10 September 2012
RMA recommendations not all bad
Some of the proposed changes to the RMA could help to better protect the environment while enabling appropriate
development, says Eric Pyle, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Wind Energy Association, in response to environmental
groups’ criticism of the recent Technical Advisory Group’s report on RMA principles.
“I am calling on environmental groups to not lose sight of the good points in the report,” says Mr Pyle. Yesterday the
Environmental Defence Society, Fish and Game, WWF, Forest & Bird, Greenpeace and Ecologic released a joint letter to the Environment Minister that expressed concern with the
report’s recommendations.
“The TAG report recommends clear definitions for significant biodiversity and outstanding natural landscape. It also
recommends that regional councils be responsible for identifying these in regional policy statements.
“Currently, there is considerable uncertainty with how landscape and biodiversity values are treated in RMA processes
because they are not well defined or understood. This leads to costs and delays for all parties, not just industry. It
also causes unnecessary angst and frustration in communities affected by proposed developments.
“The recommendations would vastly improvement the current situation. After 20 years many local councils have failed to
identify significant biodiversity and outstanding natural landscapes.
“It is critical that New Zealand has a clear definition of, and process for, identifying significant biodiversity and
outstanding natural landscapes. Only once these features are identified can informed decisions can be made about
protecting them and allowing appropriate development.
“It is time for the Government to support councils in identifying these values by providing an approach that can be
applied consistently throughout the country,” concludes Mr Pyle.
The New Zealand Wind Energy Association is an industry body that supports the continuing development of wind as a
reliable, sustainable, clean and commercially viable energy source. We aim to fairly represent wind energy to the
public, government and the energy sector. Our members include about 65 companies involved in New Zealand's wind energy
sector, including electricity generators, wind farm developers, lines companies, turbine manufacturers, consulting
firms, researchers and law firms.
ENDS