The underlying principle is the sustainable management of our resources, thereby encouraging us all (as communities and as individuals) to plan for the future of our environment.

District and regional plans are one of the most important aspects of the RMA. Pursuant to the Act, Councils must prepare plans to help manage the environment in their area.

It is these plans that tell you which activities you can do as of right (a ‘permitted activity’) and which activities require Council’s approval though a ‘resource consent’ application.

There are five different types of resource consent. These are:

• Land-use consents – By far the most common. Generally required for activities such as earthworks, vegetation removal, and construction. Land-use consent can also be required to undertake activities such as onsite manufacturing, retail activities and most activities involving potentially hazardous goods/substances.

• Subdivision – Also very common. Used to divide property and undertake boundary relocations.

• Coastal Permits – Used to undertake development below the ‘mean high-water springs’ mark, and to discharge stormwater into the coastal zone.

• Water Permit – Used to take water for irrigation purposes, and to dam or alter a watercourse.

• Discharge Permit – Used to discharge any substance (including stormwater) into water or the air.