The passing of this law is a dark day for New Zealand, said Richard Capie, a spokesperson at conservation organisation Forest and Bird. It slashes environmental protections, silences local voices, and is an affront to good law-making.
For too long New Zealanders have had to put up with overly restrictive planning rules that stifle much-needed economic growth, infrastructure minister Bishop said in a statement.
The law will allow some projects, including mining, roads, marine farms and renewable energy, to access fast-track consent, which could bypass existing environmental protections and consenting methods.
Among the proposed mining projects is a contentious application to mine iron sands from the seabed off Taranaki, which the supreme court blocked from going ahead in 2021 due to environmental concerns, and which faces widespread community opposition.
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