All-of-government submission
A submission to a local authority (most likely on a resource consent or notice of requirement) jointly by two or more government departments that sets out the Government’s views on the matter (also known as a Crown submission).
 
Call-in
The Minister for the Environment may 'call-in' a nationally significant matter (most likely a resource consent or notice of requirement) under section 141 of the RMA, from the local authority that would normally have determined it, and instead ask a board of inquiry or the Environment Court to determine it.
 
Designation
An authorisation included in a district plan that allows a requiring authority to undertake a public work or network utility project without a land-use consent.
 
District plan
A plan prepared under Part 5 of the RMA to control the use of land within the district or unitary authority.
 
Fresh water
All water except coastal water and geothermal water.
 
Hapū
Clan; tribe; subtribe − section of a large tribe.
 
Iwi 
Tribe; nation; people; race.
 
Kaitiakitanga
The exercise of guardianship by the tangata whenua of an area in accordance with tikanga Māori in relation to natural and physical resources; includes the ethic of stewardship.
 
Mahinga kai
Garden; cultivation; food source.
 
Mauri
Life force; life principle; special nature.
 
Matauranga Māori
Traditional Māori knowledge and wisdom.
 
Mihi
Speech of greeting; acknowledgement.
 
Minister
The Minister for the Environment, unless otherwise specified.
 
Ministry
The Ministry for the Environment, unless otherwise specified.
 
Nationally significant
A level of importance assessed as being significant on a national scale, having regard to the criteria listed in section 45(2) of the RMA.
 
NES 
National environmental standard − a tool used to set nationwide standards for the state or use of resources.  A national environmental standard is issued under section 43 of the RMA.
 
Notice of requirement
A notice given to a territorial authority by a requiring authority for its requirement for a designation to be included in the district plan.
 
NPS
National policy statement − national policy guidance for environmental matters that are considered to be of national significance (eg, the coastal environment).  A national policy statement is issued under section 52 of the RMA.
 
Objective 
An outcome being sought to resolve a significant resource management issue.
 
Part 2
Part 2 of the RMA sets out the purpose of the RMA (section 5) and other principles (sections 6, 7 and 8).
 
Pepeha
Tribal saying; proverb.
 
Policy
A general course of action taken to achieve an objective, identified in district and regional plans or regional policy statements.
 
Rangatiratanga
Sovereignty; chieftainship.
 
Requiring authority
A Minister of the Crown, a local authority or a network utility operator approved as a requiring authority by the Minister for the Environment under section 167 of the RMA.
 
Resource consent
An authorisation to use a natural or physical resource, issued under Part 6 of the RMA.
 
RMA
The Resource Management Act 1991 and its amendments.  See: www.legislation.govt.nz
 
Rule
A regulation in a plan to prohibit, control or allow activities to manage the use, development and protection of natural and physical resources in accordance with the purpose of the RMA.
 
Section 32 
The section of the RMA that requires any person developing a policy or regulatory instrument under the RMA to carry out an evaluation of the appropriateness, alternatives, costs and benefits of what is proposed.
 
Submission
The written comments, opinions, concerns in support of or in opposition to a proposed development or a proposed policy statement or plan.
 
Tangata whenua
The iwi, or hapū, that holds mana whenua over a particular area.  For the purpose of this guidance document, the term tangata whenua has been used to apply to both singular tangata whenua groups and multiple tangata whenua groups.
 
Taonga
Treasure; possession; property.
 
Wairua
Spirit; soul.
 
Water conservation order
An order made under section 214 of the RMA that places restrictions and prohibitions on the exercise of a regional council’s management of the water body to which the order applies.
 
Whakatauki
Proverb; saying.
 
Whanau 
Extended family; family group.

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