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Resource Management Act 1991

Standards, policy statements, and plans - Local authority policy statements and plans - Regional plans

67: Contents of regional plans

You could also call this:

“What's in a regional plan to help look after our environment”

A regional plan is a document that outlines how to manage the environment in a region. You will find the objectives for the region in the plan, which are the goals that the regional council wants to achieve. The plan also includes policies to implement these objectives, and rules to make sure the policies are followed.

The regional plan may also talk about the issues it is trying to address, and the methods it will use to implement the policies. You can find the reasons why the regional council chose certain policies and methods, and what results they expect to get from them. The plan also explains how the regional council will monitor the effectiveness of the policies and methods.

A regional plan must follow any national policy statements, New Zealand coastal policy statements, national planning standards, and regional policy statements. It cannot be inconsistent with water conservation orders or other regional plans for the same region. If a regional council has allocated a natural resource, the plan must record how it was allocated, as stated in section 30(1)(fa) or (fb) and (4). A regional plan can also include other material by reference, as outlined in Part 3 of Schedule 1.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM233630.

Topics:
Environment and resources > Conservation Environment and resources > Town planning
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66: Matters to be considered by regional council (plans), or

"Things regional councils must think about when making or changing plans"

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68: Regional rules, or

"Rules made by regional councils to protect the environment and manage their area"

Part 5 Standards, policy statements, and plans
Local authority policy statements and plans: Regional plans

67Contents of regional plans

  1. A regional plan must state—

  2. the objectives for the region; and
    1. the policies to implement the objectives; and
      1. the rules (if any) to implement the policies.

        1. A regional plan may state—

        2. the issues that the plan seeks to address; and
          1. the methods, other than rules, for implementing the policies for the region; and
            1. the principal reasons for adopting the policies and methods; and
              1. the environmental results expected from the policies and methods; and
                1. the procedures for monitoring the efficiency and effectiveness of the policies and methods; and
                  1. the processes for dealing with issues—
                    1. that cross local authority boundaries; or
                      1. that arise between territorial authorities; or
                        1. that arise between regions; and
                        2. the information to be included with an application for a resource consent; and
                          1. any other information required for the purpose of the regional council's functions, powers, and duties under this Act.

                            1. A regional plan must give effect to—

                            2. any national policy statement; and
                              1. any New Zealand coastal policy statement; and
                                1. a national planning standard; and
                                  1. any regional policy statement.

                                    1. A regional plan must not be inconsistent with—

                                    2. a water conservation order; or
                                      1. any other regional plan for the region; or

                                          1. A regional plan must record how a regional council has allocated a natural resource under section 30(1)(fa) or (fb) and (4), if the council has done so.

                                          2. A regional plan may incorporate material by reference under Part 3 of Schedule 1.

                                          Notes
                                          • Section 67: replaced, on , by section 41 of the Resource Management Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 87).
                                          • Section 67(3)(ba): inserted, on , by section 56 of the Resource Legislation Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 15).
                                          • Section 67(4)(c): repealed, on , by section 16 of the Resource Management Amendment Act (No 2) 2011 (2011 No 70).