Resource Management Act

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Board of Inquiry for the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management

The Minister for the Environment appointed an independent Board of Inquiry to call for submissions, hear public views (public hearings) via an open submission process, and report back to the Environment Minister with recommendations on the proposed national policy statement for freshwater management.

• Terms of Reference for the Board of Inquiry
• Proposed National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management
• Section 32 evaluation of the proposed National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management
• Regulatory impact and compliance cost statement for the proposed National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management

Report and recommendations to the Minister

The Board has sent its report, which contains its recommendations and a revised NPS to the Minister for the Environment.  The Board has now fully completed its duties and is dissolved.

The Minister has forwarded the report to the Iwi Leaders Group, Land and Water Forum and officials in order to provide useful content for debate and discussion in their work on the New Start for Freshwater.

A copy of the report can be found through the link below:

• Report and recommendations of the Board of Inquiry for the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management.
• Accompanying letter sent to the Land and Water Forum (PDF, 62 KB)

Hearing

The Board of Inquiry commenced hearing submitters that stated they wish to be heard in Wellington on 30 June 2009. The hearings closed on Friday 18 September 2009.

• Hearing schedule
• Hearing proceedings, daily record, transcript and list of documents

Evidence

• Evidence received from submitters is now available
• Rebuttal Evidence received from submitters is now available (PDF, 88 KB)
• Newmont Waihi Gold is seeking to adopt Solid Energy’s Evidence (PDF, 526 KB)

Report

The Board has received a report that it requested from the Ministry for the Environment to help in its deliberations.

• Treaty Settlements or Deeds for Settlement that may have implications for the proposed NPS for Freshwater Management

Hearings procedures

The Board’s Hearing Procedures are available. These procedures describe how the Board intends to conduct the hearings.

Summary of Submissions and Further Submissions

The Board of Inquiry received 149 submissions and 30 further submissions.

A summary of submissions and further submissions is now available:

• PDF summary (1.32 MB)
• Excel summary (1.33 MB)

Electronic copies of submissions and further submissions are also available to download.

Two additional reports on the submissions and further submissions are also available:

• Summary by topic (PDF, 3.24 MB)
• Summary by provision (PDF, 1.27 MB)

The Chairman, under his delegated authority, has considered three late submissions (PDF, 40 KB) from Te Arawa Lakes Trust, Bay of Plenty Conservation Board and Te Runanga o Ngati Manawa.

Media releases

• Media Advisory – Inquiry hearing begins for proposed National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (PDF, 30 KB)

For further information on the Board of Inquiry, please contact:

Administration Officer - Board of Inquiry - Water
Freepost Board of Inquiry - Water
c/o Ministry for the Environment
PO Box 10362
Wellington 6143
Email: information@mfe.govt.nz
Phone: (04) 439 7780
Fax: (04) 469 7705

Last updated 9 February 2010