The Resource Management Act (RMA) was introduced with the expectation that it would empower communities.
It has done the opposite.
It has evolved into a web of rules and regulations created by environmental activists to advance their preservationist views.
The effect has been an increase land prices, stifling economic growth and social wellbeing in the provinces. An increasing number of rural people say that they are not happy.
My question is, “How is it that an ‘enabling piece of legislation’ like the RMA has grown into what it is today?”
Protectionist agenda
Since the introduction of the RMA, activist organisations like the Department of Conservation (DOC) and the Environmental Defence Society (EDS) have been very successful in their protectionist agenda contained in their rules and regulations. They have been able to do so because they have many hundreds of thousands of (taxpayer and ratepayer) dollars at their disposal to argue their agenda (against taxpayers and ratepayers) at all stages of the law making process, including Court mediations and appeals.
This where the final version of local authority rules and regulations are negotiated and written.
Most property owners do not have the stamina or resources to run the course and hence drop out on the way through leaving only DOC, EDS and local council planning staff around the table to write the rules.
That is why landowners are losing the battle against environmental activists.
That is why protectionist policies like the New Zealand Coastal Strategy Policy Statement 2010 say nothing about the economic benefits or social benefits of people and jobs. DOC, EDS and the Council planning staff do not care about jobs, or the economic viability of our communities.
When the rules are actually written, who was there, arguing for property owners?
Frank Newman is the author of numerous books on investment. He has worked as a share broker, investment adviser and University lecturer. He was a member of the Whangarei District Council for six years. The above article, which appeared on the website of New Zealand Centre for Political Research, has been reproduced here with the permission of its Director Dr Muriel Newman.
