Developing the first set of National Planning Standards

Phases of stakeholder input

We sought significant stakeholder input during the planning standards two-year development to help ensure they are robust and workable.

There were three key phases where we sought input.

Initial engagement phase: April–July 2017

We released all research reports and discussion papers on the planning standards topics. These papers set the context and issues, informed readers about research on a topic, and identified and discussed options to encourage debate on what the first set of planning standards should contain.

We partnered with the New Zealand Planning Institute and the Resource Management Law Association to run regional workshops on the planning standards. These enabled members to discuss the approach and options in the technical papers with their peers.

See the summary of feedback from the regional workshops. 

Resource management practitioners were also invited to use an online shared workspace to debate the discussion papers with their peers. This was during the initial engagement, and the drafting and testing phases.

From April 2017–March 2018 council staff members could subscribe to the LGConnect email discussion group on the Resource Legislation Amendment Act.

Drafting and testing phase: June 2017–May 2018 

We provided initial drafts of the planning standards to select groups, including members of the Pilot Council programme, for targeted feedback. This helped us to find out how the planning standards could function within existing plans and policy statements.

Submissions and standards refinement phase: June 2018–April 2019

The Minister for the Environment and Minister of Conservation notified the draft planning standards for public written submissions on 6 June 2018. Submissions closed on 17 August 2018.

We held a series of lunchtime presentations in regional centres. The New Zealand Planning Institute and the Resource Management Law Association again helped to organise these presentations. At these sessions we gave an overview of the draft planning standards and were available to answer questions. These sessions were open to everyone to attend. We sought detailed, evidence based submissions on the draft planning standards. We also met with councils and held hui during this time.

We sought detailed, evidence based submissions on the draft planning standards.

We considered all submissions. We then prepared reports and recommendations on the submissions and the detail of the drafts for Ministers to consider.

Ministers carried out a further evaluation of the draft planning standards in accordance with section 32AA of the RMA. They had particular regard to that evaluation when deciding to approve the planning standards.

The Minister for the Environment and Minister of Conservation released the first set of planning standards on 05 April 2019.

Implementation phase: April 2019–April 2024

We are working with councils to implement the gazetted planning standards. We will seek ongoing feedback on how the planning standards are working to ensure they are useful to councils over time.

Testing the planning standards

Pilot councils

More than 25 councils registered their interest in joining a ‘pilot council’ group. This group trialled and provided feedback on the workability of drafts as they were prepared.

Māori Advisory Group

A reference group of iwi planning practitioners helped guide the planning standards development from a Māori concerns and interests perspective. They also advised on iwi engagement.

 The Ministry’s research covered a range of plan topics including:

• plan structure
• form
• definitions
• zones and overlays
• regional policy statements
• metrics.