The Resource Management (Freshwater and Other Matters) Amendment Bill proposes to remove Te Mana o te Wai’s legal hierarchy from the resource consenting process. This hierarchy currently requires water health to be prioritized over human needs and community well-being.
We support removing the hierarchy from consenting but argue the Bill must also apply to regional plans and policy statements. We recommend suspending councils’ obligation to promote Te Mana o te Wai entirely and revoking the NPSFM to avoid costly, flawed regulations.
The current system legally prioritizes abstract environmental values over essential human needs like drinking water and food security. Removing these requirements restores local decision-making, reduces regulatory costs, and prevents councils from being exposed to expensive, subjective legal challenges.
