by Metropol | March 18, 2026 8:33 am
National has been getting on with the job of implementing a new planning system to replace the Resource Management Act. The RMA has been broken for a long time. It makes it too hard to get things done, like building the infrastructure and houses we need here on the Banks Peninsula.
Our new planning system is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to set New Zealand on a path to economic growth that lifts our living standards and protects the environment.
We are making it easier for local governments to get vital infrastructure and housing projects done, while delivering better value for ratepayers.
The new planning system will mean fewer consents, faster decisions, and improved outcomes for communities.
By stripping out duplication in the system and standardising processes, running a business in places like the Banks Peninsula will also be far easier, with significantly lower compliance costs.
National is also implementing a plan to bring down your electricity prices. A rapidly declining gas supply has left our electricity sector exposed to price spikes during dry years when our hydro lakes run low, and we rely on coal and diesel to keep things running.
That’s why we’re building an LNG import facility to provide a reliable backup fuel source, reducing the impact of dry-year risk on electricity pricing and stabilising electricity costs.
Having a reliable back up will reduce price spikes and lower the risk premium built into power bills that exist because of supply challenges. This means an extra $50 each year per household in electricity bill savings straight into your back pocket.
Our RMA reforms will also cut red tape making it easier to build more renewables, further strengthening our electricity network.
We’re making tremendous progress on fixing the basics and building the future where Kiwis can get ahead.
Source URL: https://metropol.co.nz/fixing-the-basics-for-a-better-future-mp-vanessa-weenink/
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