Publication Search
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December 2017This guide relates to the requirements in the National Policy Statement on Urban Development Capacity for local authorities to set targets in their regional policy statements and district plans (policies PC5 – PC 11). Read more -
December 2017This guide provides recommendations on how to give effect to the requirements of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development Capacity to produce the future development strategy (policies PC12 - PC14). Read more -
December 2017This package of briefings was provided to the incoming Minister for the Environment and Minister for Climate in October 2017. Read more -
December 2017This research identifies international and domestic trends and best practice for urban growth management strategies and recommends what guidance could be developed for councils to assist them to meet policies PC12, PC13 and PC14 of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development Capacity. Read more -
October 2017Our Statement of Intent 2017–2021 and Annual Report 2016/17 provides information about our plans for the next four years and how we’ve performed during 2016/17. Read more -
September 2017This document provides a two-page summary of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development Capacity. Read more -
September 2017The purpose of this guide is to help professionals understand and successfully implement deemed permitted activity processes under sections 87BA and 87BB of the Resource Management Act 1991, brought in by the Resource Legislation Amendment Act 2017. These sections come in force from 18 October 2017. Read more -
September 2017This report investigates how the structure, format, and presentation of RMA plans impact the ability of lay people to navigate and understand the plan provisions. Read more -
September 2017The deemed permitted boundary activity process was introduced by RLAA, to take effect from 18 October 2017. This provides guidance to assist councils with processing these applications. Read more -
August 2017The National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry (NES-PF) mark a significant change in the way forestry activities are managed under the Resource Management Act. This brochure provides an overview of the regulations for the councils and foresters. Read more -
August 2017This document provides guidance for planners and engineers on managing risks from liquefaction. It covers how to determine if liquefaction is an issue that needs to be managed, and appropriate land-use planning and building controls. Read more -
July 2017This report assesses how well we are developing and maintaining the regulatory regimes that we are responsible for, including the current state of each piece of legislation, any plans for amendments, and our view of important emerging issues. Read more -
July 2017The expenses of the Ministry for the Environment’s Chief Executive for the period 1 July 2016 - 30 June 2017. Read more -
June 2017This draft guidance is for councils or participants considering, or carrying out, a collaborative planning process under Part 4, Schedule 1 of the Resource Management Act 1991. Read more -
June 2017This guidance is for territorial authorities considering, or undertaking, a collaborative planning process to review, prepare or change a proposed plan, which will include addressing designations, heritage orders or notices of requirement. Read more -
June 2017This guidance supports local authorities to give effect to evidence and monitoring requirements in the National Policy Statement on Urban Development Capacity (see policies PB1 – PB7 and PD1). Read more -
June 2017This guidance is to help local authorities submit the National Monitoring System information requirements for the period 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018. Read more -
June 2017The 2017 Four Year Plan sets out the Ministry for the Environment’s strategic intentions for 2017/18 to 2020/2021. The Four Year Plan was prepared before Budget 2017 and was current at May 2017. Read more -
June 2017This brochure provides a high level overview of the main legislative changes made by the Resource Legislation Amendment Act 2017. It provides a useful summary for councillors, executives and members of the public. Read more -
June 2017This briefing was provided to the Associate Minister for the Environment in May 2017. Read more -
May 2017This report examines how national policy statements on energy and electricity have been implemented and how they could be incorporated into the proposed National Planning Standards. Read more -
May 2017This report assesses metrics (ie, standards and methods of measurement) used in a selection of district and regional plans. Read more -
May 2017This report provides advice on the potential to standardise rules or exclusions for residential activities that could be included in a national planning standard or national environmental standard under the Resource Management Act. Read more -
May 2017This report identifies and analyses relevant non-urban zones and develops zoning framework options. Read more -
May 2017This report examines the use of spatial planning tools across New Zealand and identifies commonalities and differences. Read more -
May 2017This report examines urban zone provisions within district plans throughout New Zealand to better understand the most commonly used provisions and the key differences in the core urban zones. Read more -
May 2017This report reviews the suite of terms and associated definitions contained in 11 regional plans. Read more -
May 2017This report studies five districts (Kaipara, New Plymouth, Taupo, Waimakariri and Clutha) to understand why district councils use ‘effects-based’ plans, and the usability and outcomes of such plans. Read more -
May 2017This report examines differences in structure, format, mapping, and terminology between regional plans. Read more -
May 2017This report reviews the structure of regional policy statements (RPS) developed by councils. Read more -
May 2017This report researches the variation in district and regional plan definitions, and identifies ‘core’ or common terms applicable to district and regional plans to better understand the variation and complexity, and identify where greater efficiencies can be achieved. Read more -
May 2017This document is a summary of preliminary research undertaken by the Ministry over 2013-15 on a number of key planning issues relevant to the creation of national planning standards. Read more -
May 2017This 2013 report identified practice and trends in the structure, format and electronic delivery of RMA plans in New Zealand. Read more -
May 2017This report summarises research on different structure, format and high level content of Regional Policy Statements (RPS) under the Resource Management Act. Read more -
May 2017This report summarises research on the structure, format and the high level content of regional plans (including regional coastal plans) as background for a potential national planning standard on regional planning. Read more -
May 2017This research reports on the different approaches used by Territorial Authorities (Councils) in applying different activity status for resource consents and considers the various logic models used by Councils to evaluate different land uses. Read more -
May 2017This report provides an overview of the types of coastal planning provisions around the country and presents ideas for possible common content in a national planning standard. Read more -
May 2017This report identifies a small group of “atypical” effects-based district and unitary plans and assesses how different these are from other district plans. Read more -
May 2017This research reports on the structure, format and high level content of unitary plans prepared under the Resource Management Act. Read more -
May 2017This paper gives an overview of the new National Planning Standards tool. Read more -
May 2017This paper discusses how the National Planning Standards could provide a more consistent structure for district plans. Read more -
May 2017This paper discusses the inconsistent use of terminology and use of different planning tools and how this affects plan structure overall. Read more -
May 2017This paper signals a preference for a combined structure incorporating the Regional Policy Statement, regional plans and coastal plan into one document. Read more -
May 2017This paper discusses the approaches to the design and format of plans (eg, objectives and policies, rules, font, headings, tables, and colour). Read more -
May 2017This paper investigates cartographic conventions/visual display to harmonise planning maps in regional and district plans. Read more -
May 2017This paper focuses on plan definitions and terms that commonly overlap with regional plans. It outlines the criteria used to narrow the list of terms to be defined and provides options on the formatting of definitions. Read more -
May 2017This paper describes the requirements for transitioning plans from a paper-based format to a fully searchable and interactive online plan. Read more -
May 2017This paper looks at the opportunity to standardise metrics and considers which metrics can be included in the National Planning Standards. Read more -
May 2017This paper considers three key issues relating to a range of general plan provisions like explanations of Resource Management Act 1991 plan hierarchy, Māori values, how activity status applies, and cross-boundary issues. Read more -
May 2017This report assesses the structure and format of regional rules, and how they vary around New Zealand. Read more