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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:

“What jobs do local councils do to look after the environment and manage land use in their area?”

As a territorial authority, you have certain jobs to do under the Resource Management Act 1991. You must manage the effects of using, developing, or protecting land and natural resources in your area. You do this by setting goals, making policies, and finding ways to achieve them.

You also need to make sure there is enough land for housing and businesses to meet the needs of your area. You control the effects of using land, including avoiding natural hazards like floods or earthquakes. You work to prevent or reduce the bad effects of developing contaminated land and to keep indigenous plants and animals safe.

You control noise pollution and the effects of activities on rivers and lakes. You can use different methods to carry out these jobs, including controlling how land is subdivided. The Resource Management Act 1991 outlines your jobs and responsibilities in more detail, which you can find on the New Zealand legislation website.

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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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"What regional councils do to help manage the environment and resources in their area"

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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).