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Fast-track Approvals Act 2024

Fast-track approvals process - Referral of project to fast-track approvals process - Minister may determine that certain activities are not ineligible when making referral decision

23: Minister may determine that linear infrastructure on certain identified Māori land is not ineligible activity

You could also call this:

“Minister can allow building on some Māori land that's usually off-limits”

When deciding about a project, the Minister can say that building electricity lines or transport structures on certain Māori land is okay, even if it’s usually not allowed. This applies to land that is Māori freehold land or used to be Māori freehold land.

Before saying it’s okay, the Minister must think about how it will affect the land and what it means for Māori people who have rights to that land. If the Minister thinks it will cause problems for the land or for Māori rights, they can say no. They can also say no for any other reason.

When we talk about transport structures, we mean things like cycle paths, railways, roads, walkways, or any other way people can travel on land.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS988760.

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22: Criteria for assessing referral application, or

"How the Minister decides if a project can use the faster approval process"

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24: Minister may determine that electricity infrastructure on certain Schedule 4 land or in national reserve is not ineligible activity, or

"Minister can allow some electricity projects in protected areas"

Part 2 Fast-track approvals process
Referral of project to fast-track approvals process: Minister may determine that certain activities are not ineligible when making referral decision

23Minister may determine that linear infrastructure on certain identified Māori land is not ineligible activity

  1. In making a decision under section 21, the Minister may determine that, for the purposes of the project, an activity described in section 5(1)(a) is not an ineligible activity if it—

  2. is the construction of electricity lines or land transport infrastructure by (or to be operated by) a network utility operator that is a requiring authority; and
    1. would occur on identified Māori land that is Māori freehold land or General land owned by Māori that was previously Māori freehold land.

      1. Before making a determination, the Minister must take into account the effects of the activity on the land and on the rights and interests of Māori in that land.

      2. The Minister may decline to make a determination—

      3. if the Minister considers that the activity would have adverse effects on that land or those rights or interests; or
        1. for any other reason.

          1. In this section, land transport infrastructure means structures for transport on land by cycleways, rail, roads, walkways, or any other means.