Govt reviews Wellington heritage rules, Hamilton housing requirements

Wednesday, 27 May 2026

RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has launched investigations into heritage and housing rules in Wellington and Hamilton, The Post can reveal.

In the capital, the inquiry will look at restrictions such as height limits for Courtenay Place and heritage protections for buildings and infrastructure such as a storage tank built in 1926, the Karori Tunnel and Kelburn Viaduct.

The Hamilton investigation would consider planning rules for housing such as electric vehicle charging infrastructure, deep soil planting rules and building design controls.

Recent law changes to the RMA meant the Government could launch these type of inquiries into provisions which hold back economic activity and was first used to allow Eden Park to host for concerts.

Bishop said the two new investigations would look at rules in the cities’ district plans.

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In Wellington some councillors have called for heritage protection changes, with deputy mayor Ben McNulty being particularly outspoken about buildings such as a rusty bulk storage tank in Miramar.

Bishop said the investigation would consider the heritage rules for the tank.

“We’re also looking at whether heritage rules relating to a concrete gas tank are unnecessarily constraining expansion at the Wētā FX and Wingnut Films site, where evidence shows additional capacity could support around 150 extra workers.”

Under the city’s district plan there were areas on Courtenay Place and its surrounding area which had heritage protections that meant buildings could be built only half as high as other parts of the central city.

Bishop noted that this was the case “despite Courtenay Place being identified as a priority growth area close to jobs and public transport”.

The minister also said heritage protections on the Karori Tunnel and the Kelburn Viaduct had made repairs expensive.

“Relatively straightforward upgrade works have reportedly increased in cost from around $350,000 to around $2.5 million because of planning requirements.”

The Hamilton probe was launched after the request of a social housing developer and related to planning rules affecting housing delivery, Bishop said.

“The concerns raised include mandatory electric vehicle charging infrastructure, powered e-bike storage requirements, deep soil planting rules, and building design controls.”

Ministry for the Environment officials would now investigate before advising him, Bishop said.

“If the investigations show these rules are unnecessarily restricting growth or development, the Government has the ability to step in and change them.”

The inquiries were due to be completed in the coming months, and decisions expected before the end of the year.

Last year Bishop announced he would introduce special legislation to strip Wellington’s Gordon Wilson Flats of their heritage status so they could be demolished and replaced by student accommodation for Victoria University students.