Why New Zealanders should be worried about the government’s RMA reforms

Matt Burgess talks to Oliver Hartwich about the government’s Natural and Built Environment bill, the first of three pieces of legislation to replace the RMA. The bill shows the government sees planning as an appropriate vehicle for everything from protecting the natural environment, to culture, growth and climate change. Matt argues the top priority of the reforms should be housing affordability. The bill also signals an intent to re-establish the same unbridled executive powers which Robert Muldoon used to ruin the New Zealand economy. The Environment Committee should ask Minister Parker to start again.