Week 3 - AEE

The RMA's approach to environmental management is firmly rooted in the concepts of sustainable management and the integrated management of resources. Other approaches adopted included 'effects-based' assessments, principle- and policy-based environmental management and subsidiarity.  The first step involves confirming need for legislation or restrictions and then imposed restrictions on certain activities may shape proposal with an aim to reduce effects (image www.bbc.co.uk)

The RMA focuses on managing the effects of activities rather than regulating the activities themselves. This heralded a move away from a more prescriptive planning approach under the Town and Country Planning Act 1977. That Act sought to guide the location of activities and to separate incompatible activities.

Identifying the status of an activity can be achieved at an early stage by conversation with local authorities or by accessing the website.  This link will take you a very helpful website concerned with activity status - LINK

Activities may be defined as:

• Permitted (no consent required)
• Controlled (consent required and conditions may be applied, e.g set hours of operation)
• Restricted Discretionary (may be approved or declined due to adverse effects in specific areas e.g amenity values or noise)
• Discretionary (may be approved or declined for any (non-specific) reason)
• Non-complying (may be approved or declined - must prove that any adverse effects are less than minor)
• Prohibited - e.g no subdivisions are allowed in the Waitakere ranges or no nuclear power in NZ