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Planning Bill

Foundations - National instruments - National policy direction

56: National policy direction may restrict how goals may be achieved

You could also call this:

"The government can set rules that limit how goals are achieved, but must explain why."

Illustration for Planning Bill

The government is proposing a new law that could change how you achieve certain goals. You might be required to achieve a goal in a specific way if the government sets a national policy direction. The Minister must make sure this direction does not unreasonably restrict what territorial authorities can do. The Minister also needs to check that the restrictions on achieving one goal do not stop you from achieving other goals. They must ensure the direction will not cause severe damage to the built environment. If the Minister makes a national policy direction, they must explain why they think it meets these requirements as part of the process outlined in section 46. You can find more information about this process in section 46. The Minister's report will say why they believe the national policy direction is a good idea. This report is important because it helps you understand the Minister's decision.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1511071.

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Government and voting > Government departmentsEnvironment and resources > Town planning
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55: Content of national policy direction, or

"What a national policy direction must include"

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"A national policy to help balance development and the environment in New Zealand"

Part 2Foundations
National instruments: National policy direction

56National policy direction may restrict how goals may be achieved

  1. National policy direction may—

  2. require that compliance with its objectives, policies, directives are the only ways in which a goal may be achieved:
    1. restrict how a specified key instrument achieves a goal.

      1. Before making national policy direction under this section, the Minister must be satisfied that—

      2. the direction does not unreasonably restrict the ability of territorial authorities to undertake their functions and responsibilities to manage land use; and
        1. the restrictions imposed by the direction in respect of a goal does not unreasonably restrict the achievement of other goals; and
          1. the direction will not result in severe and irreversible adverse effects to the built environment.

            1. If the Minister makes national policy direction under this section, the Minister must include, as a part of the process established under section 46, a report stating why they consider the requirements of subsection (2) are met.