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Arapono is an independent platform. All information is sourced from official NZ government and electoral sources. We are not affiliated with any political party.

All parties on Environment
Environment · Party position

NZ First on Environment

Pest control, biosecurity, and water storage prioritised

NZ First says it will focus on fixing infrastructure damaged by bad weather, tackling pests, weeds and biosecurity threats on land and in water, and improving water storage in rural areas. They also plan to repeal recent planning laws and replace them with new rules that limit who can challenge development decisions, and to reinstate resource management rules while new laws are written.

What they say they'll do

  • Fix infrastructure damaged by severe weather events
  • Address aquatic and land-based pests, weeds, and biosecurity threats
  • Repeal Labour's planning laws and temporarily reinstate the Resource Management Act
  • Replace the Environment Court with new planning legislation limiting third-party appeals
  • Repeal the 2018 law banning new oil and gas exploration
  • Improve water storage in productive rural regions

Who this affects

Farmers and rural communities
Policies on water storage, pest control, and biosecurity are focused on productive rural regions, which would affect how farmers manage land and water resources.
Anyone who wants to challenge a development or planning decision
The proposed new planning laws would restrict third-party appeals, changing the ability of individuals or groups to legally oppose development projects.
Environmental and conservation groups
Replacing the Environment Court and limiting third-party appeals would change the legal avenues available for challenging decisions that affect natural habitats or resources.

In their own words

“The key short term focus is remediating infrastructure in areas damaged by severe weather events, focus on productive rural regions, as well as addressing aquatic and terrestrial pests, weeds and biosecurity.”
“Repeal Labour's planning laws to temporarily reinstate the Resource Management Act before replacing it with legislation modelled on Ireland's Planning and Development Act and England's Town and Country Planning Act to restrict third party appeals, provide greater certainty and replace the Environment Court.”
“the Crown Minerals (Petroleum) Amendment Act 2018 will be repealed with the Ministry of Energy to actively investigate the potential of former coal mines, rather than the importation of inferior coal from other countries, and white hydrogen.”
Verify at NZ First — official policy page

Summarised neutrally from NZ First’s own official policy (as at 2026-07-16) and checked by an editor. Nothing is paraphrased without the source linked. Read the original ↗ Arapono is non-partisan. Compare all parties on Environment →

In depth — from NZ First’s policy document

Returning 50% of mining royalties to the regions

Half the royalties from any mine would stay in the region it came from rather than going to Wellington, earmarked for local infrastructure and services. Around that sits a wider mining package: new zones with clearer rules on where mining may happen, longer permits covering the full life of a mine, a reined-in role for DOC and other agencies, a modern geological survey of what is underground, and the reopening of the School of Mines.

Royalty share
50% to the region
Permits
Longer
Mining zones
New and clearer
Read the full breakdown6 sections · 4 quotes · 6 open questions

Coverage at a glance

Which party holds a published position on which topic.

Open the compare tool →

Swipe across to see all 11 topics — the party column stays put.

PartyEconomyHousingHealthEducationClimateEnvironmentCrime & JusticeTreaty & Māori AffairsImmigrationForeign PolicyDemocracy & Government
National
Published position∅ No stated position (verified) Not captured yet
∅
Labour∅∅∅∅∅∅
Green
ACT
NZ First
Te Pāti Māori
TOP
Also contesting, without seats in Parliament
Women’s Rights
Animal Justice
ALCP
Conservative
Outdoors & Freedom
Vision NZ
Alliance
Free Palestine
NZ Loyal∅
Te Tai Tokerau∅