The Fast-track Approvals Act has been in force since December 2024 - sold as a simpler, faster way to get projects moving.
Since then, it’s been tied to everything from new homes to aquaculture, farming projects, roads and public transport, but it’s also drawn plenty of criticism along the way.
New Zealand First is still pushing for ministers to have the final say on what gets approved, despite that idea facing strong pushback through the select committee process.
And now we’re seeing some of the real-world fallout, with projects like a controversial 1217-home development in Ōrewa raising questions about infrastructure, cost, and who ultimately pays.
NZ Herald senior correspondent Katie Bradford told The Front Page that the Ōrewa project was previously withdrawn after likely rejection, then resubmitted with additional detail and approved.
“Ōrewa is a very fast-growing part of Auckland. There’s been a lot of development there. They have a lot of conditions around having to build a new interchange, some side roads, looking at transport options. There are no public transport options on this. A big one is around water, though.
“Now, Watercare has made it very clear that it cannot connect any services to this development until at least 2050. Some of the surrounding plants, like in Army Bay, may be able to connect some services from 2030, but no promises are being made there.
“So the developers of Dalmore, who are called Vineway, who are a subsidiary of another company, they’ve come back and said, “Okay. Well, we will set up our own private residential water service that will be run by the residents association.
“We will build wastewater plants. In summer months, we will truck wastewater off site. At the moment, they’re planning for it to go to Whangārei, although none of that is confirmed because, of course, this development hasn’t been built. So it has come up with its own plans around water, and that’s where it gets controversial and complicated,” she said.
Richard Hills, the chairman of Auckland Council’s planning committee, says the project doesn’t stack up.
“This is not how you plan or build a city. This development is in an area that had either no plan for housing or not for many decades,” the councillor told the Herald.
Bradford said that the council opposes this development strongly.
“They also oppose other developments. Similar things are happening with other fast-track projects around the country.
“I’ve had so many emails from people coming in about this development, not happy about it, but also about others now.
“There’s one in North Canterbury that has had quite a lot of media attention. There’s one out at Waimauku West, out in northwest Auckland. There’s the Devonport one that is just starting to go through the process now,” she said.
