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.

Natural Environment Bill

Foundations - Environmental limits - What are environmental limits and why they are required

47: Who sets environmental limits

You could also call this:

"Who decides the rules to protect our environment?"

Illustration for Natural Environment Bill

The government wants to change the law to say who sets environmental limits. You will see that human health limits are set by a Minister in national standards. Ecosystem health limits are set by a regional council in its natural environment plan.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1520965.

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

Topics:

Environment and resources > ConservationEnvironment and resources > Town planningGovernment and voting > Government departments

46: Purpose of environmental limits, or

"Protecting You and the Environment with Limits"

48: How environmental limits are expressed, or

"How environmental limits are shown"

Part 2Foundations
Environmental limits: What are environmental limits and why they are required

47Who sets environmental limits

Human health limits must be set by the responsible Minister in national standards.
Ecosystem health limits must be set by the regional council in its natural environment plan.