Resource Management Act: Improving and implementing the RMA
The Ministry leads work to improve the RMA and its implementation. Including RMA reviews and amendments, national environmental standards and national policy statements.
- RMA reviews and amendments
Since its enactment in 1991, the RMA has undergone several reviews and has been amended a number of times. This section lists RMA amendments, including information on the Resource Management Amendment Act 2005.
- RMA Monitoring and Review Project
The Ministry has initiated a project to develop a national monitoring framework for the RMA.
- Resource Management Regulations
Regulations under the RMA deal with specific matters for administering the Act. Existing regulations include:
- Forms, Fees and Procedure Regulations
These forms are prescribed by the Resource Management (Forms, Fees and Procedure) Regulations 2003. They came into effect on 1 August 2003 and were updated on 1 June 2006.
- Discount on administrative charges regulations
These regulations provide a ‘default’ discount on administrative charges for resource consent applications not processed within timeframes in the RMA.They came into effect on 31 July 2010.
- Measurement and reporting of water takes regulations
These regulations require qualifying consent holders to meet minimum requirements to measure their water takes. The regulations also require water use data to be reported to regional councils. They come into effect on 10 November 2010.
- RMA Survey, reviews and investigations
Every two years local authorities participate in a survey which examines key aspects of the Resource Management Act (RMA) process. The survey provides both information about local authority implementation of the RMA and a measure of comparative performance.
- National environmental standards
National environmental standards are tools that secure a consistent approach and decision-making process throughout the whole country. This section discusses the current work programme for national environmental standards.
- National policy statements
National policy statements are tools to help local government decide how competing national benefits and local costs should be balanced. This section discusses the current work programme for national policy statements.
- Preparing for an Environmental Protection Authority
As part of its proposed package of Resource Management Act reforms, the Government is proposing to establish an Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) as a statutory office housed within the Ministry for the Environment.
Last updated: 20 December 2011
