The government's Resource Management Act (RMA) reform is shaping to be a tale of two approaches: one necessary but potentially problematic, the other more fundamental and promising. Last weekend, Ministers Chris Bishop and Shane Jones unveiled a long-awaited list of 149 projects that will be included in the government’s controversial Fast Track Approvals Bill. Read more

The Government is determined to give local government a shake-up, with stern tellings-off about getting ‘back-to-basics’ and reforms to refocus councils on core services and efficiency. One of its ideas is that mayors could be given access to independent staff advice, separate from their chief executives and council staff. Read more

Last Friday the government made a heartening announcement that its phase 3 reforms to the Resource Management Act will make property rights a ‘guiding’ principle. The RMA has failed in good part because of two fundamental flaws from a property right perspective: first, it allowed all and sundry to object with impunity to a changed land use; second, it denied compensation for the lost value from a successful objection. Read more

The government is determined to shake up local government. It wants councils to get back to basics on core services and efficiency. Read more

A short walk from Wellington’s shiny Tākina Convention Centre, a burst water main floods Kent Terrace. This contrast between impressive civic buildings and failing infrastructure captures local government's challenge: finding a balance between ambition, financial responsibility, independence and accountability. Read more

New Zealand's housing crisis has long been a bugbear for policymakers, affecting a wide range of policy areas beyond housing itself. Almost everyone sees a serious problem, but addressing it continues to be hampered by a fundamental misalignment of incentives between central and local government. Read more

Last week I received my rates invoice from Christchurch City Council. To my dismay, I learnt that my rates for the city council and regional council combined have increased by 11%. Read more

This week, Stuff reported on a story that seemed so absurd, it caught our attention: the idea to fence a pool on a remote island, just meters away from the Pacific Ocean. On Motukawaiti Island, 3.5km off Northland’s coast, authorities have mandated that a small swimming pool be enclosed. Read more

Another step towards much-needed reform of New Zealand's resource management laws is underway, in the form of a Bill to restore balance and streamline processes. The Resource Management Act (RMA) and associated regulations have become a serious handbrake on the economy. Read more

On Monday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon released his government’s 40-point policy action plan for the next three months. Perhaps the most important, but also the most controversial, item on his ‘to-do list’ is reform of the Resource Management Act (RMA). Read more