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Keeping it clean and green
The purpose of local government in New Zealand was more clearly stated in the Local Government Act 2002 than in previous legislation. But LGA 2002 is not the only law to guide local government – the Resource Management Act is another major law that must be taken into account.
Keeping it clean and green
Water, air and land – use of these simple resources underpins all our activities. But life as we know it can not continue without plentiful supplies of quality water and air.
It is well recognised that we need to plan for sustainable development. This type of policy has been given greater weight not only within New Zealand, but also in the United Nations. However, communities can divide over the use of these critical resources.
The Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) is the core of the legislation intended to help achieve sustainability in New Zealand. The Act’s purpose is to promote the sustainable management of natural and physical resources.
By bringing together laws governing land, air and water resources and concentrating on the environmental effects of human activities, the Resource Management Act has introduced a new approach to environmental management.
The RMA sets out how we manage our environment, including:
- air
- water
- soil
- biodiversity
- the coastal environment
- noise
- subdivision
- land use planning in general.
The Ministry for the Environment is responsible for administering the RMA and ensuring that it is being implemented effectively.
Putting it into effect
The Resource Management Act guides many of the activities of local authorities, especially of regional councils who deal mainly with environmental concerns such as:
- management of the effects of use of freshwater, coastal waters, air and land
- biosecurity control of regional plant and animal pests
- river management, flood control and mitigation of erosion
- regional land transport planning and contracting of passenger services
- harbour navigation and safety, marine pollution and oil spills
- regional civil defense preparedness.
For example, when district councils in the Wairarapa, the Greater
Wellington Regional Council and other interests consider
the Wairarapa Coastal
Strategy, they will be taking both LGA 2002 and the
RMA into account. Such a Strategy has no legal status until the
processes
of both
Acts have been followed.