Q1 2025 legislative update: Fast-track open for business, new high speed land acquisition reforms, and wastewater standards out for consultation

The New Zealand Government has recently made several announcements regarding its legislative reform agenda for the coming months. Just this week, the Expert Advisory Group’s report, recommending two new acts to replace the RMA, and earlier in the month, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Land Information Minister Chris Penk outlined proposed changes to land acquisition under the Public Works Act 1981 (PWA). The reforms aim to accelerate major infrastructure projects by streamlining land acquisition processes and ensuring fairer compensation for landowners.

This forms part of the broader modernisation amendments proposed for the PWA. However, the new acquisition process is expected to be implemented ahead of the wider reforms, which are set to be completed by early 2026. According to the joint press release, existing roadblocks to land acquisition will be torn down, premium payments will be put on the table for landowners, and a streamlined objections process will be established for national and regionally significant projects.

The amended legislation will feature:

• Incentive payments: To encourage early agreements, landowners who voluntarily sell their land before a Notice of Intention is issued will receive an additional premium payment equal to 15% of their land’s value, capped at NZD150,000.
• Recognition payments: Landowners whose land is acquired through the accelerated process will receive a 5% recognition payment, acknowledging the critical role their land plays in delivering essential infrastructure, with a maximum payment of NZD92,000.
• A revised objections process: Landowners objecting to land acquisition for critical infrastructure projects will no longer go through the Environment Court. Instead, they will submit objections directly to the relevant decision-maker – either the Minister for Land Information or the local authority – for a faster resolution.

A draft Bill is expected to be introduced to Parliament in May, with public consultation through the select committee process.

This new acquisition process is directly linked to the recently enabled fast-track approvals process, as highlighted in the Minister's press release. Under the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024, substantive applications for listed projects and referral applications for non-listed projects can now be submitted. Information as to the fast-track process – including fees, process information and project updates – can be accessed on a newly established website, Fast-track.

Other ongoing reforms

• The Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill is currently before the Environment Select Committee. Our December 2024 Insight provided a detailed summary of the Bill. The Select Committee is currently considering the Bill and the submissions received, with its report due on 17 June 2025.
• Taumata Arowai began consulting on 25 February 2025 on proposed national wastewater environmental performance standards. The proposed standards will apply to public wastewater networks and cover the most common resource consenting topics:
• Discharging treated wastewater to water or land
• Safe biosolid use
• Managing overflows and bypasses

The requirements are tailored to appropriately manage the level of risk to public health and different environments. For matters that fall outside these standards (eg. treatment requirements for PFAS or heavy metals like iron and aluminium), the existing Resource Management Act (RMA) consenting process will continue to apply.

Public consultation on the proposed wastewater standards is open until 5pm on Thursday, 24 April 2025.

The Expert Advisory Group for resource management reform released a blueprint for replacing the RMA. Further details can be found here.

We will provide updates as this legislation progresses.