Planning Act 2026 and Natural Environment Act 2026 (RMA replacement)
What it actually does
Replaces the Resource Management Act 1991 with two Acts, one governing land-use planning and one governing use and protection of the natural environment, consolidating over 100 planning documents into 16 regional plans with standardised zones. Passed third reading in September 2026 and received royal assent before the election; full system to be phased in by 2030.
Source: Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport · 2026-09
The Trump take
“They took a hundred rulebooks and made it sixteen. I'd have made it one. One page. Says 'BUILD.' Still, very good.”parody
Why it scored this way
Red tape
Scraps the RMA for a simpler, narrower system
+2
Loves it
Deals & property
Designed to make building housing and infrastructure easier
+2
Loves it
On the same topics
Budget 2024 income tax cuts and landlord interest deductibility
Budget 2024 delivered income tax relief averaging about $3.7 billion a year and restored the ability of residential landlords to deduct mortgage interest. The government said it funded the package partly through public service savings and cancelling some previous programmes.
Fast-track Approvals Act
Passed in December 2024 along party lines, the Act created a one-stop consenting process for listed infrastructure, housing, mining and energy projects. Final approval decisions sit with expert panels rather than standard resource consent processes.
Fast-track Approvals Act 2024
Creates a one-stop consenting regime for listed infrastructure, housing, energy and mining projects, with expert panels deciding applications and ministers holding a role in referrals. Passed its third reading on 17 December 2024 on coalition votes and received royal assent in December 2024.