Regional Council & Territorial Authorities
The Resource Management Act 1991 requires regional councils to prepare regional policy statements and coastal regional plans. Other regional plans may be prepared e.g. relating to water and soil conservation. These have planning implications for the forest industry.
The Canterbury Region is administered by Environment Canterbury, which has responsibility under the Resource Management Act 1991 (s.30) for managing water, soil and air resources, and for pollution control.
The Canterbury wood supply region incorporates nine territorial authorities:
Table 8: Territorial Authorities in the Canterbury Wood Supply Region
| Hectares | |
| Hurunui District Council | 756 727 |
| Waimakariri District Council | 275 000 |
| Christchurch City Council | 41 696 |
| Banks Peninsula District Council | 107 567 |
| Selwyn District Council | 648 400 |
| Ashburton District Council | 618 620 |
| Timaru District Council | 260 206 |
| Mackenzie District Council | 745 562 |
| Waimate District Council | 356 122 |
| Canterbury Wood Supply Region | 3 809 890 |
Source: New Zealand Local Government Directory 1996
All the above territorial authorities, with the exception of Selwyn District, have publicly notified district plans prepared under the Resource Management Act 1991. These plans have legal effect, but until they complete the statutory process district schemes prepared under the former Town and Country Planning Act 1977, also remain in operation as transitional district plans. As a consequence of the re-organisation of local government in the late 1980s, some territorial authorities currently administer several district schemes as components of their transitional district plan.
There are also a number of regional plans for Canterbury in different stages of development.
Land uses or activities are generally listed in proposed or operative plans as "permitted", "controlled", "discretionary", "non-complying" or "prohibited":
- Permitted activities are allowed without resource consents from the council, provided the activities are in accordance with the standards of the plan.
- Controlled activities are allowed if resource consents are obtained from the council. Resource consents must be granted provided terms and conditions specified in the plan are satisfied, but the council can include conditions relating to matters over which it has reserved control.
- Discretionary activities are allowed if resource consents are obtained from the council. Councils retain the discretion to allow or disallow resource consent applications. Resource consents may include conditions.
- Non-complying activities are those that contravene a rule in a plan. Applications must be made for resource consents that may or may not be granted by the council.
- Prohibited activities are specified in the plan and are not allowed under any circumstances.
Controlled, discretionary and non-complying activities may require public notification and the hearing of any public objections.
There is considerable variation with respect to the provisions that apply to forestry both within geographic areas covered by individual plans, and among plans. Protection of landscape values in particular has resulted in forestry being a controlled or discretionary activity on some hill country and most high country areas. On the plains forestry is generally a permitted activity, subject to a range of performance standards. Riparian setback requirements and provisions protecting significant natural areas are included in all district plans.
Resource management planning by regional and district councils under the Resource Management Act 1991 will influence land and forestry management. Investors in the forest industry should consult directly with the relevant authorities for up-to-date information on policy statements, plans and other requirements for development proposals.
Contact for Enquiries
Policy Analyst - Forestry
Innovation and Research
MAF Policy
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Tel: +64 4 894 0100
Fax: +64 4 894 0741
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