Our response to central government reforms
Central government is introducing major reforms that will reshape local government and how we manage land, water, air, and the wider environment in Aotearoa New Zealand.
We support changes that deliver long-term outcomes for the people and environment of Waitaha Canterbury.
While change is needed, it’s important that regional issues aren’t overlooked. Challenges like pests, river health, and climate risks don’t stop at district boundaries, so they need coordinated, region-wide solutions.
We believe local communities and mana whenua must continue to play a central role in decisions that affect our region.
Until these reforms are finalised and become law, we will continue to carry out all our legal responsibilities.
Learn more about what the proposed changes could mean for our work and the communities we serve, and how we’re working to make sure Canterbury’s voice is heard and the reforms deliver lasting benefits for our people and environment.
Download a timeline of central government reforms affecting local government (PDF file, 3.63MB)
Resource management system reform (RMA replacement)
What’s changing
The Government is reforming the resource management system, with new legislation to replace the Resource Management Act (1991) (RMA) introduced to Parliament on 9 December 2025.
Find out more about the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill - New Zealand Parliament.
Temporary consent duration changes
What has changed
To provide some certainty during the transition to the new resource management system, the Government also introduced the Resource Management (Consent Duration) Amendment Act. The new Act was processed under urgency and is in effect from 17 December 2025.
Under this Act, all consents due to expire before 31 December 2027 will be automatically extended until that date unless it is a water-related consent, and the extension to 31 December 2027 will take the duration beyond 35 years. In that case, the consent’s duration will be extended to expire 35 years after commencement.
Notice and guidance for consent holders
Read our notice on automatic extensions to resource consents under the Resource Management (Consent Duration) Amendment Act.
What resource management reform means for Canterbury
Once passed into law (expected in mid-2026), the new legislation will affect how we plan for and manage our natural environment, cities and towns, with impacts for local authorities, communities, resource users and ratepayers.
What’s our position
We agree that reform of the resource management system is necessary and long overdue. The RMA worked well when it was introduced, but it no longer meets today’s needs. Issues like housing affordability, climate change, natural hazards, and declining environmental health require a more modern approach.
While we support reform, we are concerned that more decision-making at a central level could reduce local voices. Communities need a real say in decisions that affect their environment, and the system must support strong mana whenua partnership and outcomes that reflect community values.
We have concerns about the following proposed changes:
Governance and participation
- Regional councils and mana whenua must have guaranteed representation on spatial plan committees. This is where strategic decisions on the shape of the region are made and representation is critical to ensure community outcomes can be delivered.
- The new system must uphold the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and Crown commitments to Ngāi Tahu under the Ngāi Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998.
- We support the shift to front-loading public participation through the plan-making process. However, where proposals have the potential for more significant effects, targeted participation should still be allowed through consent processes.
- Public notification thresholds for resource consent applications should be adjusted. The threshold for notifying applications should be lower than “significant effects” to enable the public to participate in decisions that affect the environment. An appropriate test would be to require public notification where effects are moderate, or substantive and material.
Functions
- Regional councils should remain solely responsible for managing how land is used in lake and river beds. This role is closely linked to their wider responsibilities, such as setting environmental limits, managing resource use, reducing flood risk, and responding to emergencies.
Environmental limits
- We support clear environmental limits to protect nature. However, to work properly, these limits need to be set before spatial planning begins, so environmental health is built in from the start.
- We want accountabilities for breaches of environmental limits to be aligned with decision-making roles. For example, where an environmental limit is breached as a result of a Minister’s decision, accountabilities for addressing that breach, including costs, should lie with the Crown.
Allocating natural resources
- We do not support market-based approaches to allocating natural resources. These models where, for example permit holders could buy or sell water allocation to each other, can increase inequality and risk putting control of natural resources in the hands of those who can afford to buy them.
Landowner compensation
- We support the intent behind the regulatory relief proposals which aim to recognise the benefit actions taken by private landowners make to the public good. However, the requirement to compensate landowners will increase financial pressure on councils and ratepayers. While well-intended, the proposals require further work and should be removed from the bills.
Permitted activities and resource consents
- Resource consents have played an important role in managing the effects of activities. However, we agree the current system needs to better balance outcomes, costs, and efficiency.
- We support moving to a system where fewer activities require resource consent, as long as this is supported by stronger compliance and enforcement to manage risks and environmental effects.
- We support the intention to require permitted activities to be registered with local authorities. However, this significantly increases costs for councils and resource users and creates an administrative burden. In Canterbury alone, tens of thousands of permitted activities occur every day, and the cost and resourcing impact of requiring all these activities to be registered has not been taken into account.
Transition to new system
- Planning for how the new system will be put in place must happen from the start. Funding, staffing, and timing need to reflect the capacity and capability of councils and others across the system. Implementation cannot be left as an afterthought.
