Regional Policy Statements

Most regional councils prepared their first generation RPSs in early-mid 1990s during which time there were no national or coastal policy statements. Some councils have completed their second generation RPS while others are in the process of developing them.

The purpose of the RPS is to achieve the purpose of the RMA by giving regard to local resource management issues and providing policies and methods to achieve integrated management of the local natural and physical resources.

The contents of the RPS are prescribed in s62 of the RMA. Briefly, the framework is as follows: Issues → Objectives → Policies → Methods → Principal reasons to adopt the above → Anticipated environmental results.

In addition to the above framework, processes to deal with cross boundary issues with adjacent regions and any issues with the local district/city councils, identification of land use control responsibilities for natural hazard, hazardous substances and biodiversity management and procedures to monitor the effectiveness of the RPS have to be included.