A “sorry story of delay, frustration, and unnecessary costs,” is how Environment Minister Nick Smith describes the outcome for 16,000 homeowners, businesses and farmers, whose resource consents were not processed within legal timeframes. Smith argues the record number of late resource consents underlines the need for changes in law and practice with the Resource Management Act. Releasing the two-yearly report on local authorities’ administration of the RMA, Smith says the problem had got progressively worse over the last decade, increasing from 18% to 31%, despite nine-fold increase from 3% to 28% in consents where councils granted themselves a 20-day extension.

Smith presented the report to the Local Govt and Environment Select Committee which is considering the amending legislation which aims to simplify the consent process and provide incentives for councils to improve their consenting timeframes. He says the wide variation in the performance of councils shows practice can be substantially improved. “Eight councils which are breaching the law more often than they are complying are receiving a letter from me seeking improvements. I have also written to the 25 councils with 90% or better compliance commending them on their performance.”

Among the worst performers were Environment Canterbury ranked 84, which provided only 29% of consents on time, Westland District Council 83 and 30%; Manukau City Council, 82 and 35%; Far North District Council , 81 and 37%; and Waimate District, 80 and 41%. Auckland City Council was ranked 78 with 45% on time, Dunedin City Council 71 and 57%, Christchurch City 65 and 67%, and Wellington City 55 and 73%.

Sharing top spot were the Taranaki District Council, Stratford District Council, Chatham Islands Council and Buller District Council (which improved its ranking 56 places to join the others with 100% consents on time). Waitaki District Council also did well, lifting its ranking 49 places to reach 99% on time. Others on 99% were Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Northland Regional Council, Wellington Regional Council, Matamata-Piako District Council, Hamilton City Council and Kapiti Coast District Council.

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