[Lightspeed]

Andrew Hoggard walks back SNA announcement experts say is unlawful

An associate government minister has walked back advice to councils that they can ignore a set of rules protecting the environment.

Legal experts have said the government is breaking legal precedent, and asking councils to break the law too, by suspending the requirements.

Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard announced on Thursday the government was suspending rules around Significant Natural Areas, known as SNAs, for three years while it replaces the Resource Management Act.

The statement said: "For now, the government has agreed to suspend the obligation for councils to impose SNAs under the NPS Indigenous Biodiversity, and we're sending a clear message that it would be unwise to bother".