34ADelegation of powers and functions to employees and other persons

1. A local authority may delegate to an employee, or hearings commissioner appointed by the local authority (who may or may not be a member of the local authority), any functions, powers, or duties under this Act except the following:

2. the approval of a proposed policy statement or plan under clause 17 of Schedule 1:
3. this power of delegation.

4. If a local authority is considering appointing 1 or more hearings commissioners to exercise a delegated power to conduct a hearing under Part 1 or 5 of Schedule 1,—

5. the local authority must consult tangata whenua through relevant iwi authorities on whether it is appropriate to appoint a commissioner with an understanding of tikanga Māori and of the perspectives of local iwi or hapū; and
6. if the local authority considers it appropriate, it must appoint at least 1 commissioner with an understanding of tikanga Māori and of the perspectives of local iwi or hapū, in consultation with relevant iwi authorities.

7. A local authority may delegate to any other person any functions, powers, or duties under this Act except the following:

8. the powers in subsection (1)(a) and (b):
9. the decision on an application for a resource consent:
10. the making of a recommendation on a requirement for a designation.

11. Repealed

12. Section 34(7), (8), (9), and (10) applies to a delegation under this section.

13. Subsection (1) or subsection (2) does not prevent a local authority delegating to any person the power to do anything before a final decision on a matter referred to in those subsections.