Hopes changes to New Zealand's resource management system will cut red tape for building homes.

The Government will today unveil what it describes as simplified, modernised legislation to replace the 1991 Resource Management Act.

A construction management expert wants to see the process for issuing consents, standardised.

Auckland University of Technology's John Tookey says it would allow for prefabricated buildings to make a dent in the demand for housing.

He says different authorities around the country have different interpretations of the rules, meaning engineering drawings have to be re-certified for different councils.

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