73Preparation and change of district plans

1. There must at all times be 1 district plan for each district, prepared in the manner set out in the relevant Part of Schedule 1.

2. A district plan may be changed in the manner set out in the relevant Part of Schedule 1.

3. A territorial authority given a direction under section 25A(2) must prepare a change to its district plan in a way that implements the direction.

4. Any person may request a territorial authority to change a district plan, and the plan may be changed in the manner set out in Part 2 or 5 of Schedule 1.

5. A request for a plan change may be made jointly with an application to exchange recreation reserve land under section 15AA of the Reserves Act 1977 if the territorial authority—

6. is also the administering body in which the recreation reserve land is vested; and
7. agrees that the request and application may be made jointly.

8. A district plan may be prepared in territorial sections.

9. A local authority must amend a proposed district plan or district plan to give effect to a regional policy statement, if—

10. the statement contains a provision to which the plan does not give effect; and
11. one of the following occurs:
    1. the statement is reviewed under section 79 and not changed or replaced; or
    2. the statement is reviewed under section 79 and is changed or replaced and the change or replacement becomes operative; or
    3. the statement is changed or varied and becomes operative.

12. A local authority must comply with subsection (4)—

13. within the time specified in the statement, if a time is specified; or
14. as soon as reasonably practicable, in any other case.