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45: Purpose of national policy statements (other than New Zealand coastal policy statements)
or “National policy statements explain important rules for taking care of New Zealand's environment”
You could also call this:

“Rules for important national plans about how to take care of New Zealand's environment”

A national policy statement must include objectives and policies for important national matters that help achieve the purpose of this Act.

The statement can also include other things. It can tell local authorities what to think about when making their own policies and plans. It can specify methods or requirements for these policies and plans, including how to use models and formulas.

The statement can tell local authorities what they need to achieve or provide in their policies and plans. It can set limits on what can be in these policies and plans. It can also say what objectives and policies must be included.

The statement can tell local authorities to collect and share specific information to meet the statement’s goals. It can also tell them how to check and report on things related to the statement, including how well they’re following it.

The statement can apply to all of New Zealand, specific districts or regions, or just parts of the country. It can include rules for how to handle changes when the statement comes into effect.

If people were asked about what’s in the statement before this section became law, that counts as the required consultation under section 46A.

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Next up: 46: Proposed national policy statement

or “A rule or plan that the government wants to make about how to use natural resources in New Zealand”
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Part 5 Standards, policy statements, and plans
National direction: National policy statements

45AContents of national policy statements

  1. A national policy statement must state objectives and policies for matters of national significance that are relevant to achieving the purpose of this Act.

  2. A national policy statement may also state—

  3. the matters that local authorities must consider in preparing policy statements and plans:
    1. methods or requirements in policy statements or plans, and any specifications for how local authorities must apply those methods or requirements, including the use of models and formulae:
      1. the matters that local authorities are required to achieve or provide for in policy statements and plans:
        1. constraints or limits on the content of policy statements or plans:
          1. objectives and policies that must be included in policy statements and plans:
            1. directions to local authorities on the collection and publication of specific information in order to achieve the objectives of the statement:
              1. directions to local authorities on monitoring and reporting on matters relevant to the statement, including—
                1. directions for monitoring and reporting on their progress in relation to any provision included in the statement under this section; and
                  1. directions for monitoring and reporting on how they are giving effect to the statement; and
                    1. directions specifying standards, methods, or requirements for carrying out monitoring and reporting under subparagraph (i) or (ii):
                    2. any other matter relating to the purpose or implementation of the statement.

                      1. A national policy statement may apply—

                      2. generally; or
                        1. to any specified district or region of any local authority; or
                          1. to any specified part of New Zealand.

                            1. A national policy statement may include transitional provisions for any matter, including its effect on existing matters or proceedings.

                            2. Consultation undertaken before this section comes into force in relation to a matter included in a national policy statement satisfies the requirement for consultation under section 46A.

                            Notes
                            • Section 45A: inserted, on , by section 35 of the Resource Legislation Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 15).