1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 The New Zealand Initiative welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Fast-track Approvals Amendment Bill (FTAAB).

1.2 The Initiative is a Wellington-based think tank supported primarily by major New Zealand businesses. In combination, our members employ more than 150,000 people. We undertake research that contributes to the development of sound public policies in New Zealand, and we advocate for the creation of a competitive, open and dynamic economy and a free, prosperous, fair and cohesive society.

1.3 The Initiative’s members span the breadth of the New Zealand economy; a well-functioning and efficient approvals regime for infrastructure and development projects is important to them. The views expressed in this submission are those of the author rather than the New Zealand Initiative’s members.

1.4 The Initiative supported the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 (the principal Act) as a pragmatic response to New Zealand’s longstanding difficulties in delivering nationally and regionally significant infrastructure and investment. In our April 2024 submission on the Fast-track Approvals Bill, we considered it to be a necessary step to streamline decision-making for projects with significant economic benefits. However, the Bill had shortcomings, and we recommended several improvements. A few were adopted, including that expert panels be the final decision-makers.

1.5 We maintain the view that the fast-track mechanism is no substitute for comprehensive reform of the resource-management framework. We continue to advocate for Resource Management Act (RMA) replacement that, in the words of our April 2024 submission on the Fast-track Approvals Bill, “efficiently enables beneficial projects to proceed, while respecting property rights and protecting important environmental and conservation values”.

1.6 The FTAAB aims to refine the operation of the principal Act. It adds competition-enhancing supermarket developments to the list of projects eligible for the regime, and it adjusts the principal Act’s processes to save time, reduce duplication, and clarify responsibilities.

1.7 We see the FTAAB as an opportunity not only to accelerate worthy investment but also to embed stronger disciplines of transparency, accountability and economic efficiency in the fast-track system itself.

1.8 We are disappointed, however, that the FTAAB is being rushed with only 10 days allowed for submissions and there is no regulatory impact statement (RIS). This makes it difficult to robustly assess the Bill’s quality and its likely impacts.