Resource Management Act (RMA)

Question 1

History of RMA

Answer 1

• The need to improve environmental management was highlighted in 1980
• 1981 report identifying key ideas underlying how sustainable development could be applied in NZ
• 1980s growing awareness that key environmental legislation needed to be reviewed.
• 1991 revised act passed

Question 2

What is integrated management?

Answer 2

Integrate the management of air, land, fresh water and marine areas into one piece of legislation.

Question 3

What is regional councils role in integrated management?

Answer 3

Preparation of objectives, policies, and methods

Question 4

District councils role in integrated management?

Answer 4

Focus narrowly on the effects of land use

Question 5

What are the parts of the RMA?

Answer 5

• interpretation and application
• purpose and principals (core intention)
• duties and restrictions
• powers and function of central&local govt
• standards, policy statements and plans
• resource consent
• coastal activities
• designations and heritage orders

Question 6

Purpose of the act:

Answer 6

promote the sustainable management of natural and physical resources

Question 7

Sustainable management means:

Answer 7

provide for social, economic, and cultural well being, health and safety while

• sustaining the potential to meet future needs
• safeguarding the life supporting capacity of air, water, soil and ecosystems
• avoiding, remedying or mitigating adverse effects

Question 8

True or false:
The RMA focuses on managing the effects of activities rather than regulating the activities themselves.

Effect of this approach:

Answer 8

True
Intervene only when activities result in unacceptable environmental impacts.
Result: reactive rather than proactive and poor management of cumulative and diffuse impacts.

Question 9

Regional councils primary responsibility in RMA?

Answer 9

enforcement of RMA and protection of water, air and land

Question 10

What is RPS

Answer 10

Regional Policy Statement. It addresses the higher level direction for the community in achieving purpose of the act.
Overview of the objectives, policies and methods

Question 11

What is RP

Answer 11

Regional Plans, have rules which control activities for which consent may be required.

Question 12

District/ city councils:

Answer 12

fewer RMA responsibilities

more functions in other areas (infrastructure)

Question 13

What are unitary authorities?

Answer 13

organisation that has the responsibilities of both regional and district/ city councils.

Question 14

TLA:

Answer 14

District councils also called Local authorities or territorial authorities

Question 15

DP

Answer 15

District plan to control land use activities. Zoning.

Question 16

Contingency plan:

Answer 16

implemented in the event that pre-determined compliance conditions are not met.

Question 17

Role of plans

Answer 17

• give effect to the purpose of the act

- provide an opportunity for community engagement in the planning process

Question 18

A discretionary activity has effects that are generally appropriate to the zone depending on:

Answer 18

• the scale and nature of the activity
• the site and surrounding land uses
• how the activity is managed

Question 19

A non-complying activity has effects that are:

Answer 19

generally inappropriate to the zones, and that are therefore generally inconsistent with the objective and policies of the zone

Question 20

LWRP:

Answer 20

land and water regional plan

Question 21

NES:

Answer 21

National environmental standards

• contaminants
• HAIL (hazardous activities and industries list)
• water quality and protection

Question 22

PIM:

Project Information Memorandum

Answer 22

Project Information Memorandum

to helpt decide whether your planning and building project is possible and practical. Requirements of the RMA

Question 23

LIM:

Land Information Memorandum

Answer 23

Land Information Memorandum

Contains detailed information relating to any specific parcel of land

Question 24

What does RMA do?

Answer 24

Controls resource use and promotes sustainable development of natural and physical resources.

Question 25

What does RMA require of RCs and TLAs have?

Answer 25

RCs must have a RPS and Regional Plans

TLAs need to have District Plans

Question 26

Regional and District Plans also contain rules. The rules classify activities into different classes:

Answer 26

• permitted
• controlled
• restricted discretionary
• discretionary
• non complying
• prohibited

Question 27

When is a consent required?

Answer 27

When an activity does not meet the permitted activity status - unless it is for land use *