Pro RMA

Medium density housing Hawke’s Bay

Throughout the years central government have been gradually incorporating legislation into the planning framework that has directed local authorities to consider specific areas for housing developments and incorporating these into the rule frameworks of their district plans. A key piece of legislative framework is the National Policy Statement on Urban Development (NPS-UD). The NPS-UD was released in December 2020 and...

Initial responses and build back better

The impact of Cyclone Gabrielle has been felt, and will continue to be felt by many, and across many sectors. Suffice to say that many families and businesses have been massively affected. From a resource management perspective, new legislation has been introduced to assist initial recovery responses, and various planning processes are likely to follow around consenting and new policy...

Is the housing crisis over? How effective is the fast track planning process?

In our April 2022 article we talked about housing supply and how the effective use of fast-track planning processes under the RMA could assist us, while on the other hand recognising the views of some economists that ‘the housing market boom is over’. While the latter could be considered to prevail the former, does this make the issue worst? Even if the housing market...

What’s up with Town Planning for Housing Supply in Hawke’s Bay

To be blunt, like the rest of New Zealand Hawke’s Bay is flat out. Demands on planning and land development are high, with long lead in times for consultant support, and even higher demands on Council consenting, fuelled by low interest rates, high housing demand (social housing, and new housing – greenfield and infill and reinvestment in existing homes), along...

Pro RMA

Intensive housing options should be considered

erraced housing is not always on the agenda for developments, but surely Hawke’s Bay is on the cusp of providing for this type of housing as it presents an opportunity for another type of living within Hastings and Napier. The planning provisions in the Hastings District Plan provide for terraced housing. The expectation for terraced housing is generally to be...

Pro RMA

Are RMA reforms the solution for HB’s housing issues?

In February, Environment Minister David Parker announced the government’s proposals to repeal and replace the RMA with the following three Acts: 1. Natural and built Environment Act 2. Strategic Planning Act 3. Managed Retreat and Climate Change Act These actions are in response to a broad consensus that the system introduced by the RMA has not adequately protected the natural...

New themes emerge in RMA changes

An emerging theme in our sector is that there are more matters to be considered – and more to be considered earlier. An inevitable outcome is that things may take longer – meaning its even more important to be aware of the necessary inputs and to set realistic timeframes. Some of the main changes we’re observing relate to archaeological matters,...

Policy set to protect productive land

In April 2018, MfE and Stats NZ published the Our land 2018 report, which is a comprehensive assessment of how human activity is affecting the state of New Zealand’s land to date. The report identified two main pressures facing highly productive land on the edge of towns and cities: expansion of urban areas, and the accompanying loss of productive land;...

Napier begins review of District Plan

Napier City Council has recently launched its District Plan review process, which at this early stage is looking to be based around the following six key outcomes: 1. Putting people first, 2. Open for business, 3. A port and coastal city, 4. Our people our stories, 5. Ecological excellence, 6. Pedal power. Too often the Plan development process falls into...

What’s New in Planning?

Proposals for developing a ‘national planning template’ were first introduced following a 2013 discussion document ‘Building Competitive Cities: Reform of the Urban and Infrastructure Planning System’, with consultation on the development of National Planning Standards commencing on 6 June 2018 and submissions on Draft Standards closing on 17 August 2018. The themes emerging from the consultation indicated that: current plans...