Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on major policy changes fresh from India trip

• Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says economic growth must “trump everything” following his return from trade meetings in India.
• The Government has unveiled a new Resource Management Act, aiming to simplify planning and reduce red tape.
• Luxon spoke with Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking following his return from trade meetings in India.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon spoke to Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking following his trip to India and the unveiling of the overhauled Resource Management Act system.

The latest reboot to the RMA includes two acts, focusing on land use and environmental protection, with standardised zoning.

Old fast-track provisions were “insanely stupid”, Luxon said, and “economic growth” has to “trump everything”.

“Our priority in fast-track legislation is what’s going to drive economic growth regionally or nationally.”

Hosking asked Luxon about Auckland Council stopping building projects and Whangārei District Council’s anti-fluoride position.

“How much resistance are you facing from people who will use every mechanism possible to stall you, slow you and run their own agenda?” Hosking asked.

Luxon said New Zealand has a “massive culture of no” and planning laws needed to be simplified.

“We’ve got a housing crisis, but either you choose to get to the root cause of the problem which is this stuff ... it’s bureaucracy and it’s just treacle.”

Luxon said RMA reform usually takes years, but his Government would fast-track it to address the housing crisis.

Chris Bishop, the minister responsible for RMA Reform, described the current legislation as “broken”, saying it “makes it too hard to build the infrastructure and houses New Zealand desperately needs”.

He said it was “too hard to use our abundant natural resources, and hasn’t resulted in better management of our natural environment”.

The new pieces of RMA legislation are expected to be introduced into the House before the end of the year.

Changes to superannuation are also in the mix, following a 3% increase by the Government taking effect from next week.

“This cash bump will put more money in the back pockets of our seniors, making the supermarket run and petrol station visit a bit easier,” Luxon said.

Over 900,000 superannuants and almost 5000 veterans will get an increase in their MSD payments from April 1.