Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
About 95 percent of feedback on the fast-track amendment bill is opposed, with the coalition-majority select committee reporting back after less than a month.
The government intends to pass the legislation, which it says aims to address supermarket competition, by the end of the year.
All opposition parties oppose the bill, saying the claim it boosts supermarket competition is disingenous.
Despite submissions being open for just 10 days, some 2518 individuals and groups provided written feedback, and 85 appeared in hearings over 15 hours.
They raised concerns about:
Potential removal of environmental safeguards
Limits on the ability for iwi, hapΕ«, Treaty settlement entities and other MΔori groups to meaningfully engage in the fast-track process, with potential Tiriti o Waitangi implications
The Environment Minister's new ability to direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), potentially affecting the independence or perceived independence of the panel convenors
Shorter timeframes for those expert panels to consider technical information befor
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