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Resource Management Act

Latest news

RMA shake-up needed to fix late consents [11 June 2009]

Resource Management Act: Two-yearly Survey of Local Authorities 2007/2008 [11 June 2009]

Draft Report and Decision on Transpower's Upper North Island Grid Upgrade Proposal [27 May 2009]

This site is a gateway to information about the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA), New Zealand's main piece of legislation that sets out how we should manage our environment.

Information for the public and business

District plans, resource consents, environmental effects... what's it all about? Use this section to find out what RMA planning and consent processes mean for you and how you can get involved.

Information for practitioners

Are you working with the RMA and putting it into practice, in or with local government? Use this section to find information about the Making Good Decisions Programme, training workshops and the Quality Planning website to support you in implementing the RMA effectively.

Improving and implementing the RMA

The Ministry leads work to improve the RMA and its implementation. This work includes RMA reviews, surveys and amendments, national environmental standards and national policy statements.

Administration of the RMA

The Ministry also advises and assists the Minister for the Environment with his/her responsibilities under the RMA. These include: requests for ministerial intervention – such as a call in; and applications for water conservation orders, requiring authorities and heritage protection authorities.

Call ins

A call-in is one option the Minister for the Environment may use to intervene in a matter of national significance. When the Minister calls in a proposal it is either referred to an independent Board of Inquiry or directly to the Environment Court.

Last updated: 13 January 2009