Natural Environment Bill (No 234-1)
Issued by Hon Chris Bishop (RMA Reform)
What happened
Bishop's bill rewrites parts of the Resource Management Act 1991. It sets statutory limits for air, freshwater, land, soil and indigenous biodiversity, and tells councils what their environmental plans and consenting decisions must align with. First reading passed 16 December 2025 — now at Environment Select Committee. Expected enactment mid-2026.
What's at stake
- Who feels it
- Property owners, developers, councils, environmental groups, primary industries, freshwater + air-quality regulators
- Timing
- Expected enactment mid-2026; full operation ~2029
- How it works
- Replaces parts of the Resource Management Act 1991. Establishes statutory environmental limits/targets and national direction binding on councils.
- Key context
- Currently at Environment Select Committee. If passed, councils must align district plans and consenting decisions to new national direction. New compliance regime for property and primary sector.
- Wider effects
- Major implications for resource consent applicants, council planning departments, primary industries, infrastructure developers, conservation groups.
Who feels it
smecorporateslawyersinhousepublic
Source on record
https://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2025/0234/latest/LMS1520775.htmlIndependently triangulated against 2 additional NZ sources.
Tracked neutrally by LexNZ. Status reflects the primary source as of 21 May 2026. Not legal advice.
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