Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

 Plain Language Law homepage
Back to
74: Matters to be considered by territorial authority
or “The rules a local council must follow when making or changing plans for their area”
You could also call this:

“District plans explain what a local area wants to do and how they'll do it”

A district plan must include the goals for the district, the ways to achieve these goals, and any rules needed to make them happen. These are called objectives, policies, and rules.

The plan can also include other information if needed. This might be about important resource management issues in the district, other ways to make the policies work, reasons for choosing these policies and methods, what environmental results are expected, how to check if the policies are working well, how to deal with issues that affect more than one area, what information people need to give when they ask for permission to use resources, and any other information the local council needs to do its job.

The district plan has to follow national and regional rules. This includes national policy statements, New Zealand coastal policy statements, national planning standards, and regional policy statements.

The plan also can’t go against water conservation orders or regional plans for certain matters.

The district plan is allowed to include other documents by referring to them, following the rules in Part 3 of Schedule 1.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

Next up: 76: District rules

or “Rules in district plans set out what you can and can't do in different areas of your town or city”
Next

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

75Contents of district plans

  1. A district plan must state—

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

        1. A district plan may state—

        2. the significant resource management issues for the district; and
          1. the methods, other than rules, for implementing the policies for the district; 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 that cross territorial authority boundaries; and
                    1. the information to be included with an application for a resource consent; and
                      1. any other information required for the purpose of the territorial authority's functions, powers, and duties under this Act.

                        1. A district 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 district plan must not be inconsistent with—

                                2. a water conservation order; or
                                  1. a regional plan for any matter specified in section 30(1).

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

                                    Notes
                                    • Section 75: replaced, on , by section 46 of the Resource Management Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 87).
                                    • Section 75(3)(ba): inserted, on , by section 60 of the Resource Legislation Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 15).