Probes Into Heritage and Housing Planning Rules in Wellington and Hamilton

RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop announced the move, saying the investigations will examine whether certain district plan rules are creating unnecessary barriers to development and employment opportunities.

The Government has launched formal investigations into council planning rules in Wellington and Hamilton amid concerns that some Resource Management Act (RMA) provisions may be restricting housing development, infrastructure upgrades, and economic growth.

RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop announced the move, saying the investigations will examine whether certain district plan rules are creating unnecessary barriers to development and employment opportunities.

The reviews will be carried out using new regulation-making powers introduced through the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill, which was passed into law last year.

New RMA Powers to Review Restrictive Planning Rules

Mr Bishop said the new powers allow the Government to intervene where local planning provisions are found to negatively affect growth, development capacity, or employment.

"The regulation-making power enables the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform to remove or modify provisions in RMA plans where they negatively impact economic growth, development capacity or employment," Mr Bishop said.

He noted that the powers were first used in Auckland to investigate whether planning rules were limiting Eden Park's ability to host major events.

"This power was first used last year to investigate whether outdated planning rules were unnecessarily limiting Eden Park's ability to host major events and deliver jobs and economic growth for Auckland and the rest of the country, resulting in plan changes to enable more events at New Zealand's national stadium," he said.

Mr Bishop confirmed he has now approved formal investigations into requests for intervention involving both Wellington and Hamilton district plans.

Wellington Heritage Rules Under Scrutiny

The Wellington investigation follows a request from Wellington City Mayor Tory Whanau and Deputy Mayor Laurie Foon, focusing on heritage-related planning rules that may be restricting urban growth and infrastructure improvements.

One key area under examination is the Courtenay Place Heritage Area, where current building height limits are reportedly much lower than surrounding central city zones despite the area being identified for intensification.

"One example is the Courtenay Place Heritage Area, where height limits are roughly half those allowed in surrounding parts of the central city, despite Courtenay Place being identified as a priority growth area close to jobs and public transport," Mr Bishop said.

The investigation will also consider the impact of heritage listings on infrastructure upgrades, including works involving the Karori Tunnel and Kelburn Viaduct.

"Another involves heritage listings on the Karori Tunnel and Kelburn Viaduct, where relatively straightforward upgrade works have reportedly increased in cost from around $350,000 to around $2.5 million because of planning requirements," he said.

The Government is additionally examining whether heritage protections affecting a concrete gas tank structure are constraining expansion plans at the Weta FX and Wingnut Films site in Wellington.

"We're also looking at whether heritage rules relating to a concrete gas tank are unnecessarily constraining expansion at the Weta FX and Wingnut Films site, where evidence shows additional capacity could support around 150 extra workers," Mr Bishop said.

He argued that planning systems must strike a balance between heritage protection and enabling economic development.

"These are exactly the kinds of situations New Zealanders find frustrating. We need planning rules that protect genuinely important heritage while still allowing cities to grow, infrastructure to be upgraded, and businesses to create jobs," he said.

Hamilton Housing Rules Also Being Investigated

The Hamilton investigation stems from concerns raised by a social housing developer regarding district plan requirements that may be increasing housing costs and slowing development.

Mr Bishop said the review would examine rules relating to electric vehicle charging infrastructure, powered e-bike storage, deep soil planting requirements, and building design controls.

"The concerns raised include mandatory electric vehicle charging infrastructure, powered e-bike storage requirements, deep soil planting rules, and building design controls," he said.

He cited examples where developments are reportedly required to provide powered e-bike parking facilities regardless of whether residents are likely to use them.

"In some cases, developments are reportedly being required to provide powered front-yard e-bike parking for all units without garages, regardless of whether future residents are likely to own or use e-bikes," he said.

The Minister also criticised "deep soil" planting requirements, arguing they can reduce practical outdoor living space in higher-density developments.

"The concerns also include 'deep soil' planting rules that can leave small townhouses with little usable outdoor space because so much of the site must be set aside for planting," he said.

Focus on Reducing Housing Costs and Delays

Mr Bishop said excessive planning requirements ultimately increase housing costs and make developments more difficult to deliver.

"Every extra rule, report, setback and requirement adds cost. Those costs eventually get passed on to renters, taxpayers, and families waiting for housing," he said.

"At a time when New Zealand needs more homes, especially affordable and social housing, we need to be very careful that well-intentioned planning rules are not making projects slower, more expensive, or harder to deliver."

Officials from the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) will now conduct investigations and consult with councils and affected stakeholders before reporting back to the Minister.

"If the investigations show these rules are unnecessarily restricting growth or development, the Government has the ability to step in and change them," Mr Bishop said.

"This Government is determined to fix the basics and build the future by making it easier to build homes, grow businesses, and deliver infrastructure while still protecting what genuinely matters."

The investigations are expected to conclude in the coming months, with decisions anticipated before the end of the year.