Resource Consents

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Resource Consents Overview

There are different types of resource consents including:

Land use consents.
Subdivision consents.
Coastal permits.
Water permits.
Discharge permits - for discharges into air, water or land.

We grant resource consents for land use and subdivisions, while Taranaki Regional Council (TRC) administers coastal, water and discharge permits. Your intended activity may require resource consents from both councils.

What is the Resource Management Act?

The Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) is the cornerstone of environmental legislation in New Zealand. The RMA is a statute that promotes the sustainable management of natural and physical resources. Natural and physical resources are things like: air, land, water, energy, soil, minerals, animals, ecosystems, buildings, roads, network utilities and the coast.

Sustainable management means managing our resources so that the needs of people in the future can still be met, while allowing people today to provide for their social, economic, and cultural well-being as well as their health and safety. The Act places emphasis on minimising any adverse or harmful effects of activities, and on providing for the needs of future generations.

New Plymouth District Plan

The New Plymouth District Plan provides the framework for promoting sustainable management at the local level. It consists of maps, objectives, policies and rules which set out the activities permitted in the district. It also determines when resource consents and subdivision consents are required, and under which conditions these can be approved.

The District Plan was developed in consultation with the community and aims to minimise the harmful effects that activities may have on the surrounding area and on the environment.

Plan Changes and Legal Effect

When considering the District Plan rules that your proposed activity triggers it is important to check all proposed Plan Changes and the dates at which the proposed Plan Change rules have legal effect in relation to the date which you lodge your consent application(s) with the Council.

See also Applying for a Resource Consent, District Plan and Plan Changes and Private Plan Changes.

So what is a building consent?

Building consents are solely for building-related activities. They are concerned primarily with the health and safety of occupants and are subject to national standards and regulations.

If your application for a land use or subdivision consent includes any building work, chances are you will need to obtain a building consent as well. Both building consents and resource consents are handled by us.

Where else can I go for help?

Incorporated in 1949 as a Charitable Trust, the New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI) is the professional organisation representing planners, resource managers, urban designers, and environmental practitioners throughout New Zealand. NZPI promotes professional excellence and works in partnership with planners to shape the future according to the changing and diverse needs of all New Zealanders.

The New Zealand Planning Institute produces an Online Directory to help the public identify a qualified Consultant in their region. Seeking the advice of a qualified professional is more likely to smooth the path, and achieve the desired outcome. To find Professionals in Planning, Design and the Environment visit www.planningconsultants.org.nz/