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Resource management publications

Resource management and Resource Management Act publications are grouped as:

Publications for the public and business
Publications for RMA practitioners
Publications relating to central government work

The Decision-maker

The Decision-maker is the Ministry for the Environment’s newsletter for certified RMA decision-makers.

The Urban Leader

The Urban Leader is the Ministry for the Environment's newsletter for members of the Urban Design Protocol and Urban Design Champions

Call in publications

Name	Date	Reference
Draft Report and Decision of the Board of Inquiry into the Turitea Wind Farm Proposal	February 2011
Board of Inquiry Upper North Island Grid Upgrade Proposal - Draft Report and Decision	May 2009	TP 1, TP 2, TP 3
Might River Power's proposal for a new wind farm at Turitea, near Palmerston North	January 2009	INFO 362
Contact’s proposal for a new wind farm ‘Hauāuru mā raki’ – Waikato Wind Farm	September 2008	INFO 313
Contact Energy Limited Te Mihi geothermal Power Station Project: Final Decision Report	September 2008
Contact Energy Limited Te Mihi Geothermal Power Station Project: Summary of Submissions	April 2008	ME 874
Contact’s proposal for a new geothermal power station at 'Te Mihi'	February 2008	INFO 247
Unison’s proposal for a wind farm near Te Waka	February 2008	INFO 248

Publications on Transpower’s North Island Grid Upgrade Project and reports prepared for the Board of Inquiry

Name	Date	Reference
Section 42A Report - Transpower New Zealand Limited North Island Grid Upgrade	January 2008
Transpower Upper North Island Grid Upgrade Proposal - List of Submissions	December 2007
Transpower’s North Island Grid Upgrade Project – proposal for a new electricity transmission line	August 2007	INFO 219

Publications for the public and business

General RMA publications for the public and business | Applying for a resource consent | Having your say on a resource consent application | Getting involved in the council plan and plan preparation process | Getting involved in the designations process

Please note: some RMA publications listed below have not yet been updated to reflect changes in processes arising from the Resource Management Amendment Act 2009. Care should be exercised in reading and using the information in these guides.

The Ministry has developed a series of fact sheets that summarises the Resource Management Act (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Act 2009.

General RMA publications for the public and business

Name	Date	Reference
National Environmental Standard for Assessing and Managing Contaminants in Soil to Protect Human Health: Information for landowners and developers	June 2012	ME 650
Keep our bays beautiful	June 2011	INFO 609
Measuring and reporting water takes: An introduction to the Resource Management (Measurement and Reporting of Water Takes) Regulations 2010	October 2010 (Updated July 2011)	INFO 617
The Direct Referral Process – Information for Submitters	June 2010	INFO 524
Environmental standards for telecommunication facilities in your neighbourhood: Information for householders	June 2010	INFO 518
An Everyday Guide to the Resource Management Act Series	December 2009	ME 955 - 969
Resolving Resource Management Act Concerns	December 2009	ME 956
Your Guide to the Environment Court	December 2009	ME 967
You, Mediation and the Environment Court	December 2009	ME 968
The Environment Court: Awarding and Securing Costs	December 2009	ME 969
A beginner's guide to resource and building consent processes under the Resource Management Act 1991 and the Building Act 2004	June 2008
Your Guide to the Resource Management Act	August 2006	ME 766
Thinking of starting a business?	August 2006
Quarrying and the Resource Management Act	June 2002	ME 451
Poultry Production and the Resource Management Act	June 2002	ME 450
Pigs and the Resource Management Act	June 2002	ME 449
Thinking of buying a property?	June 2001	ME 392
Thinking about living in the country?	June 2001	INFO 18

* Please note that these documents were published some time ago and may not reflect current practice or law. They are kept here for your reference, but should be used with care.

Applying for a resource consent

Name	Date	Reference
Applying for a Resource Consent	December 2009	ME 959
Consultation for Resource Consent Applicants	December 2009	ME 960
Appearing at a Council Resource Consent Hearing	December 2009	ME 963
A Guide to Preparing a Basic Assessment of Environmental Effects	August 2006	ME 767

Having your say on a resource consent application

Name	Date	Reference
Your Rights as an ‘Affected Person’	December 2009	ME 961
Making a Submission about a Resource Consent Application	December 2009	ME 962
Appearing at a Resource Consent Hearing	December 2009	ME 963
Effective participation in resource consent processes: A guide for Tangata Whenua	March 2005	ME 588

