Major RMA Changes: What Construction and Civil Companies Need to Know

The Resource Management Act amendments that came into effect in August 2025 are the most significant shift in environmental compliance enforcement in decades. Here's what these changes mean for your business. 

The Game Has Changed 

If you're working on construction or civil projects in New Zealand, the rules around environmental compliance just got a lot more serious. The Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Act 2025 isn't just another regulatory tweak; it is a complete overhaul of how environmental breaches are enforced and penalised. 

What's Changed? 

Fines Have Skyrocketed 

The maximum fines for environmental breaches have increased dramatically: 

Individuals: From $300,000 to $1,000,000 

Companies: From $600,000 to $10,000,000 

These are not just numbers on paper. They stand for real financial risk that can no longer be covered by insurance. That is right, the new amendments explicitly prohibit insurance policies that cover RMA fines. Your company is now directly exposed to the full cost of non-compliance. 

Your Compliance History Now Follows You 

Under the new rules, councils can (and will) consider your compliance history when: 

• Assessing new resource consent applications 

• Deciding whether to approve consent transfers 

• Reviewing existing consents 

A poor compliance record can now result in declined consents, added restrictive conditions, or even revocation of existing consents. In practical terms, non-compliance on one project could jeopardise your ability to secure future work. 

Prevention is Now Mandatory 

The most notable change is that enforcement officers can now issue preventative abatement notices before environmental harm occurs. The old system required councils to wait until damage was done. Now, they can proactively require compliance measures, which means reactive approaches to environmental management are no longer viable. 

You will Pay for Compliance Monitoring 

Councils can now directly charge you for: 

• Monitoring your compliance with permitted activity rules 

• Investigating complaints against your site 

• Issuing and enforcing abatement notices 

These costs are no longer absorbed into general rates; they come straight out of your project budget. 

What This Means for Your Business 

The regulatory environment has fundamentally shifted from punishment after the fact to prevention before harm occurs. The financial and reputational risks of non-compliance have never been higher. 

The question is no longer "Can we afford environmental compliance systems?" but rather "Can we afford not to have them?" 

The Proactive Approach 

Smart construction and civil companies are already adapting by: 

• Investing in proven compliance systems before they are mandated by an abatement notice 

• Building clean compliance records to protect their ability to win future consents 

• Organising environmental solutions from the planning stage rather than managing them reactively 

• Protecting their reputation through environmental responsibility 

How Condor Can Help 

At Condor, we have been helping businesses stay ahead of environmental compliance requirements for years. Our solutions are designed to prevent environmental harm before it happens, which is exactly what the new regulations demand. 

With over 35 years of experience, we provide: 

• Advanced water treatment systems that ensure discharged water meets consent conditions 

• Dust suppression solutions that keep particulate matter on-site 

• Dewatering systems that manage groundwater without contamination 

• Expert support to help you understand and meet your obligations 

Don't Wait for an Abatement Notice 

The new RMA amendments make one thing clear: proactive environmental management is not just good practice; it is essential for business survival. With fines reaching up to $10 million, no insurance safety net, and your compliance history following you to every future consent application, the cost of getting it wrong has never been higher. 

Protecting New Zealand's environment while protecting your business isn't just possible, it's what we do every day. 

Get Ahead of the Curve

Want to ensure your sites are fully compliant under the new regulations? Our team can recommend solutions tailored to your specific needs.