📋 Replacing the Resource Management Act
← All policiesThe Planning Bill and the Natural Environment Bill, released together on 9 December 2025, repeal and replace the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). The Planning Bill covers land-use planning - what used to be district councils' functions under the RMA. The Natural Environment Bill covers protecting natural resources like freshwater, air and biodiversity - what used to be regional councils' functions.
Both bills are tagged together here, since they were introduced, read and voted on as a matched pair at every stage.
How each party has stood on this policy over time. On a 🔄 Aye = against vote, whoever voted Aye is shown as opposing the policy, not supporting it. 🙋 Conscience vote rows show which way most of that party's MPs voted, plus what % voted Aye in the House.
| Vote | National | Labour | Green | ACT | NZ First | Te Pāti Māori |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Vote: Natural Environment Bill
✓ Passed
22 Sep 2026
· Third reading
|
✓ Supports | ✕ Opposes | ✕ Opposes | ✓ Supports | ✓ Supports | ✕ Opposes |
|
Planning Bill
✓ Passed
22 Sep 2026
· Third reading
|
✓ Supports | ✕ Opposes | ✕ Opposes | ✓ Supports | ✓ Supports | ✕ Opposes |
|
Natural Environment Bill
✓ Passed
4 Aug 2026
· Second reading
|
✓ Supports | ✕ Opposes | ✕ Opposes | ✓ Supports | ✓ Supports | ✕ Opposes |
|
Vote: Planning Bill
✓ Passed
4 Aug 2026
· Second reading
|
✓ Supports | ✕ Opposes | ✕ Opposes | ✓ Supports | ✓ Supports | ✕ Opposes |
|
Natural Environment Bill
✓ Passed
16 Dec 2025
· First reading
|
✓ Supports | ✓ Supports | ✕ Opposes | ✓ Supports | — | ✕ Opposes |
|
Planning Bill
✓ Passed
16 Dec 2025
· First reading
|
✓ Supports | ✓ Supports | ✕ Opposes | ✓ Supports | — | ✕ Opposes |