The Government is making it easier for owners of Māori land to build homes, with the release of new National Environmental Standards for Papakāinga (NES-P), say RMA Reform Minister Hon Chris Bishop and Māori Development Minister Hon Tama Potaka.
“The new national standards will provide consistent rules across the country for all councils, reducing complexity, time and cost for Māori landowners, councils and communities,” Mr Bishop says.
“We’ve heard from councils and Māori landowners that planning rules have made it too hard to develop Māori land. These standards give clearer national direction and make it easier to build papakāinga, while maintaining appropriate protections for the environment and residents.”
The new National Environmental Standards for Papakāinga permit up to 10 homes to be built on ancestral Māori land in rural, residential and Māori purpose zones, subject to standards that protect the environment and the health and safety of residents.
District plans will also be able to have rules for papakāinga that are more enabling than those in the NES-P.
“The current system has made it too hard for whānau to build homes on their own land, with rules varying widely between councils and slowing or even stopping development,” Mr Potaka says.
“These standards recognise the connection Māori have to their whenua and make it easier to use collectively owned land for safe, warm homes that support intergenerational living, stronger communities and long-term wellbeing.”
“These changes form part of the Government’s wider programme to improve how national direction currently operates under the Resource Management Act and will continue to have effect during the transitional period under the proposed Planning and Natural Environment Acts,” Mr Bishop says.
“This broader programme is the biggest suite of changes to RMA national direction in New Zealand’s history, including removing barriers to infrastructure, making it easier to build granny flats and support housing growth, removing unworkable rules for the primary sector, and streamlining consenting for renewable energy.”