The
Resource Management Act 1991 has been amended on a number of separate occasions
since its enactment in 1991, and has recently be subject to further amendment by
way of the Resource Management Amendment Act 2005. The amendments as proposed in
the Resource Management and Electricity Legislation Bill would have had
revolutionary and far-reaching consequences. However, as finally enacted, the
amendments are a greatly watered down version of what was initially
proposed.

Nonetheless, the
Resource Management Amendment Act 2005 has provided for a number of amendments
that will impact on the minerals industry to varying degrees. This paper
discusses in particular the changes and impact of the changes to the definition
of contaminated land', clarification with respect to the duty to consult,
amendments to the provisions relating to National Environmental Standards, and
to the council and Environment Court
hearing process.