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Planning Bill

Foundations - Key instruments - Provisions of key instruments

29: Application of objectives, policies, rules, and methods

You could also call this:

"How rules and plans are used in New Zealand"

You will see objectives, policies, rules, and methods in key instruments. These can apply to all or part of a district, region, or New Zealand. They can apply all the time or for certain periods. You can find rules that apply to specific activities or groups of activities. These rules can be about activities with a particular classification. They help with planning and decision-making in New Zealand.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1557643.

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

Topics:

Environment and resources > Town planningGovernment and voting > Local councils

28: Objectives, policies, rules, and methods, or

"What plans, rules, and methods mean in the law"

30: Meaning of rule, or

"What a 'rule' means in the Planning Bill"

Part 2Foundations
Key instruments: Provisions of key instruments

29Application of objectives, policies, rules, and methods

An objective, policy, rule, or method of a key instrument may—
may apply thoughout all or part of—
1. a district, in the case of a land use plan; or
2. a region, in the case of a regional spatial plan; or
3. New Zealand, in the case of a national instrument:
apply all of the time or for specified periods.

A rule may apply to—
a specified activity; or
a class of activities (for example, all activities with a particular activity classification).