Testing the approach to National Policy Direction

Overview

The Government invited feedback on the Illustrative National Policy Direction (NPD), a key component of the country’s proposed new planning system.  

The illustrative NPD has been developed to show how national direction could operate under the proposed planning system. It is designed to improve understanding of how national priorities may influence future planning decisions and regional spatial planning. 

The illustrative NPD is organised around five themes that reflect the Government’s priorities for the new planning system: 

• Housing and development 
• Infrastructure 
• Primary production 
• Resources 
• Public values. 

Feedback was sought on whether the proposed thematic structure is easy to understand, whether the illustrative NPD provides a useful picture of how national direction could work in practice, and whether there are any important priorities, gaps or trade-offs that should be addressed. 

Read the Illustrative National Policy Direction document.

What happens next

This consultation closed on 16 October 2026.

If you have any further questions, please email nationalpolicydirection@mcert.govt.nz.