Mark Cameron’s Bill Aims to Curb Council Overreach on Climate Regulations

• Mark Cameron’s bill seeks to stop councils from imposing local climate change regulations.
• The bill would prevent councils from considering emissions, returning them to core responsibilities.
• Three years after the Howl of a Protest, many issues have seen progress but more work remains.

GroundswellNZ say, Mark Cameron’s latest bill could be the key to ending what many see as excessive regulations imposed by councils under the guise of addressing climate change. This bill, if passed, would amend the Resource Management Act to prevent councils from considering climate change when crafting their rules and regulations.

As Cameron highlights, emissions and climate change are global and national concerns, not issues that regional councils in New Zealand are equipped to handle effectively. He notes, “It’s about getting local government back to basics and stopping councils feeling like they need to suppress local productive activity like farming for the sake of the planet.”

The bill is not a radical overhaul but rather a return to pre-2020 norms, undoing changes made by the previous Labour government. Cameron points out that the national Emissions Trading Scheme already addresses emissions, so any local reductions enforced by councils merely shift emissions to other areas, rather than achieving a net decrease.

This bill could have significant implications, particularly for farmers. Some councils have independently set emission reduction targets, including those for agriculture, that are more stringent than central government guidelines. These local rules have sometimes been used to deny resource consents to farmers who are otherwise compliant with national standards.

Cameron also criticises councils for using outdated and extreme climate change scenarios, such as RCP8.5, which the IPCC no longer considers likely. His bill could relieve councils of the burden of managing emissions, allowing them to focus on their primary responsibilities.

Currently, the bill is in Parliament’s ballot for members’ bills, with hopes high that it will be drawn and progressed soon.

In addition to discussing the bill, Groundswell NZ reflects on the three years since their Howl of a Protest. The protest highlighted grassroots concerns over unworkable regulations, leading to significant media attention and political change. Many of the issues raised during the protest have been addressed or are in the process of being revised.

Groundswell NZ thanks everyone who participated in the protest and supported their cause since then. They acknowledge the progress made in New Zealand politics regarding regulations affecting food producers, especially concerning emissions. However, they remain committed to their ongoing work and have updated their list of priorities for the current political climate.