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Resource Management Act 1991

Functions, powers, and duties of central and local government - Functions, powers, and duties of local authorities

31: Functions of territorial authorities under this Act

You could also call this:

“This law explains what local councils must do to manage land and resources in their area.”

Under this Act, you have several important jobs in your local area. You need to set up, put into action, and review plans to manage how land and natural resources are used, developed, or protected. This includes making sure there’s enough land for houses and businesses to meet your area’s needs.

You also have to control any effects of using, developing, or protecting land. This means you need to avoid or reduce natural hazards, deal with contaminated land, and protect native plants and animals.

You’re responsible for controlling noise and reducing its effects. You also need to manage activities that affect the surface of water in rivers and lakes.

If the Act gives you any other jobs, you need to do those too.

To do all these jobs, you can use different methods. One of these methods can be controlling how land is divided up.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM232574.

Topics:
Environment and resources > Conservation
Environment and resources > Town planning
Government and voting > Local councils
Housing and property > Land use
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30: Functions of regional councils under this Act, or

“ Regional councils manage natural resources and plan for development in their area ”

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31A: Minister of Conservation to have certain powers of local authority, or

“The Conservation Minister can act like a local council for some special islands and their surrounding waters.”

Part 4 Functions, powers, and duties of central and local government
Functions, powers, and duties of local authorities

31Functions of territorial authorities under this Act

  1. Every territorial authority shall have the following functions for the purpose of giving effect to this Act in its district:

  2. the establishment, implementation, and review of objectives, policies, and methods to achieve integrated management of the effects of the use, development, or protection of land and associated natural and physical resources of the district:
    1. the establishment, implementation, and review of objectives, policies, and methods to ensure that there is sufficient development capacity in respect of housing and business land to meet the expected demands of the district:
      1. the control of any actual or potential effects of the use, development, or protection of land, including for the purpose of—
        1. the avoidance or mitigation of natural hazards; and
            1. the prevention or mitigation of any adverse effects of the development, subdivision, or use of contaminated land:
              1. the maintenance of indigenous biological diversity:
                1. the control of the emission of noise and the mitigation of the effects of noise:
                  1. the control of any actual or potential effects of activities in relation to the surface of water in rivers and lakes:
                    1. any other functions specified in this Act.

                      1. The methods used to carry out any functions under subsection (1) may include the control of subdivision.

                      Notes
                      • Section 31 heading: amended, on , by section 22 of the Resource Management Amendment Act 1993 (1993 No 65).
                      • Section 31(1)(aa): inserted, on , by section 13(1) of the Resource Legislation Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 15).
                      • Section 31(1)(b): replaced, on , by section 10(1) of the Resource Management Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 23).
                      • Section 31(1)(b)(ii): repealed, on , by section 13(2) of the Resource Legislation Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 15).
                      • Section 31(1)(b)(iia): inserted, on , by section 12 of the Resource Management Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 87).
                      • Section 31(1)(c): repealed, on , by section 10(1) of the Resource Management Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 23).
                      • Section 31(2): inserted, on , by section 10(2) of the Resource Management Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 23).