Government Directs Councils to Adopt Pragmatic Consent Approach for Farmers

Minister for RMA Reform Chris Bishop highlighted the importance of councils playing their part in enabling growth rather than placing roadblocks in the way of rural producers.

The Government has issued a clear directive to Regional and Unitary Councils across New Zealand, urging them to adopt a pragmatic and flexible approach when issuing resource consents, particularly for farmers and growers, ahead of the transition to the country’s new planning system.

The message, jointly delivered by Minister for RMA Reform Chris Bishop, Minister of Agriculture Todd McClay, and Minister for the Environment Penny Simmonds, is designed to address growing concerns that local authorities are applying overly strict and burdensome requirements that risk stifling economic activity in the rural sector.

Ministers Warn Against Over-Regulation

Minister for RMA Reform Chris Bishop highlighted the importance of councils playing their part in enabling growth rather than placing roadblocks in the way of rural producers.

“Ministers continue to receive concerning reports of councils across the country applying stringent, unnecessary, and burdensome requirements when issuing new consents, particularly for our farmers and growers,” Bishop said.

He underscored that rural production is a cornerstone of New Zealand’s economic wellbeing:

“Farmers are not the enemy. Working on the land is not a ‘nice to have’ – it’s vital for our country’s success. At a time of economic challenges, councils should be doing all they can to unlock growth, not stymie it.”

Discretion Under the RMA

Agriculture Minister Todd McClay noted that the current Resource Management Act (RMA) already gives local authorities discretion in how they manage the consent process.

“The RMA gives local authorities power to exercise discretion over consent processes. This includes extending consenting timeframes and working with individual applicants to reach pragmatic solutions.”

McClay stressed that this flexibility should be used in good faith to avoid placing undue stress on farmers who are already contending with difficult economic and environmental conditions.

Transition to the New Planning System

Environment Minister Penny Simmonds pointed to the upcoming transition into a new planning system as a key reason why councils need to adopt a forward-looking, supportive approach.

“We know that the transition into a new planning system could create some bumps for those sectors whose livelihoods depend on their consents. The Government expects local authorities to smooth those bumps as much as possible.”

She also made it clear that the Government is committed to working alongside councils to ensure a smooth alignment with the new system.

What Farmers and Growers Can Expect

The Government has confirmed that a new regime for transitioning consents into the future planning framework will be released later this year. Until then, Ministers expect local councils to:

• Apply discretion in extending timeframes for consent processing.

• Work collaboratively with farmers and applicants to find practical solutions.

• Avoid imposing unnecessary compliance costs or bureaucratic hurdles.

• Recognise the economic importance of rural production in supporting national prosperity.

Balancing Economic Growth and Environmental Responsibility

While the Government’s directive focuses heavily on ensuring flexibility for rural producers, Ministers also reiterated the importance of aligning consent processes with the upcoming planning reforms. The intent is to ensure that local government authorities do not create additional red tape that will soon be redundant once the new framework takes effect.

The call for pragmatism comes at a critical time, as farmers and growers face increasing pressures from rising costs, fluctuating markets, and environmental challenges. Ensuring that the consent system works effectively during this transitional period is seen as vital to maintaining confidence in the agricultural sector, which remains one of New Zealand’s largest economic drivers.

A Partnership Approach

The Government has emphasized that it does not expect councils to compromise on environmental protections, but rather to use their discretionary powers wisely to strike a balance between protecting natural resources and supporting those who rely on the land for their livelihoods.

By setting out these expectations now, Ministers hope to prevent a situation where unnecessary bureaucracy undermines both economic recovery and the smooth rollout of the new planning system.