Recreation Aotearoa urges Government to fix major gaps in RMA replacement laws

Recreation Aotearoa says the Government’s draft laws to replace the Resource Management Act (RMA) fail to recognise recreation and public open space as essential for community wellbeing. The organisation is calling for urgent changes to ensure access to parks, green spaces and recreation facilities is embedded in the new Planning and Natural Environment Acts.

Recreation Aotearoa Chief Executive Sarah Murray said the legislation’s strong focus on private property rights comes at the cost of community health and wellbeing.

“This reform is a generational opportunity to integrate the critical wellbeing benefits of recreation and access to green space into land use planning; however, the draft legislation leaves recreation on the sidelines,” Murray said.

“Recreation Aotearoa acknowledges the need for reform but says the draft legislation fails to adequately recognise public open space, recreation facilities, and green networks as essential public infrastructure. These places are foundational to liveable, high-density communities and essential for supporting physical and mental wellbeing,” she said. 

“The bills lack mechanisms for establishing minimum levels of access to green space, a crucial step needed to guide local planning and investment,” 

“As our cities grow and intensify, we need to ensure we have adequate public green spaces for New Zealanders to connect, recreate and be active. The amount of green space in our major cities has been declining for decades, largely due to infill housing. The days of every family having a private backyard to play in are gone. It is more important than ever that we have a legislative framework that ensures there is adequate public green space available for everyone,” Murray said.