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New Zealand law explained for everyone

Resource Management Act 1991

Enforcement functions of EPA

343I: EPA enforcement officers

You could also call this:

“The EPA can choose special helpers to make sure people follow the rules”

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) can make someone an enforcement officer to help with its enforcement duties under this law. The EPA can choose a person who has the right experience, skills, and qualifications for the job, or an EPA employee who is properly trained and qualified.

When the EPA makes someone an enforcement officer, they must give them a special card. This card needs to show the officer’s full name and a short list of the powers they have under this law.

Enforcement officers can only use their powers for the specific jobs they were given. When they’re using their powers, they must carry their special card and proof of who they are. If someone asks to see these, the officer has to show them.

If an enforcement officer stops working for the EPA, they must give back their special card.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS376982.

Topics:
Environment and resources > Conservation
Government and voting > Government departments
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343H: EPA may change enforcement functions, or

“The EPA can switch its job to a different one if it thinks it needs to for a certain problem.”

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343J: EPA may require information from local authority, or

“The EPA can ask local councils for information to help them deal with problems.”

Part 12A Enforcement functions of EPA

343IEPA enforcement officers

  1. The EPA may authorise a person described in subsection (2) to be an enforcement officer for the purpose of carrying out its enforcement functions under this Act.

  2. A person may be authorised as an enforcement officer if the person—

  3. has appropriate experience, technical competence, and qualifications relevant to the area of responsibilities proposed to be allocated to the person; or
    1. is an employee of the EPA who is suitably qualified and trained.

      1. The EPA must supply each enforcement officer with a warrant that—

      2. states the full name of the person; and
        1. includes a summary of the powers conferred on the person under this Act.

          1. An enforcement officer may exercise the powers under this Act, in accordance with his or her warrant, only for the purposes for which he or she was appointed.

          2. An enforcement officer exercising a power under this Act must have with him or her, and must produce if required to do so, his or her warrant and evidence of his or her identity.

          3. An enforcement officer who holds a warrant issued under this section must, on the termination of the officer’s appointment, surrender the warrant to the EPA.

          Compare
          Notes
          • Section 343I: inserted, on , by section 96 of the Resource Management Amendment Act 2020 (2020 No 30).