Environment Minister Nick Smith has acknowledged “major question marks" over the way the Resource Management Act is working in urban areas.

Announcing appointments to two important Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs) for the next phase of RMA reforms, the Minister said he doubts the right incentives are in place for developers to deliver “the best urban design in our largest cities”.

Dr Smith said there are also questions about the policy of metropolitan urban limits, the effect they have on section prices and the negative flow-on effects to the broader economy.

”Nor do we have a good track record of having the right infrastructure in place at the right time for supporting urban development.

”These are complex issues that require careful deliberation and expert input. That is why the Cabinet has appointed Urban and Infrastructure Technical Advisory Groups to work with the Ministry for the Environment to report on these issues this year," he said.

The RM Phase II Urban Technical Advisory Group (TAG) is appointed to provide independent advice to the Minister for the Environment on proposals for the reform of the urban planning and design mechanisms in the RMA and related legislation.

The scope of the review is to look at the merits of tools currently available for implementing urban planning and design including:

• housing affordability / section pricing mechanisms;
• urban design panels;
• metropolitan urban limits;
• financing and funding mechanisms for infrastructure;
• spatial and structure plans.

It will also look at integrating and aligning planning statutes and planning mechanisms (specifically the RMA, Local Government Act and Land Transport Management Act).

Membership of the Urban Planning TAG is:

• Alan Dormer (Chair)
• Adrienne Young Cooper
• Graeme McIndoe
• Connal Townsend
• Ernst Zollner
• Arthur Grimes (who is also a member of the National Infrastructure Advisory Board.

• Mike Foster (Chair)
• Adrienne Young Cooper (also on Urban TAG)
• Alan Dormer (also on Urban TAG)
• Kelvin Reid
• Sacha McMeeking
• Stephen Selwood
• Lindsay Crossen (also a member of the National Infrastructure Advisory Board).