The government will establish an independent economic umpire to ensure councils achieve competitive urban land markets through the new planning system.

The Climate Change Response (Tort Liability) Amendment Bill became law on 23 August 2026.

Feedback is invited on an illustrative National Policy Direction (NPD) for the new planning system.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment welcomed the Environmental Reporting Amendment Bill, a long-awaited step toward strengthening New Zealand’s environmental reporting system.

The Government has announced a further package of proposed amendments to the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill as the legislation progresses towards the Committee of the Whole House stage.

New Zealand’s largest environment NGOs have called for the Government’s replacements for the Resource Management Act – the Natural Environment Bill and the Planning Bill – to be thrown out as they are fundamentally flawed.

The submission period for Auckland Council’s Plan Change 120 Housing and Intensification Resilience, and proposed amendments to Plan Change 120 opens on Thursday 26 August 2026. Plan Change 120 is the Auckland Housing Planning Instrument.

The Government has agreed to progress the recommendations in the Ministry for Regulation’s Sector Review Report to make residential and small to medium scale solar panel installation in New Zealand the simplest in the developed world.

New amendment papers for the Natural Environment and Planning Bills have been released this week.

The Government will strengthen infrastructure funding settings to ensure the costs of growth from incoming Fast-track developments can be recovered.

Speaking at the Waikato Regional Energy Strategy launch in Hamilton, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment said New Zealand faces a series of complex energy challenges that require long-term thinking and greater coordination across government, industry and communities.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has suggested the Government take another look at options for managing dry-year electricity risk, arguing that potentially cost-effective alternatives were excluded too early in the process.