Property rights over human rights – what the radical RMA changes really does
RMA replacement laws pass in Parliament
The two laws replacing the Resource Management Act (RMA) have passed their third reading in Parliament.
The RMA is being superseded by the Planning Bill and the Natural Environment Bill.
The government said the reforms were “the most significant overhaul” of New Zealand’s planning system in more than three decades, and would make building infrastructure easier, faster and more affordable.
But opposition parties have warned the changes could make the system more unworkable, and dilute environmental protections.
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop said scrapping the RMA was breaking free from a system that had stifled economic growth.
RNZ
This Government rammed 60% of their legislative platform through by misusing urgency.
This undermines democratic participation and scrutiny.
We have seen the damage rushed law creates when they rammed through the Welfare changes that wrongly impacted 30 000 beneficiaries and pensioners.
So much controversial legislation has been rammed through in the last 2 weeks that we haven’t had the opportunity for everyone to discuss the ramifications of these changes.
One of the most extreme perversions is the changes to the RMA.
EVERYONE agrees its needed reform, but the mutilation National framed through with ACT and NZF make enormous and fundamental changes to values in a way that I believe would shock your average Kiwi if they understood what had happened.
Effectively National, NZF and ACT have put property rights above human rights.
The new regulatory-relief provisions allow big polluters to threaten local councils with costs for protecting the environment!
The regulatory-relief framework requires councils to address significant restrictions imposed on certain private land uses meaning environmental protections could become financially difficult to introduce because councils with limited budgets may avoid introducing necessary environmental or cultural protections rather than incur regulatory-relief obligations.
It’s like one giant threat to the local community that if you attempt to regulate their pollution or development they will sue you for costs.
Fuck local democracy, the Big Polluters win in this without the Community being made aware of how extreme the changes were going to be.
So not only is public participation in individual consents reduced, it narrows which environmental effects are considered while Māori rights and Treaty settlement protections remain contested.
It’s like the trifecta of fuck you’s.
Fuck you from protesting.
Fuck the Environment.
And Fuck Maoridom.
This is a Right Wing Culture War Revenge Fantasy for Property Pimps and Big Polluters.
This really needs an enormous amount of attention.
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So typical of this HRW CoC – putting property rights before human rights and ramming through Bills that have lacked thorough investigation, research and scrutiny and are without any transparency e.g. last minute panicking with the RMA Bill! They have had three years to attend to the bills they wished to change so why haven’t they done it sooner? “This Government rammed 60% of their legislative platform through, by misusing urgency. This undermines democratic participation and scrutiny.” Yes it’s like a “Trifecta of FU’s”. This RMA Bill will need urgent attention when the Left get back in. In its current state it is like Luxon,
Brown, Upston, Willis, Stanford et al “Not Fit for Purpose”. This is more serious than most of you realise – it is unsafe and unfair in its present state. If the CoC has any decency, they will stop it now until after the election, but I seriously doubt this will happen for obvious reasons!