Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Resource Management Act 1991

Purpose and principles

5: Purpose

You could also call this:

“This law aims to help people use and protect nature in a way that's good for everyone now and in the future.”

This law aims to help you use natural and physical resources in a way that lasts for a long time. It wants to make sure that you and your community can meet your needs and stay healthy and safe, while also looking after the environment.

When the law talks about using resources in a lasting way, it means a few things. First, it wants to make sure that there will be enough natural and physical resources (except for minerals) for people in the future. Second, it aims to protect the air, water, soil, and living things that support life. Lastly, it tries to stop, fix, or reduce any bad effects that your activities might have on the environment.

The law wants to balance your needs with the needs of the environment, so that both can thrive for a long time to come.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM231905.

Topics:
Environment and resources > Conservation
Environment and resources > Climate and energy
Environment and resources > Town planning
Housing and property > Land use
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“This law explains which foreign ships and planes don't have to follow New Zealand's rules.”

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“Important things people must think about when making decisions about our land, water, and special places in New Zealand”

Part 2 Purpose and principles

5Purpose

  1. The purpose of this Act is to promote the sustainable management of natural and physical resources.

  2. In this Act, sustainable management means managing the use, development, and protection of natural and physical resources in a way, or at a rate, which enables people and communities to provide for their social, economic, and cultural well-being and for their health and safety while—

  3. sustaining the potential of natural and physical resources (excluding minerals) to meet the reasonably foreseeable needs of future generations; and
    1. safeguarding the life-supporting capacity of air, water, soil, and ecosystems; and
      1. avoiding, remedying, or mitigating any adverse effects of activities on the environment.