The Fast-track process acts like a ‘one-stop shop’ for approvals. Consents or permissions under several different Acts (laws) can be applied for at the same time.

Projects can involve any combination of the following:

· Resource Management Act 1991 – for things like land use and environmental effects

· Wildlife Act 1953 – for impacts on protected wildlife

• Conservation Act 1987 – for activities on conservation land
• Reserves Act 1977 – for use of public reserves
• Freshwater Fisheries Regulations 1983 – for effects on freshwater fish habitats
• Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014 – for impacts on heritage sites
• Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Act 2012 – for activities in New Zealand’s marine area
• Crown Minerals Act 1991 – for mining and extraction of minerals
• Public Works Act 1981 – for land acquisition and infrastructure development

Any individual or organisation can apply to use the Fast-track process. Application forms and more information are available at fasttrack.govt.nz

You can also view all referred projects and their current status on the Fast-track Projects page.

Fast-track consenting involves two main steps:

1. Referral application – the applicant asks the Minister for Infrastructure to refer their project to the Fast-track process.

If your project isn’t already listed in the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024, you’ll need to apply for referral before you can use the Fast-track process.

To apply, you must show that your project meets the eligibility criteria and complete some pre-application steps. These include consulting with local authorities, iwi, and relevant government agencies, understanding what approvals you’ll need, and paying the required fees.

Once your application is complete, the Ministry for the Environment checks it and gives advice to the Minister for Infrastructure. The Minister decides whether to refer your project to the Fast-track process. If accepted, you can then submit a substantive application for the approvals your project needs.

2. Substantive application – the applicant seeks the necessary approvals for their project, such as resource consents or concessions.

If a project is listed in the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 or referred by the Minister for Infrastructure, the applicant can make a substantive application. Before applying, you must confirm your project is eligible and not already using another approval process, complete any required steps (such as permits or agreements), pay the application fee and levy, and submit your application through the Fast-track portal.

The Fast-track team checks if your application is complete. If it is, an Independent Expert Panel is appointed to assess it. The panel may invite comments, hold a hearing, and decide whether to approve the project and set conditions. Decisions are published and can be appealed to the High Court on a question of law.

This process is different from the standard Resource Management Act process. You can read an overview here.

The Environmental Protection authority (EPA) is a central government agency responsible for regulating activities that affect the environment. They have responsibilities under several different Acts. Their responsibilities under the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 include:

• checking whether referral and substantive applications are complete and within scope
• coordinating input and approvals from other government agencies
• managing cost recovery
• providing advice and administrative support to the Panel Convenor and Expert Panels

The EPA does not make decisions about whether projects are approved. Their role is to support the process by checking applications, coordinating input from other agencies, and providing admin support.

The Minister for Infrastructure decides whether a project can enter the Fast-track process through referral.

Once a project is referred, an Independent Expert Panel is appointed to decide whether to approve or decline the application and what conditions to apply. These panels are set up by a Panel Convenor, who is currently Jane Borthwick, a retired Environment Court Judge appointed by the Minister for Infrastructure. There are also two associate Panel Convenors, Helen Atkins and Jennifer Caldwell, who are both experienced resource management lawyers.

We don't make decisions on Fast-track applications. The Minister for Infrastructure decides whether a project can enter the Fast-track process, and an Independent Expert Panel decides whether to approve the project and set conditions.

However, we still play an important part. We:

• give advice before an application is submitted
• provide comments to the EPA to help the Minister decide on referrals
• give feedback to the Expert Panel on substantive applications
• oversee any resource consents that are approved

Public input is limited. Under section 53 of the Act, the Independent Expert Panel may ask the EPA to invite written comments on a substantive application. This must happen within 10 working days of the panel being set up.

In this case, comments must be invited from:

•  relevant councils
• iwi authorities
• Treaty settlement entities
• customary rights and marine title groups
• affected landowners and neighbours
• other groups listed in the Act

The Panel may also invite comments from others it considers appropriate. However, there are no public submissions or formal consultation like in standard consenting processes.

The Panel Convenor sets the deadline for when the Independent Expert Panel must make a decision. This happens once the Panel has received the full application. If no deadline is set, the Panel must make its decision within 30 working days after receiving comments from invited parties.

Yes, but only on a point of law. You can’t appeal just because you disagree with the decision.

The following people can appeal a decision to the High Court:

• the applicant
• any relevant local authority
• the Attorney-General
• anyone who was invited to provide written comments on the application

Appeals must follow the rules in section 99 of the Act. You can’t appeal to the Court of Appeal, but in some cases, the Supreme Court may allow a further appeal.

If you have questions about MPDC’s role in Fast-track approvals, email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For more on Resource Management Reform, visit mpdc.nz/RMAreform