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Planning Bill

Foundations - National instruments - National instruments

44: Role and application of national instruments

You could also call this:

"National instruments help guide New Zealand's planning rules and decisions."

The proposed law says national instruments will guide the planning system. You will see them used for planning policy and rules. They will help standardise how things are done. National instruments will also guide local government processes. You will see them used for operating and administering the planning system. They will help make sure things are done consistently. National instruments can apply to all of New Zealand or just a specific area. You might see them used in your district, region, or a particular part of the country. This means the rules can be tailored to different areas if needed.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1519111.

This page was last updated on 12 December 2025 — View changes

Topics:

Environment and resources > Town planningGovernment and voting > Local councils

43: Relationship between national rules and bylaws, or

"How National Rules and Local Bylaws Work Together"

45: Matters to consider when making national instrument, or

"Things to think about when creating a national rule"

Part 2Foundations
National instruments: National instruments

44Role and application of national instruments

The role of national policy direction and national standards (national instruments) is to provide centralised direction to the planning system—
on matters relating to planning policy and regulation, including by standardising approaches to how activities are enabled and their effects regulated; and
on local government processes and procedures under this Act relating to the operation and administration of the planning system.

National instruments may apply to all of New Zealand or to any specified district, region, or part of New Zealand.