The environmental impacts of activities are primarily controlled by the RMA through the requirement to apply for resource consents as well as through any conditions for permitted activities included in the relevant regional or district plan. A resource consent provides permission to carry out an activity so long as it complies with any conditions attached to the consent.
The RMA provides for six primary categories of activities - permitted, controlled, restricted discretionary, discretionary, non-complying and prohibited. In addition, there is provision for restricted coastal activities. The category of activity determines whether a resource consent is required before carrying out an activity, who the consent authority will be, what will be considered when determining a resource consent application and whether a resource consent may or may not be granted. A resource consent is not required to carry out a permitted activity.
Six different types of resource consents can be granted, depending on the kind of activity proposed - land use consent, subdivision consent, coastal permit, water permit and discharge permit.
Resource consent applications must contain, amongst other things, a description of the proposed activity and an assessment of effects on the environment.
A proposal may require several consents from both regional and district councils.
The RMA requires all resource consents to be publicly notified unless they come within a number of specified exceptions. However, in practice, less than five per cent of applications (nationally) are publicly notified.
Resource consent applications are processed through a number of stages including requesting further information, making a decision on notification, receiving public submissions, holding a public hearing and issuing a decision. The processing of non-notified applications does not include public input.
The consent holder may seek to change or cancel conditions attached to a resource consent at any time. The consent authority can usually only review a resource consent if this is provided for in the conditions attached to the consent .
