Leave Spirituality out of Infrastructure

New Zealanders who put their own money into building homes and businesses deserve clear rules and respect for their property rights. Yet getting consent can mean paying for compulsory karakia or answering claims of spiritual harm. ACT will keep religion out of planning decisions, giving people greater freedom to build and invest in New Zealand’s future.

ACT will:

• Exclude purely spiritual and religious effects from consenting. A belief or claim of spiritual harm could not, on its own, be treated as an adverse effect or justify refusing or restricting consent, requesting further information or imposing conditions. The same rule would apply to every religion and belief system.

• Ban compulsory religious observances in consent conditions. No consent or permit could require anyone to perform, take part in, arrange or pay for a prayer, karakia, blessing or other religious observance. People would remain free to do so voluntarily.

• Replace Te Mana o te Wai with measurable freshwater outcomes. Councils would work to clear, testable standards for water quality, ecosystem health and human health.

In our team’s words:

ACT’s Infrastructure, Energy and Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court says:

"None of this takes away protection for anything real. Heritage sites, urupā, archaeological sites, customary physical uses, water quality, ecosystems and rights in Treaty settlement legislation would all still be dealt with directly.

"The test is simple. Is there an identifiable physical effect, place, resource or legal right? If there is, deal with it. If the claimed effect exists only as a spiritual proposition, it isn't the planning system's job."