Got a problem? Then blame it on the Resource Management Act. When it comes to political whipping boys (or girls), few pieces of legislation get whacked with such alacrity and regularity as the RMA.
So no one will be surprised that the measure received a lashing from Nick Smith in a speech last night in which the Minister for Building and Housing promised to undertake the "most significant" overhaul of the law in its 25-year history.
Smith, however, also holds the Environment portfolio. While the pairing of the two portfolios might make administrative sense as the RMA impinges heavily on both roles, Smith's duty to uphold environmental principles may place some limitation on just how radical that overhaul will be once the fine print in the amending legislation is available for scrutiny.
Smith is portraying the scheduled changes as radical. As things stand, however, Labour should not have too much difficulty backing much of his 10-point "reform" agenda.
The political right's constant denunciation of the RMA has given the measure a very bad reputation. The act is hideously complex. It gets no plaudits when it produces the right result. There is a deluge of criticism when its procedures bog things down at huge expense to all involved.