News

The Planning Act 2026 and the Natural Environment Act 2026 became law on 30 September and create a clear transition to replace the Resource Management Act. A common misunderstanding is that the whole new system starts straight away. It doesn’t. The new Acts come into effect on 30 October 2026, which starts the transition period. Full implementation is expected to take several years, and the new consenting system is not expected to begin until around 2030.