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Natural Environment Bill

Foundations - Core provisions

11: Goals

You could also call this:

"Looking after our environment and people: main goals"

Illustration for Natural Environment Bill

When you are making decisions under this proposed law, you must try to achieve certain goals. You will need to consider things like using natural resources in a way that does not harm the environment. You will also need to think about keeping people healthy and protecting important Māori sites. You must try to protect the air, water, soil, and ecosystems that keep us alive. You will need to stop people getting sick from pollutants in the environment. You must also try to ensure that the number of native plants and animals does not decrease. You will need to plan carefully to manage the risks from natural disasters when using or protecting natural resources. This planning should be proportionate to the risks and based on the likelihood of the disaster happening. You must also involve Māori in planning and decision-making, and protect sites that are important to them, including wāhi tapu and special water bodies. You will need to work out how to identify and protect these important Māori sites, and help Māori to develop and protect their land. This is all subject to what is said in sections 12 and 69 of the proposed law. You should be aware of these sections when trying to achieve the goals outlined in this part of the law.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1520800.

This page was last updated on 14 December 2025 — View changes

Topics:

Environment and resources > ConservationEnvironment and resources > Climate and energyHealth and wellbeing > Public healthMāori affairs > Māori land

10: Treaty redress or arrangements to be given same or equivalent effect, or

"Treaty agreements are given the same importance as other environmental laws."

12: Relationship between key instruments in decision making, or

"How laws and plans work together to protect the environment"

Part 2Foundations
Core provisions

11Goals

All persons exercising or performing functions, duties, or powers under this Act must seek to achieve the following goals subject to sections 12 and 69:
to enable the use and development of natural resources within environmental limits:
to safeguard the life-supporting capacity of air, water, soil, and ecosystems:
to protect human health from harm caused by the discharge of contaminants:
to achieve no net loss in indigenous biodiversity:
to manage the effects of natural hazard associated with the use or protection of natural resources through proportionate and risk-based planning:
to provide for Māori interests through—
1. Māori participation in the development of national instruments, spatial planning, and natural environment plans; and
2. the identification and protection of sites of significance to Māori (including, wāhi tapu, water bodies, or sites in or on the coastal marine area); and
3. enabling the development and protection of identified Māori land.