Infrastructure, development and primary sector national direction

Results updated 27 Jan 2026

Recommendations and decision reports - published 18 December 2025

Recommendations and decisions reports on the consultation proposals for some of the instruments consulted on within the Infrastructure and Development and the Primary Sector packages are available. The reports include a summary of the submissions received, analysis of the issues raised and recommendations to the Minister for RMA Reform acting for the Minister for the Environment. A summary of the Minister’s decisions is also included in each report.  

View the reports

Report on National Policy Statement for Infrastructure, National Policy Statement for Renewable Electricity Generation and National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission

Report on National Environmental Standards for Granny Flats (Detached Minor Residential Units) and National Policy Statement for Natural Hazards

Report on New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement, National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land, National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity, National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management and National Environmental Standards for Freshwater.

Closed 27 Jul 2025

Opened 29 May 2025

Contact

ndprogramme@mfe.govt.nz

Overview

Package 1: Infrastructure and development   

The Government’s aim is to make it easier for councils to plan and deliver infrastructure. This package contains proposals for four new national direction instruments and amendments to four existing national direction instruments.  
 
Instruments in Package 1: Infrastructure and development:

  • New National Policy Statement for Infrastructure  
  • Amendments to the National Policy Statement for Renewable Electricity Generation 
  • Amendments to the National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission (change title to the National Policy Statement for Electricity Networks) 
  • Amendments to the National Environmental Standards for Electricity Transmission Activities (change title to National Environmental Standards for Electricity Network Activities) 
  • Amendments to the National Environmental Standards for Telecommunication Facilities 
  • New National Environmental Standards for Granny Flats  
  • New National Environmental Standards for Papakāinga  
  • New National Policy Statement for Natural Hazards  

Read the package 1: infrastructure and development discussion document

Previous proposals to amend the National Policy Statement for Renewable Electricity Generation 2011, the National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission 2008 and a proposed National Policy Statement for Natural Hazards Decision-Making have been withdrawn.

Read the full public notice.

Package 2: Primary sector  

The Government’s aim is to enable growth in the primary sector by making changes to eight existing national direction instruments.  

Instruments in Package 2: Primary sector:

  • Amendments to the National Environmental Standards for Marine Aquaculture  
  • Amendments to the National Environmental Standards for Commercial Forestry 
  • Amendments to the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement  
  • Amendments to the National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land  
  • Amendments to the Stock Exclusion Regulations  
  • Amendments to the mining and quarrying provisions in: 
    • National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity  
    • National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land  
    • National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management   
    • National Environmental Standards for Freshwater.

Read the package 2: primary sector discussion document

See the interim Regulatory Impact Statements for national direction

Other consultations

We consulted on other proposals for national direction:

Webinars

We hosted four online webinars on the proposals in packages 1, 2 and 3 and answered questions.  

Package 1: Infrastructure and development

Watch the webinar for Package 1: Infrastructure and development (YouTube)

Slide pack for Package 1 (PDF, 1MB)

Package 2: Primary sector and Package 3: Freshwater

Watch the webinar for Package 2: Primary sector and Package 3: Freshwater (YouTube)

Start the webinar at the freshwater section (YouTube)

Slide pack for Package 2 and 3 (PDF, 1MB)

Webinar questions and answers

See responses to questions asked during webinars (PDF, 348KB)

Forums

We hosted online forums on the proposals in packages 1 and 2 grouped under the following topics:

  • infrastructure
  • energy
  • coastal marine
  • commercial forestry
  • housing development
  • natural hazards
  • quarrying and mining.