Could RMA reforms mean less landscaping work?

New laws replacing the Resource Management Act will make it harder for councils to enforce minimum landscaping requirements in residential developments. Could this mean less work for professional landscapers?

New Zealand is changing the laws that control how land can be developed and how the environment is protected.

The Planning Act and Natural Environment Act received Royal assent on 30 September, beginning the replacement of the Resource Management Act (RMA).

One of the first changes could allow developers to provide less landscaping in new residential developments. But does that mean less work for landscapers?

RMA reform - what is changing?

Until now, some councils have required developers to landscape a certain percentage of a residential site.

From 30 October, councils will have less power to enforce these requirements. This means developers may be able to provide smaller landscaped areas than previously required.

For example, imagine a development where council rules require 30% of the site to be landscaped.

If the developer proposes landscaping just 15%, the council may no longer be able to insist on the full 30% simply because its rules specify that amount.

However, the changes do not remove requirements for surface permeability.

If the developer wants to cover most of the site with conventional concrete, the council can still consider whether enough water will be able to soak into the ground. This distinction matters because a landscaped area and a permeable area are not necessarily the same thing.

Some minimum landscaping requirements under the Medium Density Residential Standards have also been repealed.

Importantly, the RMA reforms do not remove all landscaping rules. Requirements relating to earthworks, stormwater, protected vegetation and historic heritage can still apply.

What else changes from 30 October?

The reforms also limit what councils can consider when assessing certain residential development applications.

Other matters affected include outdoor living space, the size and internal layout of homes, balconies, glazing and views from private properties.

The changes also introduce a process that may allow councils to treat some developments as permitted activities, even where they do not meet certain existing district plan rules.

Applications submitted before the changes take effect will continue under the previous rules.

Could demand for landscaping fall?

Possibly, although it's too early to know. Some developers may choose to provide less planting and landscaping if they are no longer required to include as much of it.

However, landscaping still adds value to residential developments. Trees, gardens and planted areas can improve privacy, shade, appearance, biodiversity and the quality of outdoor spaces.

Developers may continue to invest in these features because they make properties more attractive and enjoyable to live in.

The Government also hopes the reforms will make development easier. If they lead to more homes being built, that could create additional landscaping work and offset any reduction in landscaping per development.

What about landscape protection?

There are also concerns about how the new planning system will protect landscape character and appearance.

Landscape Architecture Aotearoa has questioned whether the reforms will give councils fewer opportunities to consider how developments fit into their surroundings.

During the legislative process, the publication highlighted the removal of the term “visual amenity” from part of the proposed Planning Bill. This raised questions about how landscape appearance and character would be considered under the new system.

The concern is that planting and landscape design could become less important in some development decisions, even though they provide environmental and social benefits.

How will the new planning system work?

The Government wants to make planning rules simpler and more consistent across New Zealand.

At present, councils can have different rules for similar developments. The reforms aim to create more consistency and decide where development should happen before individual projects reach the consent stage.

“A developer should not face different planning rules each time they cross a council boundary,” said Parliamentary Under-Secretary Simon Court.

The new system will work in four broad stages:

1. National rules

The Government will set national priorities and standards that councils must follow.

2. Regional planning

Long-term plans will identify where housing, businesses and infrastructure should go, as well as areas affected by natural hazards or requiring environmental protection. These plans will look ahead at least 30 years.

3. Detailed local rules

District land-use plans will set rules about what can be built and where. Natural environment plans will set rules for protecting and using natural resources, including land and water.

Together with the regional spatial plan, these will form a combined regional plan.

4. Individual projects

Developers will check whether their proposed work meets the relevant rules. If it does, it may be able to proceed without planning consent. Otherwise, an application may be required.

For landscapers, the new rules could eventually affect where projects take place, how sites are designed and what environmental requirements apply.

When will the new system take effect?

The RMA isn't disappearing overnight.

Councils will continue processing consents and enforcing existing requirements while the replacement system is developed, subject to the transitional changes beginning on 30 October.

Draft regional spatial plans are expected by June 2028, with new land-use and natural environment plans following in 2029. The replacement system is expected to be operating in 2030.

Engineering New Zealand supports better coordination of planning but has warned that introducing the changes too quickly could create confusion, inconsistent decisions and legal disputes.

“Perhaps the biggest missed opportunity was securing long-term consensus around the future of our resource management system,” the organisation said.

For landscapers, the immediate concern is whether developers will choose to provide less landscaping when minimum requirements are relaxed.

The longer-term effects are harder to predict. Some developers may reduce landscaped areas, while others will continue to recognise their value. The number of new developments and the detailed rules introduced over the coming years will also influence demand for professional landscaping.

Stay tuned to NZ Landscaper for more updates and commentary on this significant legislative change.