Long-awaited reforms of environmental and planning laws are set to progress to the next stage, but the Government is yet to secure the support of the Maori Party to ensure they can pass into law.
A select committee will finally report back on the Resource Management Act reforms tomorrow, after 13 months of deliberation and four extensions to its deadline.
But it is understood the Maori Party has still not promised to back the bill because of concerns about how it will affect councils' ability to set their own rules on issues such as genetically-modified organisms (GMOs).
Local authorities in Auckland, Hastings and Whangarei want to limit GMO releases or introduce "GE-free zones" but Environment Minister Nick Smith says that is the Government's responsibility.
The Maori Party would not comment today. But it has previously said it will not back reforms which include the provisions around GMOs. It is seeking legal opinions on the clause to clarify its impact on local government.