Getting involved in the council plan and plan preparation process

Name	Date	Reference
Making a Submission about a Proposed Plan or Plan Change	December 2009	ME 965
Appearing at a Council Plan or Plan Change Hearing	December 2009	ME 965
Effective participation in resource consent processes: A guide for Tangata Whenua	March 2005	ME 588

Getting involved in the designations process

Name	Date	Reference
The Designation Process	December 2009	ME 964
Making a Submission about a Resource Consent Application	December 2009	ME 962
Appearing at a Council Resource Consent Hearing	December 2009	ME 963

Publications for RMA practitioners

Name	Date	Reference
Resource consent process for notified/limited notified applications (flowchart)	January 2011	INFO 575
Resource consent process for non-notified applications (flowchart)	January 2011	INFO 574
Maori values supplement	December 2010	Part D of ME 679
Resource Management (Discount on Administrative Charges) Regulations 2010 Implementation Guidance	June 2010	ME 1020
Resource Consent Processing: Showcasing Best Practice Case Studies	June 2010	INFO 519-521
The Trustpower Wairau River Hydro Power Proposal	October 2009	Ref. CR 77
Resource Management Amendment Act 2009 Fact Sheets	September 2009	INFO 434A - 434I
Climate Change Adaptation and Second Generation RMA Plans	September 2008	INFO 314
Making Good Decisions – Climate Change Effects	December 2007	INFO 242
Resource Consent Analysis	November 2006	ME 779
Survey of Practitioners: Making Good Decisions Programme	August 2006	CR 7
Repealed and Transitional Provisions: Guide to Marine Farming Consent Conditions for Deemed Coastal Permits	June 2006	ME 763
Planning for Development of Land on or Close to Active Faults: A guideline to assist resource management planners in New Zealand	December 2004	ME 565
Review of the Effectiveness of Iwi Management Plans: An Iwi Perspective	July 2004	CR 36
Guidelines for Consulting with Tangata Whenua under the RMA: An Update on Case Law *	December 2003	ME 496
A Guide to Designations under the Resource Management Act 1991 *	September 2003	ME 651
Drafting Issues, Objectives, Policies and Methods in Regional Policy Statements and District Plans *	July 2003	ME 482
Whakamau ki Nga Kaupapa - Making the best of iwi management plans under the Resource Management Act 1991	June 2003	ME 395
Acting together - Links between the HSNO Act and the RMA	June 2003	ME 646
Ngai Tahu: Statutory Acknowledgements	December 2002	ME 644
The Hazardous Facility Screening Procedure training manual	March 2002	ME 645
Keeping it fair: a guide to the conduct of hearings under the Resource Management Act 1991 *	July 2001	ME 399; ME 399A
Effective and enforceable consent conditions *	June 2001	ME 388
Managing radio frequency emissions under the Resource Management Act: An Overview	December 2000	INFO 12
National guidelines for managing the effects of radio frequency transmitters	December 2000	ME 377
Striking a Balance: A Practice Guide on Consultation and Communication for Project Advocates *	September 1999	ME 327
Ngai Tahu Statutory Acknowledgements: A Guide for Local Authorities *	May 1999	ME 314
Pre-Hearing Meetings: A Practical Guide for Councils *	March 1999	ME 310

* Please note that these documents were published some time ago and may not reflect current practice or law. They are kept here for your reference, but should be used with care.

The Quality Planning website library also provides access to publications of interest to RMA practitioners from a variety of organisations.

Publications relating to central government work

National policy statements and national environmental standards | Aquaculture | General RMA improvement and implementation | RMA monitoring and research

