Resource Management Act in New Zealand

The Resource Management Act (RMA), which led to the establishment of the New Zealand Department of Conservation, was an important yet controversial parliamentary decision to regulate access to natural resources in New Zealand. One of the major goals of this environmental management act was the sustainable treatment of air, water, and soil. The act made the principles of sustainability a state policy, and significantly advanced the conciliation of economic interests and national environmental protection. However, critics have claimed that the RMA has since served as a barrier to economic growth and put pressure on New Zealand’s government to loosen environmental regulation for infrastructure projects.