S+SNZ Planning & Resource Management key terms

New Zealand's principal statute governing the use, development, and protection of natural and physical resources, promoting sustainable management through national direction, plans, and consent decisions.

The RMA's core purpose: managing resources to enable people and communities to provide for their wellbeing while sustaining the potential of resources for future generations and avoiding adverse effects.

A statutory instrument issued by central government that directs how local authorities must interpret and apply the RMA on a specified topic, such as freshwater, urban development, or coastal hazards.

Regulations made under the RMA that prescribe nationwide rules or standards for a particular activity, overriding or constraining local plan provisions and sometimes permitting activities without consent.

A document prepared by a regional council setting out the significant resource management issues of the region and the broad objectives, policies, and methods for addressing them.

A statutory planning instrument prepared by a regional council that manages activities affecting regional resources, including land use effects on soil, freshwater, coastal marine areas, and discharges.

A territorial authority's statutory instrument that zones land and sets objectives, policies, rules, and assessment matters controlling land use, subdivision, and development within its boundaries.

A formal process to amend an operative district or regional plan, following statutory notification, submission, hearing, and decision steps, and subject to appeal rights.

The division of a district into mapped areas, each with its own rules and activity statuses, controlling what activities and built forms may occur in that area.

The classification of an activity under a plan as permitted, controlled, restricted discretionary, discretionary, non-complying, or prohibited, which determines whether consent is needed and how it is assessed.

An activity that is allowed by a plan without a resource consent because it complies with all relevant standards and conditions specified in the plan rules.

An activity requiring consent where the plan reserves control over specified matters only; if standards are met, consent must be granted and conditions may address those reserved matters.

An activity requiring consent where the council may grant or refuse approval and may impose conditions, assessing the application against plan objectives, policies, and any relevant matters.

An activity requiring consent where the plan's objectives and policies must be considered, and consent may only be granted if the adverse effects are minor or the application is not contrary to those provisions.

A statutory authorisation from a regional or territorial authority allowing an activity that is not permitted by a plan, subject to conditions managing its environmental effects.

The document accompanying a consent application describing the activity, its actual and potential effects on the environment, and how those effects will be avoided, remedied, or mitigated.

Requirements attached to a resource consent that the holder must comply with, such as controls on hours, landscaping, stormwater treatment, or monitoring obligations.

A person the council considers may be adversely affected by a proposed activity, who must generally be served with notice of the application and given an opportunity to make a submission.

A notification approach where only affected parties and specified persons are served with notice of a consent application, rather than public notification to the wider community.

Formal public advertising of a consent application or plan change, inviting any person to make a submission, used where effects are more than minor or special circumstances apply.

A written statement made by a person to a council supporting, opposing, or seeking changes to a proposed plan or notified consent application, forming the basis for participation in hearings.

A formal proceeding where a council hearings panel or commissioner considers submissions and evidence on a consent application or plan change before issuing a decision.

A challenge to a council decision on a plan or consent, lodged with the Environment Court within the statutory timeframe, generally limited to parties who made submissions.

A specialist court that hears appeals on plan and consent decisions, conducts inquiries, and issues decisions applying the RMA and planning instruments.

Any positive or negative change to the environment arising from an activity, including cumulative, temporary, and future effects, and effects on people and communities.

Measures taken to reduce, remedy, or offset the adverse effects of an activity, such as planting, setbacks, engineering controls, or restoration works.

The principle that certain environmental thresholds or limits must not be breached regardless of economic or social benefits, reflecting the RMA's sustainable management framework.

A decision-making principle that caution is exercised where effects are uncertain or potentially serious, so action is taken to avoid harm even without full scientific certainty.

A naturally occurring event or condition, such as flooding, erosion, earthquake, or coastal inundation, that may cause harm to people, property, or the environment.

The combination of the likelihood of a natural hazard event and the consequences for exposed people, assets, and infrastructure, used to inform planning and consent decisions.

The customary authority and status of an iwi or hapū over land and resources within their rohe, recognised in resource management processes and decision-making.

The Māori people of a particular area who hold customary authority there, with whom councils must consult and whose values and interests must be considered in planning.

A document prepared by an iwi or hapū setting out their resource management objectives, policies, and cultural values, which councils must take into account in plan preparation.

New Zealand's founding document between the Crown and Māori, whose principles are incorporated into resource management decision-making and local government obligations.

A structured process of seeking and considering the views of affected people and groups before making decisions, distinct from negotiation and not requiring agreement.

A resource consent required to divide land into separate parcels or titles, assessed against plan rules on lot size, access, servicing, and effects of the resulting development.

A resource consent authorising an activity that is not permitted by the plan, such as a new building, earthworks, or change in use, subject to conditions.

A legally recognised plan prepared by a licensed cadastral surveyor defining boundaries, parcels, and easements, and supporting land transfer and subdivision approval.

The survey and definition of land parcel boundaries and associated rights for land registration, governed by surveying standards and licensing requirements.

A legal right allowing a person to use another's land for a specific purpose, such as access, drainage, or utility services, often shown on a survey plan.

A provision in a district plan identifying land for a public work or project by a requiring authority, which authorises the work and constrains other activities on that land.

A district plan provision protecting a place, building, or feature of significant heritage value by requiring consent for alterations, demolition, or other specified works.

An evaluation of a place or structure's historical, architectural, cultural, or archaeological significance, used to inform scheduling and consent decisions.

The council's ongoing checking that activities and consented works comply with plan rules and consent conditions, including site inspections and enforcement action where needed.

Statutory action taken by a council to address breaches of the RMA, plans, or consent conditions, including abatement notices, infringement notices, and prosecution.

A formal written notice requiring a person to cease or remedy a breach of the RMA, a plan rule, or a consent condition within a specified timeframe.

The standards of honesty, integrity, competence, and impartiality expected of planning and surveying practitioners, including disclosure of conflicts and duty to the public interest.

The formal rules governing professional behaviour for members of a planning or surveying body, covering competence, confidentiality, and disciplinary processes.

A situation where a practitioner's personal, financial, or other interests could improperly influence professional judgement, requiring disclosure and management or withdrawal.