National policy statements and national environmental standards

Name	Date	Reference
Users' Guide: National Environmental Standard for Assessing and Managing Contaminants in Soil to Protect Human Health	April 2012	ME 1092
Proposed National Policy Statement on Indigenous Biodiversity Summary of Submissions	December 2011	ME 1075
National Policy Statement for Renewable Electricity Generation 2011: Implementation Guide	November 2011	ME 1079
National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2011: Implementation Guide	November 2011	ME 1077
Proposed National Environmental Standard for Assessing and Managing Contaminants in Soil to Protect Human Health: Evaluation under Section 32 of the Resource Management Act	September 2011	ME 1070
Cost-benefit Analysis of the Proposed NES for Assessing and Managing Contaminants in Soil to Protect Human Health	May 2011	CR 112
Regulatory Impact Statement – Cost-benefit Analysis of the Proposed NES for Assessing and Managing Contaminants in Soil to Protect Human Health	May 2011
National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2011	May 2011	INFO 598
National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2011– Evaluation under Section 32 of the Resource Management Act 1991	May 2011	CR 111
Regulatory Impact Statement – National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2011	May 2011
Summary of the Board of Inquiry's recommendations and the Minister for the Environment's decision on the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2011	May 2011	ME 1052
National Policy Statement for Renewable Electricity Generation 2011	April 2011	INFO 599
National Policy Statement for Renewable Electricity Generation – Evaluation under Section 32 of the Resource Management Act 1991	March 2011	CR 109
Regulatory Impact Statement – National Policy Statement for Renewable Electricity Statement	March 2011
Cabinet paper: National Policy Statement on Renewable Electricity Generation	April 2011
Board of Inquiry Report on the proposed National Policy Statement for Renewable Electricity Generation	March 2010
Summary of the Board of Inquiry’s recommendations and the Minister for the Environment’s decision on the National Policy Statement for Renewable Electricity Generation 2011	April 2011	ME 1049
Proposed National Environmental Standard for Plantation Forestry: Discussion Document	September 2010	ME 1025
Preliminary Cost Benefit Analysis: Proposed NES for Plantation Forestry	June 2010	CR 96
Report and Recommendations from Board of Inquiry on the Proposed National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management	February 2010	CR 86
Proposed National Environmental Standard for Assessing and Managing Soil Contaminants in Soil Discussion Document	February 2010	ME 977
Guidance on National Environmental Standards for Electricity Transmission Activities	January 2010
National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission: Implementation Guidance for Local Authorities	January 2010	ME 988
National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission: Further Guidance on Risks of Development near High-voltage Transmission Lines	January 2010 (updated December 2012)	ME 1106
National Environmental Standards for Telecommunication Facilities Users' Guide	November 2009	ME 975
Draft Users' Guide: National Environmental Standard for Sources of Human Drinking Water	May 2009	ME 936
Proposed National Environmental Standard for On-site Wastewater Systems Report on submissions	April 2009	ME 930
Scope of a National Policy Statement on Urban Design: Report on Submissions	March 2009	ME 927
National Environmental Standards for Telecommunications Facilities Resource Management Act Section 32: Analysis of the Costs and Benefits	August 2008	ME 901
Proposed National Policy Statement for Renewable Electricity Generation 2008 Section 32 Evaluation	August 2008	MF 889
Proposed National Policy Statement for Renewable Electricity Generation 2008	August 2008	INFO 306
Regulatory Impact Statement: Proposed National Policy Statement for Renewable Electricity Generation 2008	August 2008
Scope of a National Policy Statement on Urban Design: Background Paper	August 2008	ME 899
Finding the Balance: Managing Fresh Water in New Zealand	July 2008	ME 888
Proposed National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management Section 32 Evaluation	July 2008	ME 893
Proposed National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management	July 2008	INFO 295
Proposed National Environmental Standard for On-site Wastewater Discussion Document	July 2008	ME 890
Consultation on a proposed new regulation for on-site wastewater systems	July 2008	INFO 294
Cost–benefit Analysis for a National Environmental Standard for Water Measuring Devices	May 2008	CR 34
Proposed National Environmental Standards for Electricity Transmission: Report on Submissions	May 2008	ME 878
National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission - Evaluation under Section 32 of the Resource Management Act	March 2008	ME 869
National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission	March 2008
Proposed National Environmental Standard for Telecommunications Facilities: Report on Submissions	October 2007	ME 839
National guidance under the Resource Management Act	October 2007	INFO 226
Proposed National Environmental Standards for Electricity Transmission: Discussion Document	October 2007	ME 837
Proposed National Environmental Standards for Telecommunications Facilities: Discussion Document	June 2007	ME 812
Proposed National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission	May 2007	INFO 194
Proposed National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission Evaluation under Section 32 of the Resource Management Act 1991	May 2007	ME 807
Updated Users Guide to Resource Management (National Environmental Standards Relating to Certain Air Pollutants, Dioxins and Other Toxics) Regulations 2004 (Including Amendments 2005) (second draft)	October 2005	ME695
Improving the RMA and Environmental Standards	November 2004	INFO 77
New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement	May 1994

