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Summarised by Centrist
The coalition government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill has passed its third reading, paving the way for rapid approval of many large development projects.
Applications under the new regime will open on 7 February 2025, a move Ministers Chris Bishop and Shane Jones call essential to solving New Zealand’s infrastructure deficit, housing crisis, and energy shortages.
Bishop, Minister for RMA Reform, says the legislation cuts through “red and green tape” to accelerate economic growth.
The approved list includes 149 projects: 44 housing developments aimed at delivering 55,000 new homes, 43 infrastructure initiatives covering 180km of roads, rail, and public transport, and 22 renewable energy projects promising 3GW of additional capacity.
The Bill also enables 11 mining projects targeting coal, gold, and iron sands to help double mineral export values to $2b by 2035.
Jones, Regional Development Minister, claims the reforms are critical to revitalising stagnant provincial economies, hailing the Bill as a “kick-start” that will modernise infrastructure and create high-skilled jobs. However, critics argue that limiting judicial reviews to 20 working days raises concerns about transparency and accountability in the fast-track process.
Te Pāti Māori has issued a “Notice of Intent,” signed by co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, to companies applying for fast tracking of development of natural resources. They promise to revoke the legislation and “retrospectively hold organisations accountable.”
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Image: Partyzane
