What is the current status of national policy statements?
As at October 2009, the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement and the National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission are the only national policy statements currently in force under the RMA. The New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement came into force in 1994 and is currently under review.
Coastal management
The New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement came into force in 1994 and is available free at www.rma.net/nzcps/nzcps.pdf. It is currently under review.
Sections 7 and 8 of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act 2000, which set out matters of national significance and management objectives for the Hauraki Gulf's coastal marine area, islands and catchments also have the effect of a national policy statement. In policy statements and plans which apply to the Gulf's coastal marine area, islands and catchments, councils must 'give effect' to these sections as though they were a national policy statement. Within the Hauraki Gulf's coastal marine area, sections 7 and 8 must be treated as a New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement (section 9 HGMPA 2000).
Electricity transmission
The National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission was gazetted on 13 March 2008. The purpose of the statement is to give guidance on the management and future planning of the National Grid. It acknowledges the significance of the National Grid to New Zealand and gives guidance to decision makers on how to manage its environmental impacts.
Proposed National Policy Statements
There are proposed national policy statements for renewable electricity generation and freshwater management. Other areas being scoped by the Ministry for the Environment for national policy statements include flood risk management and urban design. More information can be found at http://www.mfe.govt.nz/rma/central/nps/.
