Forest and Bird Codemns Government's Fast-Tracking w/ Richard Capie: Rāhina February 5, 2024

As part of its 100 day plan, the government is currently processing reforms to resource management, and one of these changes is introducing what it calls a “fast-track consenting one-stop shop regime” for speeding up infrastructure developments. The plan forms part of the New Zealand First and National coalition agreement, with Minister for Resource Management Act reform Chris Bishop and Minister for Regional Development Shane Jones at the forefront of this movement. They argue that the current frameworks that infrastructure developments are operating under are inefficient and costly, as current consenting processes cost infrastructure projects 1.3 billion dollars every year. However many groups have been highly critical of how a widespread fast tracking approach could cost our environment and place the power of big infrastructure decisions in the hands of cabinet ministers. 

Rosetta spoke to Forest and Bird General Manager of Conservation Advocacy Richard Capie about his concerns with the policy, and how he feels infrastructure planning needs to change moving forward.