What can I expect in return?

Councils will:

• advise on who may need to be consulted and how do this effectively, particularly with tangata whenua groups
• keep and maintain records and details of all iwi and hapū in their region or district, and any planning documents prepared by them and lodged with the council
• make available, or at least alert you to, documentation and information to help consultation (such as iwi management plans)
• review your consultation, particularly in the lead-up to the determination about affected persons and any notification of your application
• advise where you may need to revisit your consultation.

Interested and affected parties will:

• acknowledge your investment in an idea and right to advance a proposal
• appreciate the time and cost implications you may face in consulting with them
• recognise that a proposal is just that, and may be changed before being approved
• give clear, honest and timely responses to consultation
• focus on the environmental effects of the proposal and not on issues beyond the scope of the resource consent process
• respond with positive and proactive feedback on any areas of concern.

Tangata whenua will:

• appreciate that applicants may be unfamiliar with their concerns and protocols, as well as the number of groups and different concerns they may have
• understand that as an applicant, you may not have the power or ability to resolve problems beyond the resource consent process, or the effects that could be connected to your proposal
• operate in a transparent and professional manner, by providing estimates for the costs of their involvement, and cost breakdowns in any invoices for their time
• stick to any commitments you may have jointly reached over the exchange of information, or timelines for responses.