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50: Conduct of hearing
or “Rules for how a special group listens to people's ideas about important plans for the country”
You could also call this:

“A group of experts looks at important things and tells the government what they think about new rules for the environment.”

When a board of inquiry is considering a proposed national direction, they need to look at several important things. You should know that they will think about the principles in Part 2 of the Resource Management Act, which talks about sustainability and environmental protection. They will also examine the proposed national direction itself and any feedback people have given about it.

If the Minister has provided extra information under section 47A(1)(b), the board will look at that too. They’ll also consider any evidence that has been presented and any other matters that might be relevant.

After the board has thought about all these things, they will write a report. This report will include their recommendations, which they’ll give to the Minister. The Minister might have given them specific instructions about what to include in the report, and they need to follow these instructions.

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Next up: 51A: Withdrawal of proposed national policy statement

or “The Minister can stop a proposed national policy before it's approved and must tell everyone why.”
Next

Part 5 Standards, policy statements, and plans
National direction: National policy statements

51Matters to be considered and board of inquiry's report

  1. The board of inquiry must consider the following matters:

  2. the matters in Part 2; and
    1. the proposed national direction; and
      1. any submissions received on the proposed national direction; and
        1. if applicable, any additional material provided by the Minister under section 47A(1)(b); and
          1. any evidence received; and
              1. any other relevant matter.

                1. After considering the matters, the board of inquiry must arrange for a report and recommendations to be made to the Minister within any terms of reference set by the Minister.

                Notes
                • Section 51: replaced, on , by section 22 of the Resource Management Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 23).
                • Section 51(1)(b): amended, on , by section 43 of the Resource Legislation Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 15).
                • Section 51(1)(c): amended, on , by section 43 of the Resource Legislation Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 15).
                • Section 51(1)(ca): inserted, on , by section 50 of the Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 31).
                • Section 51(1)(ca): amended, on , by section 15 of the Resource Management Amendment Act 2020 (2020 No 30).
                • Section 51(1)(da): repealed, on , by section 6 of the Resource Management (Natural and Built Environment and Spatial Planning Repeal and Interim Fast-track Consenting) Act 2023 (2023 No 68).