Have your say on the illustrative National Policy Direction for the new planning system

A public engagement process will test the illustrative NPD to inform the development of a draft statutory NPD once the Planning Act and the Natural Environment Act are enacted. 

National Policy Direction is a key mechanism for translating the goals of the new planning system and providing direction to councils and communities.  

The illustrative NPD has been developed to show how national direction could operate under the proposed planning system. It is designed to improve understanding of how national priorities may influence future planning decisions and regional spatial planning. 

National Policy Direction, once finalised, will help set national priorities, provide greater consistency across the country, and support decision-making on development, infrastructure and environmental management. It is also intended to provide a clearer connection between the objectives of the new planning system and the plans and decisions that shape communities and the environment. 

The illustrative NPD is organised around five themes that reflect the Government’s priorities for the new planning system: 

• Housing and development 
• Infrastructure 
• Primary production 
• Resources 
• Public values. 

Feedback is being sought on whether the proposed thematic structure is easy to understand, whether the illustrative NPD provides a useful picture of how national direction could work in practice, and whether there are any important priorities, gaps or trade-offs that should be addressed. 

The feedback will inform the development of the draft statutory National Policy Direction, which will be subject to a separate public consultation process following enactment of the new legislation. 

The public engagement starts on Tuesday 25 August and will run until 16 October 2026.

Read the illustrative National Policy Direction document.

Provide your feedback on the approach to National Policy Direction.