Preparation of a policy statement or plan

A regional council must prepare and change a regional policy statement or regional plan in accordance with:

• Its functions under section 30;
  
• The provisions of Part 2;
  
• The obligation to prepare and have particular regard to an evaluation report under section 32;
  
• Any regulations; and
• In respect of a regional plan, a direction given under section 25A. 

A district council must prepare and change a district plan in accordance with:

• The provisions of Part 2;
• The obligation to prepare and have particular regard to an evaluation report under section 32;
• Any regulations; and
• A direction given under section 25A. 

Although policy statements and plans must be prepared in accordance with the provisions of Part 2 of the Resource Management Act, they should not just repeat the words of Part 2. To be of most benefit, the policy statement or plan should interpret the requirements of Part 2 into the regional or local context. 

In preparing a policy statement or plan a local authority is also required to have regard to:

• Any management plans and strategies prepared under other Acts;
• Any relevant entry in the Historic Places Register;
  
• Regulations ensuring the sustainability of fisheries resources;
  
• Consistency with the policy statements and plans of adjacent councils;
• In respect of a regional policy statement or regional plan, consistency with regulations made under the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Act 2012;
  
• The need to take into account any relevant iwi planning documents;
  
• Any national adaptation plan or emissions reduction plan made under the Climate Change Response Act;
• In respect of a regional policy statement or regional plan, the need to recognise and provide for matters in a customary marine title group’s planning document;
• In respect of a regional plan or district plan, any proposed regional policy statement;
• In respect of a regional plan, the Crown’s interest in the coastal marine area; and
• In respect of a district plan, a proposed regional plan.

The regional or district council must not have regard to trade competition or the effects of trade competition.

Last updated at 3:19PM on August 20, 2021