Resource Management Act Key Facts about Local Authorities and RMA Processes in 2010/2011
About the RMA survey of local authorities
Every two years the Ministry for the Environment carries out the Resource Management Act (RMA) survey of local authorities in New Zealand. The survey includes questions about key aspects of RMA implementation:
- the numbers and types of resource consent applications processed
- the time taken to process resource consent applications
- charges to applicants for resource consent applications
- good practice in resource consent processing
- monitoring, compliance, complaints and enforcement
- Māori participation in RMA processes
- the numbers and types of plan changes and variations.
The purpose of the survey is to:
- help the Minister for the Environment monitor how the RMA is being put into practice
- highlight trends over time in implementing the RMA, as well as areas where performance by local authorities may require greater attention
- promote good practice under the RMA and improve local authorities’ performance
- enable each local authority to compare its performance with others
- provide local authorities with information so they can more accurately respond to enquiries about RMA processes.
This brochure highlights the key facts on RMA processes for the 2010/2011 financial year for the 78 local authorities that responded to the survey. The full report on the Resource Management Act: Survey of Local Authorities 2010/2011 can be found on the Ministry for the Environment’s website at: www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/rma/annual-survey.
Five key facts from 2010/11
- 36,154 resource consent applications were processed through to a decision.
- 0.56 per cent (203) of resource consent applications were declined.
- 6 per cent (2263) of resource consent applications were notified in some way (publicly notified and limited-notified).
- 95 per cent of resource consent applications were processed on time.
- 68 per cent of consents that required monitoring were actually monitored.
Resource consent application processing
- 36,154 resource consent applications were processed through to a decision.
- 4 per cent (1414) of resource consent applications were publicly notified.
- 2 per cent (849) of resource consent applications were notified to affected parties only (limited notification).
- Local authority officers acting under delegated authority made 91 per cent of decisions on resource consent applications.
- 0.56 per cent (203) of resource consent applications were declined.
- 1 per cent (357) of resource consent decisions were appealed.
Number of consent applications processed to a decision, 1997/98-2010/11
Read a description of this figure
| Type of authority | Subdivision | Land use | Coastal | Water | Discharge | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regional | 0 | 3,086 | 793 | 2,322 | 3,188 | 9,389 |
| Unitary | 1,830 | 9,233 | 438 | 496 | 594 | 12,591 |
| Territorial | 4,462 | 9,710 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 14,174 |
| Total | 6,292 | 22,029 | 1,231 | 2,818 | 3,784 | 36,154 |
Source: 2010/1011 RMA survey data.
Resource consent applications processed on time
- Overall, 95 per cent of resource consent applications were processed on time.
- 87 per cent of notified resource consent applications were processed on time.
- 86 per cent of limited notified resource consent applications were processed on time.
- 95 per cent of non-notified resource consent applications were processed on time.
- Section 37 was used to extend the time limits for 15 per cent of all resource consent applications.
Percentage of resource consent applications processed on time, 1997/98-2010/11
Read a description of this figure
| Consent type | Percentage of resource consent applications processed on time (%) |
|---|---|
| Subdivision | 93 |
| Land use | 95 |
| Coastal | 96 |
| Water | 95 |
| Discharge | 97 |
Source: 2010/2011 RMA survey data.
Charges for resource consent applications
The range of average median charges to applicants for resource consent application processing varied depending on the type of notification and issuing authority.
Average changes to applicants for resource consent applications
| Notification type | Territorial authorities | |
|---|---|---|
| Subdivision | Land use | |
| Notified | $10,562 | $19,499 |
| Limited notified | $3,174 | $5,651 |
| Non-notified | $1,312 | $934 |
| Notification type | Regional councils and Unitary authorities1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subdivision | Land use | Water | Coastal | Discharge | |
| Notified | $11,521 | $8,514 | $17,866 | $9,947 | $9,928 |
| Limited notified | $6,537 | $4,779 | $4,168 | $2,385 | $4,699 |
| Non-notified | $1,581 | $832 | $1,277 | $970 | $1,119 |
Back to footnote reference 1 These are combined average median charges for regional councils and unitary authorities.
Source: 2010/2011 RMA survey data.
The total value of all discounts provided by local authorities in 2010/11 was $204,109.
