the development of everything from major infrastructure projects to someone wanting to add an extension onto their house. New laws, due to pass next year, will make the need for development an equal priority to environmental concerns. Since 1991, anyone wanting to do anything involving land in New Zealand needed to comply with the Resource Management Act (RMA). Passed in that year, it attempted to consolidate multiple planning laws, repealing more than 50 statutes. Since then, it has had more than 18 substantive amendments....