The Government is in danger of "shoving through" dangerous and unneeded changes to the Resource Management Act, local conservationist Keith Beautrais says.
The National-led Government's attempt to change the act failed in its last term, because the Maori and United Future parties would not support it. This term, with the help of Act's David Seymour, it could pass the changes.
The intention, according to Environment Minister Nick Smith, is to keep environmental controls while making it easier to build houses and create new jobs. The 10 changes he has outlined include greater weight for property rights, national planning templates and recognition for urban planning.
National estimates the Resource Management Act (RMA) has added $30 billion to building costs in the past decade. Mr Smith says the changes will make it easier for councils to approve developments and speed new house construction in Auckland.
Mr Beautrais, a Forest and Bird member, said Mr Smith's speech was "long on rhetoric and short on detail" and National was using the RMA as "a club to beat progressive thinking with".