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Natural Environment Bill

Key roles - Transfer and delegation of powers - Delegation of functions, powers, and responsibilities

233: Delegation of functions etc

You could also call this:

"When a team gives jobs to another team, it can still set rules and take them back"

Illustration for Natural Environment Bill

You can think of a regional council like a team that makes decisions for a region. This team can give some of its jobs to a local board or community board. They can do this for most things, but not for approving big plans or changing them. A unitary authority is like a special kind of team that can also give jobs to a local board for things that are important to the local area. You should know that when a team gives jobs to another team, it can set rules for how those jobs are done. The team that gave the jobs can also take them back at any time by sending a notice. This means the team that gave the jobs is still in charge and can make changes if needed. A delegation is like giving someone a task to do, and the team that gives the task can decide how it should be done and can take it back if needed.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1557580.

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

Topics:

Government and voting > Local councilsEnvironment and resources > Town planning

232: Transfer of powers, or

"When a regional council gives some of its jobs to another group"

234: Presumptions applying to delegations, or

"When a council gives someone a job, they can do it like the council would"

Part 5Key roles
Transfer and delegation of powers: Delegation of functions, powers, and responsibilities

233Delegation of functions etc

A regional council may delegate any of its functions, powers, or responsibilities to a local board or community board, other than in relation to the approval of a plan or of a plan change.
Before a final decision is made approving a plan or plan change, a unitary authority may delegate to a local board any of its functions, powers, or responsibilities relating to a matter of local significance, other than the approval of a plan or a change to a plan.
A delegation may be—
made on the terms and conditions that the regional council thinks fit; and
revoked at any time by notice to the delegate.