Monitoring, compliance, complaints and enforcement
- 68 per cent of resource consents that required monitoring were monitored.
- 72 per cent of monitored resource consents complied with their conditions.
- 124,172 complaints about alleged breaches of the RMA were received.
- Excessive noise directions (81 per cent) were the most used formal enforcement option to resolve complaints, followed by abatement notices (11 per cent).
- 1800 infringement notices and 1290 abatement notices were issued.
| Responsibility | Regional councils | Unitary authorities | Territorial authorities | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State of the environment | Monitor | 100% | 83% | 43% | 54% |
| Report | 91% | 83% | 23% | 37% | |
| Suitability and effectiveness of policies and plans | Monitor | 91% | 33% | 64% | 65% |
| Report | 45% | 17% | 38% | 37% | |
| Delegated/ transferred functions | Monitor | 55% | 50% | 34% | 38% |
| Report | 27% | 33% | 25% | 26% | |
| Compliance with resource consent conditions | Monitor | 100% | 83% | 89% | 90% |
| Report | 91% | 67% | 48% | 55% | |
| Compliance with permitted activities | Monitor | 91% | 67% | 46% | 54% |
| Report | 82% | 67% | 15% | 28% | |
Source: 2010/2011 RMA survey data.
Māori participation in RMA processes
- All councils provided advice to applicants that their resource consent application may be of interest or concern to iwi or hapū.
- 97 per cent of local authorities had standard resource consent conditions covering the discovery of sites or items significant to iwi/hapū.
- 15 per cent of local authorities involved iwi/hapū in resource consent monitoring.
- 54 per cent of local authorities made a budgetary commitment to iwi/hapū participation in RMA processes.
- 51 per cent of local authorities had written criteria or a set policy for staff to determine when iwi/hapū should be considered an affected party to resource consent applications.
- 24 per cent of local authorities had a policy requiring a cultural impact assessment as part of the resource consent application when a site, species or resource is of concern to iwi/hapū.
- 72 per cent of local authorities had formal memoranda of understanding, protocols, joint management agreements, or service-level agreements with iwi/hapū, and 63 per cent had informal agreements.
Good practice by local authorities
The results of the RMA survey are used to highlight and monitor the use of good practice by local authorities to improve performance in resource management functions.
- 82 per cent of local authorities provided applicants with a checklist defining the environmental effects that must be addressed in resource consent applications for controlled and restricted discretionary activities.
- 77 per cent of local authorities followed a structured process to identify and address environmental effects.
- 68 per cent of local authorities had internal notes or checklists to guide staff on when to notify a resource consent application.
- 53 per cent of local authorities had internal guidance notes or checklists to help staff identify potentially affected parties.
- All local authorities check each resource consent application for completeness within 5 working days of its arrival.
- 82 per cent of local authorities ran customer satifaction surveys. Of those providing full information, 91 per cent reported that most customers were either ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’.
- The average number of staff over the survey period was 943. Forty-three per cent of these staff are planners.
Plan changes and variations
- 108 council initiated and 35 privately initiated plan changes to operative district or regional plans were completed.
- 35 variations to proposed district or regional plans were completed.
Resource consent applications processed by individual local authorities
Local authorities are grouped according to their authority type and, in the case of the 61 territorial authorities, the volume of resource consent applications they process.
