Resource Consent
RMA - What is this?
The Resource Management Act (1991) is described as New Zealand’s primary legislation for environmental management. The purpose of the Resource Management Act is to promote the sustainable management of natural and physical resources. [The RMA is currently going through a reform process. Ngāti Toa is actively involved in discussions and submissions concerning this process].
The use of land is regulated by both territorial authorities and regional councils. Territorial authorities are responsible for the control of land use generally. Regional councils are responsible for the control of land use where it relates to soil conservation, freshwater management, natural hazards, hazardous substances, the coastal marine area, and indigenous biodiversity. There is some overlap in the responsibilities of territorial authorities and regional councils so the local authority responsible for each circumstance must be identified in regional policy statements.
The most familiar and commonly recognised aspect of the Resource Management Act (RMA) is Resource Consent. Resource Consents give you permission to use or develop a natural or physical resource and/or carry out an activity that affects the environment.
There are five types of Resource Consents:
There are five types of Resource Consents:
1. Water permits - take, use, dam, and divert.
2. Discharge permits - to land, air, and water.
3. Coastal permits - construction, deposit, disturb, and alter.
4. Land use consent - build, excavation, and damage to habitat.
5. Subdivision consent – build subdivision.