Resource Management Act 1991

Introduction

You could also call this:

"Rules for Using Our Environment"

Illustration for Resource Management Act 1991

This law is about how we use land, air, and water. You will learn about the rules for using these things. The law wants to make sure we use them in a good way.

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This page was last updated on 28 October 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM230264.

Highlights from this law

9: Restrictions on use of land

Rules about how you can use land without harming the environment

13: Restriction on certain uses of beds of lakes and rivers

Rules for what you can and can't do in lake and river beds

14: Restrictions relating to water

Rules about taking and using water from the coast and other sources

15: Discharge of contaminants into environment

Keeping Our Environment Clean: No Dumping Allowed Without Permission

5

Rules and Plans

43: Regulations prescribing national environmental standards

Rules to protect New Zealand's environment and keep it clean and healthy

48: Public notification of proposal for national direction and inquiry

Telling the public about a proposed national direction and asking for their thoughts

93: When public notification of consent applications is required

When do people need to tell the public about plans that need council approval?

95: Time limit for public notification or limited notification

Rules for deciding how quickly the government must tell people about requests to use land or resources

Topics:

Environment and resources > ConservationEnvironment and resources > Town planning

1: Short Title and commencement, or

"This explains what the law is called and when it starts to work."

Resource Management Act 1991

Reprint as at:: 2025-08-27
Assent:: 1991-07-22
Commencement:: see section 1(2)

The Parliamentary Counsel Office has made editorial and format changes to this version using the powers under subpart 2 of Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019.

Note 4 at the end of this version provides a list of the amendments included in it.

This Act is administered by the Ministry for the Environment.

An Act to restate and reform the law relating to the use of land, air, and water