Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Plain Language Law homepage
12: Role of building consent authority and territorial authority
or “This explains what building officials and local councils do to make sure buildings are safe and follow the rules.”

You could also call this:

“A regional authority manages and oversees everything to do with dams, including safety and building rules.”

Under this law, a regional authority has several important jobs related to dams. You can think of a regional authority as a group that helps make sure dams are safe and follow the rules.

Here’s what a regional authority does:

It acts like a building consent authority for dams. This means it checks if plans for dams are okay and gives permission for them to be built. It can even allow some changes to the building code for dams.

The regional authority looks at and approves how dams are classified. This is like putting dams into different groups based on how they’re built or used.

It also reviews and approves plans that make sure dams stay safe over time. These are called dam safety assurance programmes.

The regional authority is in charge of overseeing dam classifications, safety programmes, and certificates that show dams are following the rules.

It makes sure that dams follow the building code and other laws about dams. If someone isn’t following the rules, the regional authority can step in to fix the problem.

The regional authority creates a plan for dealing with dangerous dams to keep people safe.

It does any other jobs that the law says it needs to do with dams.

Lastly, the regional authority takes care of any extra tasks that come up because of all these main jobs with dams.

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 It might be out of date or be missing some parts.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: 14: Roles of building consent authorities, territorial authorities, and regional authorities in relation to dams

or “Different authorities have special jobs when it comes to buildings with dams”

Part 1 Preliminary provisions
Outline of regulatory roles under this Act

13Role of regional authority

  1. Under this Act, a regional authority—

  2. performs the functions of a building consent authority set out in section 12 to the extent that those functions relate to dams (including the issue of building consents subject to a waiver or modification of the building code); and
    1. considers and approves dam classifications; and
      1. considers and approves dam safety assurance programmes; and
        1. administers the provisions of this Act relating to—
          1. dam classifications; and
            1. dam safety assurance programmes; and
              1. dam compliance certificates; and
              2. enforces the provisions of the building code and this Act and regulations that relate to dams; and
                1. adopts a policy on dangerous dams; and
                  1. carries out any other functions and duties specified in this Act; and
                    1. carries out any functions that are incidental and related to, or consequential upon, the functions set out in paragraphs (a) to (g).