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Improving and implementing the RMA
National policy statements
National policy statements are instruments available under the RMA to help local government decide how competing national benefits and local costs should be balanced.
Work programme
The current work programme focuses on the following topics:
- electricity transmission
- renewable electricity generation
- NZ coastal policy statement (led by the Department of Conservation)
- freshwater management
- flood risk management
- Scope of a National Policy Statement on Urban Design
Process for development of national policy statements
The development of a national policy statement will usually take place in four stages: scoping, drafting, consultation and implementation. In most cases reference groups will be set up with representatives from key agencies. Reporting back to ministers occurs after scoping has been completed and before formal consultation.
Any minister can gain approval to scope a new topic for a national policy statement. However, the Minister for the Environment will provide an overview and advisory role when another minister leads the initial scoping stage.
Managing the range of topics (given their sometimes overlapping nature) and the impact on local government’s capabilities to implement national policy statements and national environmental standards is a critical aspect of the work programme.
If you would like to find out more about the work programme for national policy statements, please email information@mfe.govt.nz.
Last updated: 24 February 2010
