Denis O’Rourke MP
New Zealand First
RMA Spokesperson
3 NOVEMBER 2016
Process Amending RMA Becomes Farcical
The government’s Resource Legislation Amendment Bill reforming the Resource Management Act (RMA) and six other acts has
turned into a giant-sized shemozzle, says New Zealand First.
“The government has been overwhelmed by opposition to changes they want to make with more than 800 submissions received,
and doesn’t have the competence to deal with it,” says New Zealand First RMA Spokesperson Denis O’Rourke.
“Because of interference by the executive, resulting in interminable delays to the finalisation of the final
departmental report received only today, and because there has been no time to produce a draft revised bill for
consideration by the select committee, the process has become the most frustrating and least productive of any we have
experienced.
“As a result, the bill will go back to parliament but it is not ready or fit for purpose.
“Disarray reigns through the whole process,” says Mr O’Rourke.
ENDS