| Group | Local authority | 2010/11 | Use of s37 (2010/11) |
|---|---|---|---|
| % on time | % of total consents processed | ||
| Territorial authorities group 1 | Carterton District Council | 100 | 4 |
| Central Hawke’s Bay District Council | 100 | 6 | |
| Clutha District Council | 100 | 0 | |
| Gore District Council | 98 | 4 | |
| Grey District Council | 97 | 7 | |
| Hurunui District Council | 98 | 3 | |
| Kaikoura District Council | 96 | 7 | |
| Kawerau District Council | 100 | 0 | |
| Mackenzie District Council | 88 | 14 | |
| Masterton District Council | 99 | 3 | |
| Opotiki District Council | 97 | 6 | |
| Otorohanga District Council | 99 | 5 | |
| Rangitikei District Council | 100 | 0 | |
| Ruapehu District Council | 98 | 3 | |
| South Waikato District Council | 98 | 0 | |
| Stratford District Council | 100 | 0 | |
| Tararua District Council | 91 | 0 | |
| Waimate District Council | 78 | 2 | |
| Wairoa District Council | 100 | 3 | |
| Waitomo District Council | 100 | 0 | |
| Territorial authorities group 2 | Ashburton District Council | 98 | 3 |
| Buller District Council | 100 | 12 | |
| Central Otago District Council | 98 | 5 | |
| Hauraki District Council | 99 | 15 | |
| Horowhenua District Council | 98 | 5 | |
| Invercargill City Council | 99 | 15 | |
| Kaipara District Council | 93 | 72 | |
| Kapiti Coast District Council | 93 | 4 | |
| Manawatu District Council | 94 | 1 | |
| Matamata−Piako District Council | 96 | 8 | |
| Napier City Council | 93 | 0 | |
| Porirua City Council | 99 | 3 | |
| Selwyn District Council | 99 | 2 | |
| South Taranaki District Council | 100 | 1 | |
| South Wairarapa District Council | 92 | 0 | |
| Southland District Council | 95 | 12 | |
| Taupo District Council | 100 | 5 | |
| Timaru District Council | 100 | 2 | |
| Upper Hutt City Council | 97 | 6 | |
| Waimakariri District Council | 74 | 4 | |
| Waitaki District Council | 98 | 5 | |
| Wanganui District Council | 99 | 17 | |
| Western Bay of Plenty District Council | 100 | 5 | |
| Westland District Council | 99 | 12 | |
| Whakatane District Council | 90 | 7 | |
| Whangarei District Council | 91 | 17 | |
| Territorial authorities group 3 | Far North District Council | 95 | 3 |
| Hamilton City Council | 94 | 6 | |
| Hastings District Council | 95 | 2 | |
| Hutt City Council | 99 | 2 | |
| New Plymouth District Council | 98 | 9 | |
| Palmerston North City Council | 77 | 1 | |
| Rotorua District Council | 98 | 3 | |
| Tauranga City Council | 98 | 9 | |
| Thames−Coromandel District Council | 98 | 13 | |
| Waikato District Council | 96 | 16 | |
| Waipa District Council | 96 | 7 | |
| Territorial authorities group 4 | Christchurch City Council | 90 | 10 |
| Dunedin City Council | 99 | 5 | |
| Queenstown−Lakes District Council | 96 | 0 | |
| Wellington City Council | 99 | 9 | |
| Regional councils | Bay of Plenty Regional Council | 100 | 27 |
| Environment Canterbury Regional Council | 92 | 27 | |
| Environment Southland | 92 | 8 | |
| Greater Wellington Regional Council | 99 | 18 | |
| Hawke’s Bay Regional Council | 98 | 15 | |
| Horizons Regional Council | 98 | 42 | |
| Northland Regional Council | 99 | 46 | |
| Otago Regional Council | 99 | 23 | |
| Taranaki Regional Council | 100 | 28 | |
| Waikato Regional Council | 90 | 40 | |
| West Coast Regional Council | 98 | 14 | |
| Unitary authorities | Auckland Council | 92 | 9 |
| Chatham Islands Council | 100 | 0 | |
| Gisborne District Council | 96 | 13 | |
| Marlborough District Council | 95 | 6 | |
| Nelson City Council | 89 | 19 | |
| Tasman District Council | 99 | 32 |
Source: 2010/2011 RMA survey data.
Future surveys
The Ministry is working collaboratively with councils to develop an integrated framework to monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the RMA. This will build on existing monitoring knowledge, processes and systems to improve reporting of RMA data. The project will help clarify what RMA data will be collected, from where and when, and will reduce the handling of data. Over the long term, the project will build on the existing RMA survey process.
Disclaimer: Results presented in the 2010/11 survey were derived from data provided by local authorities. Data was collected through the Resource Management Act online survey. All reasonable measures have been taken to ensure the quality and accuracy of the information contained herein.
Published in September 2011 by the
Ministry for the Environment
Manatū Mō Te Taiao
PO Box 10362
Wellington 6143
New Zealand
Publication number: INFO 623
This document and the detailed survey results, Resource Management Act: Survey of Local Authorities 2010/2011, are available in the Ministry for the Environment’s website: www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/rma/annual-survey.
Last updated: 7 October 2011
