RMA reforms serious concern to kayakers

2013-03-14T09:33:27+13:00

“Proposed RMA reforms are of serious concern to kayakers and any other person that relaxes and recreates in the outdoors. The government’s proposed reforms for the Resource Management Act and freshwater management pose a real threat to water-based recreation,” says Whitewater NZ President Matthew Bennett in a media statement released yesterday. “They put at risk New Zealanders’ values and quality of life.”

The discussion document “Improving our resource management system” (PDF, 4.4MB) proposes to remove clauses protecting recreational amenity and add new requirements to provide for “renewable energy” and “provision of infrastructure.”

A round of public meetings is taking place, but Dunedin, Greymouth and Wellington opportunities have already passed. Whitewater NZ encourages kayakers to read the document, review our notes at RMA reform vs recreation and make strong submissions before the 2 April deadline.

Conservation