Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

This page is about a bill. That means that it's not the law yet, but some people want it to be the law. It could change quickly, and some of the information is just a draft.

Planning Bill

Foundations - Core provisions for decision making

13: Procedural principles

You could also call this:

"Make decisions fairly, quickly, and with clear information"

Illustration for Planning Bill

When you are making decisions under this proposed law, you must try to make sure all documents are easy to understand. You should act quickly and not spend too much money. You must also think about how important the decision is and act accordingly. You need to have enough information to make a good decision, thinking about how much it will cost to get that information and how important the decision is. You should try to find solutions to problems and be consistent with other principles in the proposed law, like those in section 12. You must avoid repeating things unnecessarily in important documents.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1546482.

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12: Relationship between key instruments in decision-making, or

"How planning rules work together to help make decisions"

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14: Effects outside the scope of this Act, or

"What to Ignore When Looking at Development Effects"

Part 2Foundations
Core provisions for decision making

13Procedural principles

  1. A person exercising or performing a function, duty, or power under this Act must take all practicable steps to—

  2. ensure all documents are succinct and use plain language that can be readily understood by the public:
    1. act in a timely and cost-effective manner:
      1. act proportionately to the scale and significance of the matter:
        1. ensure they have enough information to understand the implications of their decision (if any), after considering—
          1. the cost and feasibility of obtaining the information; and
            1. the scale and significance of the matter to which the decision relates:
            2. act in an enabling manner (for example, by being solution-focused) that is consistent with the principles in paragraphs (a) to (d) and section 12:
              1. avoid unnecessary repetition in key instruments.