Week 6 - People

SMA in RMA

Consideration of social effects is required in addressing the fourth schedule of the RMA 1991 (assessment of effects on the environment). Within the RMA, effects that must be addressed when preparing an assessment of effects on the environment include:

• any effect on those in the neighbourhood and, where relevant, the wider community including any socioeconomic and cultural effects;
• any physical effect on the locality, including any landscape and visual effects;
• any effect on natural and physical resources having aesthetic, recreational, scientific, historical, spiritual, or cultural, or other special value for present or future generations.

Note that the Resource Management Act 1991 will be repealed and replaced with new laws.

The three new Acts will be the:

• Natural and Built Environments Act (NBA) to provide for land use and environmental regulation (this would be the primary replacement for the RMA).
• Strategic Planning Act (SPA) to integrate with other legislation relevant to development, and require long-term regional spatial strategies.
• Climate Change Adaptation Act (CAA) to address complex issues associated with managed retreat and funding and financing adaptation.

It is expected that the complete NBA and the SPA will be formally introduced into Parliament by the end of 2021, with the NBA passed by the end of 2022.