Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

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.

Fast-track Approvals Bill

Fast-track approval approvals process for eligible projects - Process for panel consideration of substantive application - Opportunity for comment on substantive application

24N: General provisions relating to invitations given under section 24M

You could also call this:

“Rules for when the EPA asks for your thoughts on a big project”

When the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) asks for comments on a big application, they will give you 20 working days to send your comments. They will tell you the exact date when your comments need to be in.

The EPA will also let you know about the big application and tell you how to look at it.

If you are part of an iwi authority and the EPA asks for your comments, you can share the application with hapū in the area it affects. You can include what the hapū think in your comments to the panel.

The panel will look at all comments that arrive on time. They might look at late comments if they haven’t made their decision yet, but they don’t have to.

No one is allowed to ask for more time to send in their comments.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS969158.

Topics:
Environment and resources > Town planning
Government and voting > Local councils
Māori affairs > Treaty of Waitangi
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24M: Panel invites comments on substantive application, or

“The panel asks different people and groups what they think about a big project”

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24O: Response to comments provided under section 24M, or

“The EPA tells you about people's comments on your application, and you can respond”

Part 2 Fast-track approval approvals process for eligible projects
Process for panel consideration of substantive application: Opportunity for comment on substantive application

24NGeneral provisions relating to invitations given under section 24M

  1. The EPA must, at the panel's direction, specify in its invitation for comments under section 24M that the comments must be received by the EPA on behalf of the panel on a specified date that is 20 working days after the date on which the invitation is given.

  2. The invitation must include notice of the substantive application, with details as to how to access the application.

  3. An iwi authority invited to provide comments under section 24M may—

  4. share the substantive application for the approval with hapū whose rohe is in the area to which the substantive application relates; and
    1. choose to include comments from that hapū with the comments provided to the panel by the iwi authority.

      1. The panel—

      2. must consider any comments received within the time frame specified in the invitation:
        1. is not required to consider any comments received after that time frame, but may do so, in its discretion, as long as the panel has not made its decisions on the approvals sought in the substantive application under section 24W .

          1. There is no right for any person to seek a waiver of the time limit for written comments to be received by the EPA.