Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

 Plain Language Law homepage
Back to
6: Matters of national importance
or “Important things people must think about when making decisions about our land, water, and special places in New Zealand”
You could also call this:

“This law tells people in charge to think about important things like caring for nature, using resources wisely, and keeping the environment healthy when making decisions.”

When you’re making decisions about how to use, develop, and protect natural and physical resources, you need to think about some important things. These include:

Kaitiakitanga, which is a Māori concept of guardianship. You should also consider the idea of being a good steward of the land.

You need to think about using natural and physical resources efficiently. This includes making sure energy is used efficiently too.

It’s important to keep places nice to live in and make them even better. You should also care about the natural value of ecosystems.

You need to maintain and improve the quality of the environment. Remember that some natural and physical resources might be limited.

Protecting the homes of trout and salmon is important too. You should think about how climate change might affect things.

Lastly, consider the good things that can come from using and developing renewable energy.

All these things are important to think about when making decisions about our environment and resources.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

Next up: 8: Treaty of Waitangi

or “Recognising and considering Māori rights and values when making decisions about New Zealand's natural resources”
Next

Part 2 Purpose and principles

7Other matters

  1. In achieving the purpose of this Act, all persons exercising functions and powers under it, in relation to managing the use, development, and protection of natural and physical resources, shall have particular regard to—

  2. kaitiakitanga:
    1. the ethic of stewardship:
      1. the efficient use and development of natural and physical resources:
        1. the efficiency of the end use of energy:
          1. the maintenance and enhancement of amenity values:
            1. intrinsic values of ecosystems:
                1. maintenance and enhancement of the quality of the environment:
                  1. any finite characteristics of natural and physical resources:
                    1. the protection of the habitat of trout and salmon:
                      1. the effects of climate change:
                        1. the benefits to be derived from the use and development of renewable energy.

                          Notes
                          • Section 7(aa): inserted, on , by section 3 of the Resource Management Amendment Act 1997 (1997 No 104).
                          • Section 7(ba): inserted, on , by section 5(1) of the Resource Management (Energy and Climate Change) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 2).
                          • Section 7(e): repealed, on , by section 5 of the Resource Management Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 23).
                          • Section 7(i): inserted, on , by section 5(2) of the Resource Management (Energy and Climate Change) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 2).
                          • Section 7(j): inserted, on , by section 5(2) of the Resource Management (Energy and Climate Change) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 2).