Turning the Tide: New National Direction Released
Turning the Tide: New National Direction Released
Wednesday 14 January, 2026
In July last year, we released a series of articles exploring the Government’s suite of proposals to update New Zealand’s existing national direction instruments under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). The proposals were grouped into the following four packages:
- Package One – Infrastructure and Development
- Package Two – Primary Sector
- Package Three – Freshwater
- Package Four – Going for Housing Growth
Read: Resource Management Reform Series - Unpacking the changes to National Direction - Tompkins Wake
Consultation on the proposals occurred in May-July and since then we’ve been patiently waiting to see how the consultation shaped the final instruments.
Fast forward to 15 December 2025 and the Governor-General, on recommendation from the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform (acting for the Minister for the Environment and the Minister of Conservation), has finally approved the national direction changes. While the original proposal was to amend 12 existing and create four new national direction instruments, only 10 national direction instruments were approved – three new instruments and seven amendments to existing instruments. However, the Ministry for the Environment website clarifies that this is the first of two tranches, with Cabinet expected to consider the second tranche of changes in early 2026.
* Renamed the National Policy Statement for Electricity Networks
** Proposed to be renamed the National Environmental Standards for Electricity Network Activities
Work on the proposed changes in Package 3 (Freshwater) and Package 4 (Going for Housing Growth) are still in progress with announcements yet to be made.
The first tranche of approved changes are intended to make it easier for councils to plan and deliver infrastructure and enable growth in the primary sector. In terms of implementation with the new planning system, while the new and amended instruments will operate under the RMA, they have been developed with the intention that they can be incorporated into the new system, where appropriate.
To read the 10 new and amended national direction instruments, please visit the Ministry’s website: RMA National Direction updated | Ministry for the Environment.
If you have any questions about this article or would like to seek advice in relation to the changes to the national direction instruments under the RMA, our team is happy to provide assistance – please contact one of our experts below.
