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Fast-track Approvals Act 2024

Preliminary provisions

10A: Government policy statements

You could also call this:

"The Government's views on big projects are stated by the Minister."

Illustration for Fast-track Approvals Act 2024

The Minister can issue a Government policy statement. You need to know this statement says what the Government thinks about certain infrastructure or development projects. The Minister must talk to other Ministers before issuing a statement. The Minister can also talk to other people they think are appropriate. When a statement is issued, it must be published in the Gazette and made available online. You can see how this statement is used in section 22(1A) and section 81(2)(aab). These sections say the Minister and a panel must consider the statement when making certain decisions.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1562778.

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Part 1Preliminary provisions

10AGovernment policy statements

  1. The Minister may issue a Government policy statement.

  2. The purpose of a Government policy statement is to state the Government’s policies about the regional or national benefits of certain types of infrastructure or development projects.

  3. Before issuing a Government policy statement, the Minister—

  4. must consult the relevant portfolio Ministers; and
    1. may consult any other person the Minister thinks appropriate.

      1. The responsible agency must—

      2. notify a Government policy statement in the Gazette; and
        1. make a Government policy statement available on an internet site administered by or on behalf of the responsible agency.

          1. See section 22(1A), which requires the Minister to consider a relevant Government policy statement when making a decision to accept or decline a referral application.

          2. See section 81(2)(aab), which requires a panel to consider a relevant Government policy statement when making a decision whether to grant an approval and set any conditions, or to decline the approval.

          Notes
          • Section 10A: inserted, on , by section 5 of the Fast-track Approvals Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 78).