Another Early Christmas Present for Resource Management: National Direction Updated
The Government has released three new and seven amended national direction instruments under the Resource Management Act 1991. These will come into force on 15 January 2026.
The Government update aims to help councils plan and deliver infrastructure more effectively and support growth in the primary sector. The new and amended national direction instruments will take effect immediately upon coming into force. The intention is that they will be integrated into the new planning system where appropriate.
The new instruments are:
- Resource Management (National Environmental Standards for Detached Minor Residential Units) Regulations 2025 (NES-DMRU),
- National Policy Statement for Natural Hazards 2025 (NPS-NH), and
- National Policy Statement for Infrastructure 2025 (NPS-I).
NES-DMRU
The NES-DMRU provides a nationwide standard that allows homeowners to build detached minor residential units (granny flats) up to 70 sqm without needing a resource consent.
NPS-NH
Local authorities will need have regard to the NPS-NH when making consent decisions. It applies to flooding, landslips, coastal erosion, coastal inundation, active faults, liquefaction and tsunami hazards, but does not preclude local authorities regulating other natural hazards.
The NPS-NH requires local authorities to take a risk-based proportionate approach to the management of natural hazards – requiring high risk to be avoided altogether.
NPS-I
The NPS-I aims to provide guidance for the efficient development and management of infrastructure. It applies to all decisions under the RMA that affect the operation, maintenance, renewal, and upgrading of existing infrastructure, as well as the development of new infrastructure.
Amended instruments
The seven amended national direction instruments are:
- NPS for Highly Productive Land,
- New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement,
- NPS for Indigenous Biodiversity,
- NPS for Freshwater Management,
- NES for Freshwater,
- NPS for Renewable Electricity Generation, and
- NPS for Electricity Networks.
In summary, these amendments target the removal of restrictions to better facilitate the delivery of housing and infrastructure. Changes will include allowing urban rezoning of and development on Land Use Capability 3; easing restrictions for quarrying and mining activities in significant natural areas and natural inland wetlands; enabling electricity networks for electrification of the economy and support to increase renewable electricity generation.
Want to know more?
Supporting information on the discussed National Policy Statements and National Environmental Standards can be found here.
If you have any questions about this update, please contact our specialist team here.