Aquaculture

Name	Date	Reference
Aquaculture Reform 2004 - An Overview	January 2005	INFO 83

General RMA improvement and implementation

Name	Date	Reference
National Monitoring System for the Resource Management Act 1991 – A proposal for discussion	June 2013	ME 1116
Improving our resource management system: A discussion document	February 2013	ME 1103
Monitoring and Review Project – Gap Analysis	June 2012	CR 133
Monitoring and Review Project - Case Studies of National Monitoring Frameworks	April 2012	CR 132
Monitoring and Review Project – Stocktake of RMA Monitoring Across Selected Agencies	May 2012	CR 131
Monitoring and Review Project – Report for Needs Analysis	December 2011	CR 130
Report of the Minister for the Environment’s Resource Management Act 1991 Principles Technical Advisory Group	July 2012	CR 125
Building competitive cities: Reform of the urban and infrastructure planning system - Summary of submissions	June 2011	CE 114
Building competitive cities: Reform of the urban and infrastructure planning system - A discussion document	October 2010	ME 1021
Building competitive cities Reform of the urban and infrastructure planning system - A technical working paper	October 2010	ME 1029
Phase II Reform Of The Rma Notices Of Requirements And Outline Plans - Analysis	June 2010	CR 144
Analysis of timeframes for the development of policy statements and plans under the Resource Management Act 1991	December 2008	CR 143
Development of Standard Definitions for Common District Plan Terms	August 2008	CR 142
First Schedule Process - Time and costs	July 2008	CR 141
Schedule One Process – Plan Changes: Quantitative and Qualitative Evaluation	July 2008	CR 140
Urban design controls and city development in a New Zealand context: reflections on recent experiences in Auckland's urban core	July 2008	CR 139
Cost Recovery Policy for Proposals of National Significance: Sections 140–150AA of the Resource Management Act (PDF, 249 KB)	March 2007	ME 800
Research into the use of designations	March 2006	CR 138
Resource Management Amendment Act 2005 information sheets	August 2005	-
Improving Processes for Making Plans & Policy Statements under the Resource Management Act 1991	August 2004	CR 137
Improving the RMA - a progress report on achievements	May 2004	INFO 58
Fixing the Resource Management Act	October 2003	INFO 40
Managing Vegetation Disturbance under the RMA: The Way Forward: Forestry and the RMA	October 1999	ME 330
Proposals for Amendment to the Resource Management Act	November 1998	ME 295
Land Use Control Under the Resource Management Act: Analysis of Submissions	September 1998	ME 287
Land Use Control Under the Resource Management Act	April 1998	ME 278

RMA monitoring and research

Name	Date	Reference
Investigation of the Performance of Environment Canterbury under the Resource Management Act & Local Government Act	February 2010	CR 84
Section 24A RMA Investigation of the Consent Processing Performance of the Far North District Council: An Investigation of the Council’s Performance in the 2007/08 year	February 2010	CR 83
Discount Regulations: Issues and Options Paper	January 2010	ME 1000
A study into the use of prosecutions under the RMA 1991, 1 May 2005 - 30 June 2008	March 2009	ME 929
A Review of Council RMA Resource Consent Processing Performance: Round One	January 2008	ME 845
A Review of Council RMA Resource Consent Processing Performance: Round Two	January 2008	ME 851
Survey of Local Authorities	Biennial	various
Environment Court Decisions January to June 2004	February 2006	ME 713
A Study into the use of Prosecutions under the Resource Management Act 1991 1 July 2001 - 30 June 2005	February 2006	ME 712
The Use of Officer Reports by Decision-makers	January 2005	ME 576
The Use of Limited Notification	January 2005	ME 575
Infringement Notices: Are they working?	January 2005	ME 574
Reducing the Delays: Enhancing New Zealand’s Environment Court	March 2003	ME 464
Streamlining RMA Approvals for Land Transport Projects: A study of delays in major roading projects	February 2003	ME 435
Managing Rural Amenity Conflicts	February 2000; March 2001	ME 372; ME 372A

Older RMA monitoring and research

Please note that the following documents are based on older research and this should be kept in mind when referring to them. In some cases, more recent research reports may be available above.

Name	Date	Reference
A Study Into the Use of Prosecutions Under the RMA 1991	May 2002	ME 440
A Study into the Use of Infringement Notices Under the RMA 1991	April 2002	ME 434
Resource consent durations and reviews	September 2000	ME 361
The impact of development on rural landscape values	July 2000	ME 354
Proposed plan submission analysis	May 2000	ME 347
The private plan change report	April 2000	ME 346
Resource Management Practice and Performance: Are desired environmental outcomes being achieved at least cost? – A case study of farm dairy effluent management	October 1999	ME 329
Case law on Tangata Whenua consultation: RMA working paper	June 1999	ME 324
Resource Management Act Practice and Performance: Are Rules Achieving the Desired Environmental Outcomes?	June 1998	ME 275
Resource Management Act Practice and Performance: Time Delays in Processing Resource Consents - Case Study on Telecom's Applications	June 1998	ME 274