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| Auckland Regional Policy Statement | |
|---|---|
| Name | Auckland Regional Policy Statement |
| Jurisdiction | Auckland Region |
| Adopted | 1994 |
| Amended | multiple |
| Authority | Resource Management Act 1991 |
| Status | operative |
Auckland Regional Policy Statement
The Auckland Regional Policy Statement provides high-level resource management direction for the Auckland Region and sets out policies and objectives to guide regional and district planning under the Resource Management Act 1991. It informs decisions by Auckland Council, Environment Court (New Zealand), and mana whenua such as Ngāti Whātua and Ngāti Pāhoa, aligning regional strategy with statutory instruments like the Unitary plan and national directions from the Ministry for the Environment. The statement interacts with regional infrastructure providers including Auckland Transport, Watercare Services, and energy entities such as Mercury NZ.
The statement originated following the enactment of the Resource Management Act 1991 to achieve integrated management of effects on the environment across the Waitematā Harbour, Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana, and the Manukau Harbour. Its purpose is to reconcile urban development pressures in areas like Auckland CBD, North Shore City, and Rodney District with protection of landscapes including Hunua Ranges, Waitākere Ranges Regional Park, and significant maunga such as Maungawhau / Mount Eden. It provides direction for transport corridors such as the Auckland Harbour Bridge approaches and growth areas identified in strategic plans like the Auckland Plan.
Framed by the Resource Management Act 1991, the statement operates alongside national instruments including the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement and National Policy Statement for Urban Development. It must be given effect to by regional policy statements under the hierarchy established in the RMA and is subject to review by the Auckland Council governing body and adjudication by the Environment Court (New Zealand). The RPS interfaces with statutory iwi agreements such as the Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau Collective Redress Deed and statutory acknowledgements created under settlement legislation like the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Claims Settlement Act 2012.
Objectives prioritize sustainable management of natural and physical resources across the Tāmaki River catchment, integrated management of regionally significant infrastructure provided by Auckland Transport and Watercare Services, and protection of habitats for species like the Kororā / Little Blue Penguin and indigenous flora in the Waitākere Ranges. Policies address urban consolidation in growth nodes such as Manukau City Centre, support for high-capacity public transport corridors including the Britomart Transport Centre and Britomart Interchange, and measures to reduce risks from hazards including coastal inundation at Ōrewa and liquefaction in the Onehunga area. The RPS also embeds obligations arising from international agreements reflected in national legislation like the Paris Agreement via emissions reduction strategies embraced by regional actors such as Auckland Council.
Implementation relies on regional plans and district plans prepared by Auckland Council and regulators including the Auckland Regional Council predecessor bodies. Monitoring is undertaken through state of the environment reporting frameworks coordinated with agencies such as the Ministry for the Environment and research partners like the University of Auckland and the Auckland University of Technology. Performance indicators track outcomes across water quality in the Waitematā Harbour, air quality near industrial zones like Wiri, and biodiversity measures in reserves such as Tiritiri Matangi Island. Compliance actions may be determined by the Environment Court (New Zealand) and enforced by consents managed under the Resource Management Act 1991.
The statement informs regional policy instruments such as the Auckland Unitary Plan and regional coastal plans covering the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, and integrates with transport strategies like the Auckland Transport Alignment Project and infrastructure investment by the New Zealand Transport Agency (Waka Kotahi). It is cross-referenced with catchment management initiatives in the Hunua and Waiheke Island restoration programs, and land-use policies affecting rural zones in Franklin District and urban fringe areas around Glen Innes. Integration extends to climate adaptation workstreams coordinated with the National Climate Change Risk Assessment and local initiatives funded through the Provincial Growth Fund where applicable.
Governance involves the Auckland Council mayoral and governing body arrangements, local boards such as Albert-Eden Local Board, and statutory consultation with iwi authorities including Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and Ngāti Tamaoho. Public participation processes have included submissions from entities like Business New Zealand (Ōravē), community groups such as the Forest & Bird, and research institutes including the Crown Research Institute network. Engagement mechanisms have also linked to national bodies such as the Department of Conservation for biodiversity matters and the Civil Defence and Emergency Management framework for hazard planning.
Since its first issuance in the 1990s, the statement has undergone successive reviews and plan changes in response to court decisions from the Environment Court (New Zealand), legislative reforms in the Resource Management Act 1991, and strategic shifts signaled by the Auckland Plan 2050. Key amendments addressed metropolitan development in areas like Wynyard Quarter and transportation priorities such as the City Rail Link. Reviews have incorporated Treaty settlement outcomes including the Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau Collective Redress Deed and adjusted provisions for coastal management following cases like Environmental Defence Society Incorporated v The New Zealand King Salmon Company Limited considerations at national level.
Category:Environment of Auckland Category:Resource Management Act 1991