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Natural Environment Bill

Combined plan and other matters - National environment plans - Core requirements for plan making

96: Plan may include bespoke plan provisions if authorised by national instrument

You could also call this:

"A plan can have special rules if a national instrument allows it."

Illustration for Natural Environment Bill

You can include special rules in a natural environment plan if a national instrument says you can. A national instrument is like a set of instructions that tells you what you can and can't do. You must follow these instructions when making a plan. You are allowed to include special rules if a national instrument does not stop you from doing so. If a national instrument does give you permission, you must follow any other rules it sets out. This includes rules about what the plan should look like and how it should be made, as outlined in section 72(3) and section 72(1)(b).

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1539729.

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

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95: Natural environment plan must include standardised plan provisions as directed by national instrument, or

"Plans for the environment must follow national rules"

97: Core obligations when preparing and deciding natural environment plan, or

"Rules for councils when making natural environment plans"

Part 3Combined plan and other matters
National environment plans: Core requirements for plan making

96Plan may include bespoke plan provisions if authorised by national instrument

A regional council may include a bespoke plan provision in a natural environment plan or proposed natural environment plan, but only if—
a national instrument authorises the regional council to prepare a bespoke plan provision (see section 72(1)(b)); or
the national instruments do not preclude the regional council from including a bespoke plan provision.

A regional council must comply with any substantive or procedural requirements in a national instrument relating to a standardised plan provision (see section 72(3)).