The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform (under section 7 of the Constitution Act 1986) gives notice of the following direction made under sections 80L and 80M of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). The direction is secondary legislation for the purpose of the Legislation Act 2019 and is administered by the Ministry for the Environment.

Title and Commencement

(1) This notice is the Resource Management (Direction for the Intensification Streamlined Planning Process to Auckland Council) Amendment Notice 2024.

(2) The direction comes into force on 22 April 2024.

Minister Responsible for RMA Reform’s Amended Directions for the Intensification Streamlined Planning Process to Auckland Council (made under section 7 of the Constitution Act 1986)

(3) In accordance with sections 80L(1)(c), 80L(1)(d) and 80M of the RMA, the Minister directs that Auckland Council must:

1. notify its decisions on the independent hearing panel’s recommendations on Plan Change 78 under clause 102 of Schedule 1 of the RMA no later than 31 March 2026.

Minister Responsible for RMA Reform’s Statement of Expectations for the Intensification Streamlined Planning Process for Auckland Council (made under section 7 of the Constitution Act 1986)

(4) In accordance with clause 80L(2) of the RMA, the Minister's expectations for Auckland Council are to:

1. Notify a plan change, or similar, to address the management of significant risks from natural hazards by 30 April 2025.
2. Enable intensification within the Auckland Light Rail corridor, and ensure intensification is enabled in appropriate areas by 30 April 2025.
3. Continue to progress the parts of the Plan Change 78 subject to Policy 3 and Policy 4 of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development where practicable given the expectations outlined in (5)(a) and (5)(b) above.
4. Prior to notifying plan changes, or similar, on natural hazards, and to implement the National Policy Statement on Urban Development and the Medium Density Residential Standards in the Auckland Light Rail corridor, notify the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform on the impacts on Auckland's development capacity.

(5) The Minister expects Auckland Council officers to work closely with Ministry for the Environment officials on workable solutions to implement clause (5) above.

Minister Responsible for RMA Reform’s Additional Direction for the Intensification Streamlined Planning Process to Auckland Council

In accordance with clause 80L(1)(d) of the RMA, the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform directs Auckland Council to provide a report to the Ministry for the Environment on 31 May 2024 and every three months after that date, about its progress on Plan Change 78 and any related plan changes or variations, including any plan change relating to natural hazards. The report shall demonstrate how the Council is having regard to the statement of expectations and identify any issues which may affect the Council’s ability to comply with the Minister’s Direction.

Principal Notice Amended

This direction amends “The Resource Management (Direction for the Intensification Streamlined Planning Process to Auckland Council) Notice 2022” published in the New Zealand Gazette, 27 April 2022, Notice No. 2022-sl1599, only to the extent specified in this notice.

Previous Amendment Notice Revoked

The Resource Management (Direction for the Intensification Streamlined Planning Process to Auckland Council) Amendment Notice 2023, published in the New Zealand Gazette, 31 August 2023, Notice No. 2023-sl4042, is revoked.

Copies of the above notices are available free of charge on the Ministry for the Environment’s website: https://environment.govt.nz.

Dated at Wellington this 25th day of March 2024.

Hon CHRIS BISHOP, Minister Responsible for RMA Reform.

Notes

1. This direction must be complied with.
2. Part 6 of Schedule 1 of the RMA specifies the requirements of any Intensification Streamlined Planning Process.
3. Section 80M of the RMA provides the Minister the ability to amend this direction on their own initiative or following a request from Auckland Council.
4. Auckland Council may, in accordance with section 80M of the RMA, apply in writing to the Minister for an amendment to the direction.