Runaway RMA strikes the suburb of Premier House

The lack of compensation under the Resource Management Act (RMA) has gone from the farm and struck deep into the heart of metropolitan Wellington. Federated Farmers is sympathising with residents in the Wellington suburb of Thorndon, who will face onerous restrictions on their private property rights if it is made into a heritage area. Conceivably, this will also affect Premier House.

“The residents of Thorndon and the Prime Minister may now understand why farmers say the RMA is like a runaway freight train. The Government needs to put the RMA into a siding by making sure that Section 6 and compensation are high on the agenda in the next phase of reform,” says Don Nicolson, President of Federated Farmers.

“Section 6 enables councils to lock out parts of farms for landscape or vegetation protection. Farmers wouldn’t mind that if they received compensation but they don’t and that’s the issue.

“The RMA takes but does not give. Councils protect while farmers and homeowners pay. Losing land or authority without compensation goes against accepted private property rights.

“The RMA has empowered regulatory theft and now Wellington City Council wants to put Thorndon into aspic. While the council protects, Thorndon’s homeowners will pay.

“Thorndon is a fantastic place but historic protection means any improvement to houses and businesses will become subject to expensive consent fees.

“Sky dishes and solar panels will all require consents. Even the wrong shade of paint may be deemed to be not in the ‘vernacular’ of the suburb. The RMA has become a nimby charter that has impacted farmers and now it seems, suburban New Zealand.

“Is this really the right use of the RMA?

“Mandatory consultation and financial compensation must become part of the RMA reforms. Federated Farmers is putting pressure on the Government for compensation to come into phase two of the RMA reforms. We hope urban New Zealand will join us.

“I imagine Thorndon residents wouldn’t mind so much about this protection if their rates were reduced in recognition of the extra cost it will bring.

“That’s why maintaining authority over private property is a basic right. Federated Farmers says no protection without compensation,” Mr Nicolson concluded.