The Next Era of Governance: Environmental Regulation and Compliance in Aotearoa 2025

For more than three decades, the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) has formed the legislative bedrock of how Aotearoa manages its land, freshwater, and natural resources. It has underpinned environmental decision-making and compliance across virtually every sector; from infrastructure and construction to energy, agriculture, and beyond. That foundation is now set to be fundamentally reshaped.

Although at this stage, the RMA remains the foundation of environmental regulation, in response to intensifying environmental challenges and shifting societal expectations, the Government has confirmed its intention to repeal the RMA and replace it with two new statutes: the Natural Environment Act and the Planning Act.

These reforms represent a systemic shift in environmental regulation, introducing a sharper focus on Te Ao Māori, climate resilience, and biodiversity, alongside broader changes such as expedited approval pathways for major projects, revised national direction instruments, and a maturing body of case law under the RMA that continues to redefine the threshold for lawful and responsible environmental conduct.

For businesses, the message is clear: compliance expectations are changing, and familiar processes may no longer be enough. But what does that mean in practice? What should organisations be preparing for? And what do current interpretations of the law tell us about where we’re heading?

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