Resource Management Act: Administration of the RMA

The Ministry 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.

Designations and requiring authorities
We provide information on the process for becoming a requiring authority, list requiring authorities, and the process for making a designation.

Heritage orders and heritage protection authorities
We provide information on the process for becoming a heritage protection authority, and the process for including a heritage order in a district plan.  

Ministerial intervention on proposals of national significance under the RMA
The RMA allows the Minister for the Environment to intervene in proposals of national significance if the Minister receives a request from an applicant, a council or if the Minister otherwise decides. The Minister’s intervention powers include: making a Crown submission, appointing project coordinators to assist the council, or to call in a project.

Ministerial responsibilities
The Minister for the Environment has a range of tools that may be used for assisting local government with resource management planning and decision-making. 

Status of council plans
We provide information on the status of council plans that have been lodged with us, and links to plans that are available on the web.

Surveys and other research
We survey local authorities to obtain core information about resource consent processes carried out by local authorities under the RMA. We also undertake other RMA research.

Water conservation orders
We provide information on applying for a water conservation order, applications that are currently being considered and orders that are in place.

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Feedback or questions?
Email information@mfe.govt.nz

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