The Government's latest attempt to change resource management law takes power away from local people, Whanganui environmentalist Nicola Patrick says.
The last attempt to change a whole bundle of resource law failed because the Maori and United Future parties wouldn't support it, she said.
The latest version of the Resource Legislation Amendment Bill gives Maori extra opportunities for participation and the Maori Party has agreed to support it.
She said the National-led Government skipped the usual select committee report process, preventing parties that oppose the bill from having a say. It may now pass its second and third readings.
The law change aims to speed up the resource consent process to make it easier to build houses in Auckland and increase economic growth.