The Select Committee reported back on the RMA reform bills, the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill, on 20 July 2026. The Committee recommended that the Bills be passed with amendments.
The Bills will now proceed to their second reading and the Committee of the Whole, where members of Parliament will be able to debate them in detail. With the general election scheduled for November and Parliament having limited sitting days remaining after September, there will be a relatively short timeframe for the legislation to progress. We will discuss the potential implications of the new Acts after they are passed and the relevant implementation dates.