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Operative Waikato Regional Policy Statement (October 2000)
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1 Introduction
1.1 Introduction
This is the first RPS prepared by the Waikato Regional Council (Environment Waikato). It has been developed in accordance with the requirements of the RMA 1991 and amendments 1993 and provides an overview of the resource management issues in the Region, and policies and methods to achieve integrated management of the natural and physical resources of the whole Region.
The purpose of Part 1 is to provide an introduction to the RPS by:
- describing the resource management framework established by the Resource Management Act
- outlining the purpose of regional policy statements and briefly stating some of the key features of this document
- stating the framework of the Regional Policy Statement
- stating the effect of the Regional Policy Statement.
Figure 1: Purpose and Principles of the Resource Management Act
Under s59 of the RMA, the purpose of the Regional Policy Statement is to achieve the purpose of the Act.
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Purpose -
- The purpose of this Act is to promote the sustainable management of natural and physical resources.
- In this Act, "sustainable management" means managing the use, development, and protection of natural and physical resources in a way, or at a rate, which enables people and communities to provide for their social, economic, and cultural well-being and for their health and safety while -
- Sustaining the potential of natural and physical resources (excluding minerals) to meet the reasonably foreseeable needs of future generations; and
- Safeguarding the life-supporting capacity of air, water, soil, and ecosystems; and
- Avoiding, remedying, or mitigating any adverse effects of activities on the environment.
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Matters of national importance -
In achieving the purpose of this Act, all persons exercising functions and powers under it, in relation to managing the use, development, and protection of natural and physical resources, shall recognise and provide for the following matters of national importance:
- The preservation of the natural character of the coastal environment (including the coastal marine area), wetlands, and lakes and rivers and their margins, and the protection of them from inappropriate subdivision, use, and development:
- The protection of outstanding natural features and landscapes from inappropriate subdivision, use, and development:
- The protection of areas of significant indigenous vegetation and significant habitats of indigenous fauna:
- The maintenance and enhancement of public access to and along the coastal marine area, lakes, and rivers:
- The relationship of Maori and their culture and traditions with their ancestral lands, water, sites, waahi tapu, and other taonga.
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Other matters -
In achieving the purpose of this Act, all persons exercising functions and powers under it, in relation to managing the use, development, and protection of natural and physical resources, shall have particular regard to -
- Kaitiakitanga:
- The efficient use and development of natural and physical resources:
- The maintenance and enhancement of amenity values:
- Intrinsic values of ecosystems:
- Recognition and protection of the heritage values of sites, buildings, places, or areas:
- Maintenance and enhancement of the quality of the environment:
- Any finite characteristics of natural and physical resources:
- The protection of the habitat of trout and salmon.
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Treaty of Waitangi -
In achieving the purpose of this Act, all persons exercising functions and powers under it, in relation to managing the use, development, and protection of natural and physical resources, shall take into account the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi). |
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