RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has released an investigation report and launched consultation on specific provisions in the Hamilton City Operative District Plan.

The report follows a request from Hamilton social housing developers for the Minister to exercise the regulation-making power in the Resource Management Act, which enables the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform to remove or modify provisions in district plans where they negatively impact economic growth, development capacity or employment.

“A social housing provider asked me to look at provisions relating to multi-unit residential development and housing supply in the Hamilton City Operative District Plan,” Mr Bishop says.

“The review covers specific provisions relating to mandatory electric vehicle charging infrastructure, cycle and micro-mobility parking requirements, deep soil planting and urban tree canopy rules, as well as building design controls.

“The investigation found that some of these provisions may be unnecessarily increasing the cost and complexity of development and explores how these impacts can be remedied. I am now consulting on those findings.

“New Zealand needs more homes, particularly affordable and social housing, and we need to ensure planning rules are supporting development rather than making it harder and more expensive to build.

“Community consultation is an important part of this process, and I encourage anyone with relevant information, evidence or views on these provisions to take part.

“The Government’s objective is straightforward: to make it easier to build homes, support economic growth, and ensure planning rules are fit for purpose.”

Hamilton City Council will now be invited to provide feedback on the findings. Consultation with affected parties and the general public opens Monday 24 August 2026 and runs until Monday 7 September 2026.

The provisions being looked at in the Hamilton City Operative District Plan are:

a. Deep soil area requirements in residential zones.

b. Urban tree canopy requirements in residential zones.

c. Built form controls for long building walls near external boundaries in residential zones.

d. Electric vehicle charging requirements for multi-unit residential developments.

e. Residential cycle and micro-mobility parking requirements for higher-density housing types.

f. Design and access standards.