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The coalition Government has proposed a bill that would change the current process around the fast tracking of consents for developmental projects.

The legislation would enable the Ministers of transport, Infrastructure and Regional Development to approve consents for projects without going through the current considerations around communities and local and regional government, existing legislation regarding Te Tiriti and community participation.

The bill would mean that Minister’s could decide on projects, that would then be sent to an expert panel that will review their choices and apply any conditions before sending it back to Ministers for final approval.

The legislation would allow Ministers to veto any restrictions the expert panel places on projects.

Environmental activists have criticised the legislation as a potential avenue to undermine environmental considerations.

Nicholas spoke to Professor Nicolas Lewis about the proposed changes.

Last Sunday, the Cabinet proposed five changes they would make to the Fast-Track Approvals bill, which they recommended to the Environment select committee. 

Some of the changes included shifting the final say on fast-tracked projects from ministers to an expert panel, requiring an iwi authority representative to be present on the panel alongside experts in Māori development and the environment, and extending the timeframe for comments on fast-tracked projects.

However, despite Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones saying the changes were based off feedback from submitters to make the fast-tracking process more inclusive, many advocates and experts say the bill still poses a threat to the environment and that it still prioritises development over conservation. 

For their weekly catch up, Oto spoke to the Green Party’s Ricardo Menendez-March about the party’s take on the changes to the fast-track approvals bill. 

They also talked about the government's plans to remove natural gas import barriers, and arsenic contamination of the Ohinemuri river caused by mining

Yesterday was Waitangi Day, the day we commemorate the signing of New Zealand's founding document the Treaty of Waitangi. Things were relatively quiet this year, although there was the issue of the media being banned from the lower Te Tii Marae, and the Prime Minister Bill English not showing up to Waitangi on the day. On Sunday, Vice New Zealand held a special panel discussion on Waitangi Day. Reporter Sam Smith went along and filed this report.