The Resource Management Act: Key Facts About Local Authorities and Resource Consents in 2010/2011

• 36,154 resource consent applications were processed through to a decision.
• 0.56 per cent (203) of resource consent applications were declined.
• 6 per cent (2263) of resource consent applications were notified in some way (publicly notified and limited-notified).
• 95 per cent of resource consent applications were processed on time.
• 68 per cent of consents that required monitoring were actually monitored.

• 36,154 resource consent applications were processed through to a decision.
• 4 per cent (1414) of resource consent applications were publicly notified.
• 2 per cent (849) of resource consent applications were notified to affected parties only (limited notification).
• Local authority officers acting under delegated authority made 91 per cent of decisions on resource consent applications.
• 0.56 per cent (203) of resource consent applications were declined.
• 1 per cent (357) of resource consent decisions were appealed.

• Overall, 95 per cent of resource consent applications were processed on time.
• 87 per cent of notified resource consent applications were processed on time.
• 86 per cent of limited notified resource consent applications were processed on time.
• 95 per cent of non-notified resource consent applications were processed on time.
• Section 37 was used to extend the time limits for 15 per cent of all resource consent applications.

The range of average median charges to applicants for resource consent application processing varied depending on the type of notification and issuing authority.

Average changes to applicants for resource consent applications

• 68 per cent of resource consents that required monitoring were monitored.
• 72 per cent of monitored resource consents complied with their conditions.
• 124,172 complaints about alleged breaches of the RMA were received.
• Excessive noise directions (81 per cent) were the most used formal enforcement option to resolve complaints, followed by abatement notices (11 per cent).
• 1800 infringement notices and 1290 abatement notices were issued.

Percentage of local authorities monitoring and reporting on their responsibilities

Source: 2010/2011 RMA survey data.

Māori participation in RMA processes

• All councils provided advice to applicants that their resource consent application may be of interest or concern to iwi or hapū.
• 97 per cent of local authorities had standard resource consent conditions covering the discovery of sites or items significant to iwi/hapū.
• 15 per cent of local authorities involved iwi/hapū in resource consent monitoring.
• 54 per cent of local authorities made a budgetary commitment to iwi/hapū participation in RMA processes.
• 51 per cent of local authorities had written criteria or a set policy for staff to determine when iwi/hapū should be considered an affected party to resource consent applications.
• 24 per cent of local authorities had a policy requiring a cultural impact assessment as part of the resource consent application when a site, species or resource is of concern to iwi/hapū.
• 72 per cent of local authorities had formal memoranda of understanding, protocols, joint management agreements, or service-level agreements with iwi/hapū, and 63 per cent had informal agreements.

The results of the RMA survey are used to highlight and monitor the use of good practice by local authorities to improve performance in resource management functions.

• 82 per cent of local authorities provided applicants with a checklist defining the environmental effects that must be addressed in resource consent applications for controlled and restricted discretionary activities.
• 77 per cent of local authorities followed a structured process to identify and address environmental effects.
• 68 per cent of local authorities had internal notes or checklists to guide staff on when to notify a resource consent application.
• 53 per cent of local authorities had internal guidance notes or checklists to help staff identify potentially affected parties.
• All local authorities check each resource consent application for completeness within 5 working days of its arrival.
• 82 per cent of local authorities ran customer satifaction surveys. Of those providing full information, 91 per cent reported that most customers were either ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’.
• The average number of staff over the survey period was 943. Forty-three per cent of these staff are planners.

Plan changes and variations

• 108 council initiated and 35 privately initiated plan changes to operative district or regional plans were completed.
• 35 variations to proposed district or regional plans were completed.

Local authorities are grouped according to their authority type and, in the case of the 61 territorial authorities, the volume of resource consent applications they process.

Resource consent applications processed by local authorities and the percentage processed on time and the use of section 37

Source: 2010/2011 RMA survey data.

Future surveys

The Ministry is working collaboratively with councils to develop an integrated framework to monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the RMA. This will build on existing monitoring knowledge, processes and systems to improve reporting of RMA data. The project will help clarify what RMA data will be collected, from where and when, and will reduce the handling of data. Over the long term, the project will build on the existing RMA survey process.

Disclaimer: Results presented in the 2010/11 survey were derived from data provided by local authorities. Data was collected through the Resource Management Act online survey. All reasonable measures have been taken to ensure the quality and accuracy of the information contained herein.

Published in September 2011 by the

Ministry for the Environment
Manatū Mō Te Taiao
PO Box 10362
Wellington 6143
New Zealand