What is expected of me?
Councils expect applicants will:
- keep in touch with council staff throughout the resource consent process
- provide a full and frank report on the outcomes of consultation (as required by Clause 1(h) of Schedule Four of the RMA)
- take the lead role in consultation unless it is a major project warranting direct involvement of the council.
Interested and affected parties expect applicants will:
- demonstrate that they will be flexible
- provide adequate information and sufficient time that allows a thoughtful, meaningful response to be prepared
- consult during the earliest possible stage in the development of your ideas (rather than being expected to respond to a final, inflexible version of the project)
- appreciate the time, cost and resource implications on parties being consulted.
Clearly set out to groups being consulted how the consultation may be limited, particularly where councils will only be considering certain aspects of the proposal.
Make it clear to groups whether you are consulting generally, or specifically for the purpose of obtaining their written approval (so the application can be processed without notice).
Make personal contact in meetings and site visits to allow persons being consulted to put a face to your project and show that you genuinely acknowledge their role.
Having owners or senior managers of your company or organisation attend consultation meetings, rather than just more junior staff or consultants, is a sign of respect to those you are consulting with.
Tāngata whenua also expect applicants will:
- acknowledge the legitimacy of tāngata whenua involvement
- appreciate that there may be more than one tāngata whenua group for any area and that different groups may have different issues
- understand that tāngata whenua have wide and varied interests in the environment and may be under resourced. They may need to recover any actual and reasonable costs of responding to requests for consultation
- acknowledge and work with tāngata whenua protocols
- acknowledge that due to the need to reach consensus, tāngata whenua groups may work to longer timeframes
- appreciate that their interest may extend beyond the consent process into implementation and on-going operation of the activity (eg, visiting the site once your proposal has begun operating, and being involved in any monitoring of effects associated with the operation of your proposal).
Consider making provision in any consultation or draft application material for the continued involvement of tāngata whenua groups in the implementation and on ongoing aspects of your proposal.
