Thinking about building or developing your property?

Published on 04 November 2026

If you’re planning to build or develop your property, recent Government changes to New Zealand’s resource management system may affect what you need to consider and how some resource consent applications are assessed. 

The Resource Management Act (RMA) is being replaced over time by new planning and environmental legislation. While the move to the new system will take several years, some changes are already happening. 

For most people, there is little you need to do differently right now. 

You can still use the Whangārei District Plan to check the rules that apply to your property, apply for resource consent when you need one, and contact Council for planning advice. If you already have a resource consent, you should continue to follow its existing conditions. 

Some changes came into effect on 30 October 2026 that affect how certain resource consent applications are assessed. In particular, some District Plan provisions can no longer be considered when Council makes decisions on resource consent applications. 

Council is working through what these changes mean for our planning and consenting processes and for customers, and updating our information and processes as needed. 

If you’re planning a project or preparing an application and aren’t sure what the changes mean for you, you don’t need to navigate them on your own. You can talk to us or seek advice from a planning professional. 

You can also keep using our current planning and consenting services, and check the latest District Plan information. 

We’ll keep updating our website as more details are confirmed, so you can easily see what has changed, what stays the same and what you may need to do. 

Find out more:

Resource management reform