Environment minister wins Maori Party over to RMA reform with iwi deal

 Environment Minister Nick Smith has won Maori Party support for an overhaul of the Resource Management Act with what he calls a "better framework" for iwi participation.

Parliament's local government and environment committee reported back on the Resource Legislation Amendment Bill yesterday, which Dr Smith touted as "the most comprehensive package of reform" to the RMA since it was implemented 25 years ago, although the announcement was lost in the fanfare surrounding Prime Minister Bill English's proposed changes to New Zealand superannuation.

The second tranche of reforms to the RMA planning legislation has faced four extensions since being sent to select committee in December 2015, eventually shoring up support from the Maori Party with new iwi consultation provisions, dubbed Mana Whakahono ā Rohe.

The select committee report says the new arrangements draw on a proposal from a fresh water discussion document governing consultation with local Maori interests and shift the initiation of a relationship to iwi from local authorities.

The committee was aware iwi-initiated arrangements could "create uncertainty for local authorities and impose unforeseen resource pressures" but that was mitigated by allowing an extension for when an agreement had to be concluded and a limitation on iwi from initiating an arrangement within 90 working days of a local body election, the report said.

"The Mana Whakahono ā Rohe/Iwi Participation Agreement provides a better framework for councils to meet their existing obligations to consult with local iwi,"  Dr Smith says. "The government supports these provisions because we want iwi involved in how natural resources are managed and because formalising the process will help achieve better outcomes with less delays and costs."

Dr Smith signalled the reform would be going ahead at the National Party's Blue-Greens conference last month, and yesterday said the legislation will be back in Parliament this week.

The Maori Party had initially withheld its support of the reforms over the ability of the environment minister to override local government decision-making, and in participation rights for Maori in environmental and planning decisions.

The legislation was criticised in minority reports by opposition members on the select committee, with Labour Party members calling it "fatally flawed" and describing the committee process as "shambolic," including an attempt by government members attempting to block minority reports.

Labour's minority report said some of the changes to provide national guidance through policy statements and environment standards were appropriate but others were "unnecessarily complex and will give rise to less consistency, not more."

(BusinessDesk)