Sun readers be aware of radical changes to the Resource management Act now in committee stage in Parliament.

There have been changes to the Amendment Bill to the Resource Management Act, which were instigated after the opportunity for submissions had ceased. As a result, there has been absolutely no opportunity for public input into the new statutory powers for iwi and hapu in the Bill.

The Act entrenches permanent race privilege for a minority but the important issue for council is there seems to be no ratepayer or council ability to change these provisions once they are entrenched in the RMA.

The new Mana Whakahono a Rohe provisions in the second reading version of the Resource Legislation Amendment Bill could result in iwi decision-making enforcement powers on all resource consent applications.

There is nothing in the new provisions to protect councils and applicants from multiple consultation requirements as a practical result of an iwi participation agreement
There appear to be no constraints on what iwi participation can do in planning under co-management powers with their mandatory involvement in considering the application of plans and consenting and with little right of appeal Clause 16 inserts new section 34A(1A): to require local authorities to consult tangata whenua, through relevant iwi authorities, on the appointment of hearings commissioners with an understanding of tikanga Maori and of the perspectives of local iwi and hapu for the purpose of hearings under Part 1 of Schedule 1 (and subsequently to make irrevocable decisions), Also, there's new restrictions under Section 58. I urge you to take action and make contact with all parliamentarians involved to prevent this Bill from continuing with these alterations to the RMA, which is restrictive enough anyway.

I feel that local authority city/district councils are losing control and being subjected to real barriers to effective administration for all their ratepayers and residents whilst promoting the interests of a few. This is not fair on you nor on your constituents.

R Stephens, Tauranga City.