A public health academic is warning the government's Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms could cause more emergencies like Havelock North's water contamination.
The Māori Party has agreed to back the government's overhaul of the Resource Management Act, finally giving it the numbers it needs.
It is the government's third attempt to change the country's most important environmental protection tool, as it tries to encourage house-building in Auckland.
Senior lecturer in environmental health at Otago University Alex Macmillan said it was often forgotten that the RMA had a major role in protecting human health.
Dr Macmillan said the government was playing with fire when it weakened protections.