Urban amenity and the RMA
The Resource Management Act has formal requirements that councils must fulfil when they prepare district plans. Other legislation also contains provisions that affect urban amenity.
Obviously, councils must meet the requirements of the RMA and comply with all relevant legislation. However, the Urban Amenity Project found that a broader approach is necessary. Creating great places to live, work, and play is about more than meeting legislative requirements.
Resource Management Act
The Resource Management Act doesn’t specifically mention urban amenity. It does, however, define amenity values:
Amenity values are those natural or physical qualities and characteristics of an area that contribute to people’s appreciation of its pleasantness, aesthetic coherence, and cultural and recreational attributes.
Part II of the RMA sets out the responsibilities of territorial authorities, regional councils, and members of the community in protecting amenity values. In addition, section 75 requires councils to provide for amenity values in their district plans.
Other legislation relevant to urban amenity
- The Local Government Act 1974 contains many provisions that directly impact on urban amenity, particularly visual amenity, character, and the provision of amenities.
- The Historic Places Act 1993 deals with cultural and heritage values. These are related to the intangible aspects of urban amenity, such as cultural identity.
- The Reserves Act 1977 concerns the provisions of urban parks and reserves, which contribute to urban amenity values.
- The Civil Aviation Act 1990, Health Act 1956, Building Act 1961, and Transport Act 1962 all contain regulations concerning noise, ‘nuisance’, dangerous and insanitary buildings, and pollution.
Detail on the RMA and other legislation relevant to urban amenity is in Technical Paper 63: Urban Amenity Indicators: the liveability of our urban environments [PDF 428kb], prepared by the Urban Amenity Project.