- The transition to the new system should be as simple as possible for resource users. Clear start and end points are needed for when the new rules apply to consenting, compliance, and enforcement processes
- Resource consents that expire during the transition period should be extended by a set amount of time based on their individual expiry dates, rather than extending all consents to the same end date. This will help ensure timely processing of consent applications by avoiding a large number of consents coming up for renewal at the same time.
Download our submission: Canterbury Regional Council submission on the Natural Environment Bill and Planning Bill (PDF file, 779.08KB)
Submissions are now open: Have your say on the Planning and Natural Environment bills by 4.30pm, Friday 13 February 2026.
What happens next
Following public submissions closing on 13 February, the Environment Select Committee will prepare a report for Parliament, including recommended changes to the bills. This report is due by 26 June 2026.
- Visit the New Zealand Parliament website to learn more about the progress of the Planning Bill
- Visit the New Zealand Parliament website to learn more about the progress of the Natural Environment Bill
Regional governance reform
What’s proposed
The Government released a proposal to fundamentally reshape regional government across New Zealand, including replacing elected regional councillors with interim governing bodies to govern regional council functions and develop a regional reorganisation plan. Read Simplifying Local Government proposal for more detail.
What’s our position
We support locally-led modernisation of local government that will provide for a more effective, future system that delivers better outcomes for communities and ratepayers.
However, to ensure continuity and stable transition to the new resource management system, we recommend that regional councillors stay in their roles until the end of the current council term, or until a regional reorganisation plan is in place, whichever comes first.
We also recommend a joint governance group in Canterbury to be immediately established to develop the regional reorganisation plan and transitional arrangements. This group should include representatives from Canterbury Mayors, our regional council, Ngāi Tahu, and central government.
Download our submission: Canterbury Regional Council submission on Simplifying Local Government proposal February 2026 (PDF file, 562.06KB)
Submissions are now open: Read the proposal and have your say on the Governments proposal. Submissions close 20 February 2026.
What happens next
Following public submissions closing on 20 February, the Government is expected to make a decision on the proposal in March 2026.
Rates capping
The Government has agreed to introduce a rates target model for local government, applicable from 1 July 2029, with a transition period from 2027. A preliminary target range of 2-4 per cent per year per capita is proposed.
- Read the LGNZ rates target model explainer
What’s our position
We share the concern about affordability for our communities, and we remain committed to keeping rates as low as possible and being transparent about how every dollar is spent.
Regional rates fund essential services across Waitaha Canterbury, including:
- flood protection and resilience
- air and water quality improvements
- pest control and biodiversity enhancement
- public transport planning and delivery.
Rates capping raises big questions about how councils can continue to respond to climate challenges and maintain critical infrastructure under constrained funding.
Download our submission: Canterbury Regional Council submission to the Department of Internal Affairs on the Rates Target Model Proposal (PDF file, 407.05KB)
What happens next
Following targeted consultation closing on 4 February 2026, the Government is expected to introduce legislation to implement the rates target model before the 2026 General Election. The transition period would start from 1 January 2027, with the full regulatory framework operational by 1 July 2029.
Emergency management reform
What’s proposed
The Emergency Management Bill was introduced on 9 December 2025. This Bill is part of the government's response to issues identified in the Government Inquiry into the Response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. It sets out who is responsible for emergency management at national, regional, and local levels. It also expands emergency powers during the recovery phase, and introduces new compliance orders and offences.
What’s our position
We support the Bill’s goal of modernising emergency management. However, we believe it needs clearer leadership roles, stronger iwi partnership, consistent community representation, and better funding to support the additional responsibilities it creates.
Our submission highlights our legal responsibilities for managing hazards, assessing climate-related risks, and administering the Canterbury Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Group.
A key focus of our submission is the need for additional central government funding for local authorities to meet their new requirements. Without this, there is a risk that the Bill will be implemented unevenly across regions, especially where councils face limits on rates increases.
We also strongly believe that flood protection, telemetry, and coastal monitoring systems should be recognised as essential infrastructure. These systems are critical for keeping communities safe and supporting other essential services.
Download our submission: Canterbury Regional Council submission on the Emergency Management Bill February 2026 (PDF file, 446.33KB)
What happens next
Consultation on the Bill closes on 15 February. The Governance and Administration Committee is due to report back on 9 June 2026, with legislation expected to pass in 2026.
When passed, the Emergency Management Bill will replace the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 (the CDEM Act) and create the new emergency management legal framework for New Zealand.
Other legislative and policy changes
Other changes to legislation and policy that guide how we deliver our work as a regional council include:
Have your say
There are different ways for you to have a say on the reforms, including making a public submission during public consultation or reaching out to your local MP.
Want to stay up to date? Explore our news section for the latest updates on government reforms, proposed legislation, and how we’re ensuring Canterbury’s voice is heard.