Operative Waikato Regional Policy Statement (October 2000)

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1  Introduction

1.3  The Regional Policy Statement

1.3.1 Purpose and Process

The purpose of a regional policy statement is to promote the sustainable management of natural and physical resources by:

1. Providing an overview of the significant resource management issues of the Region¹. One of the functions of Environment Waikato under s30(1)(b) of the RMA is the preparation of objectives and policies in relation to any actual or potential effects of the use, development or protection of land which are of regional significance. The RPS must include those matters in Part II of the First Schedule (matters relating to districts) which are of regional significance (s62(1)) and must state the significant resource management issues of the Region under s62(1)(a).
   
   1. The information from Council’s Vision 2000 consultative process was used as background material, but the regionally significant issues in this RPS have been developed through technical working groups, consultation, a draft RPS and submissions, the proposed RPS and submissions/further submissions, hearings and the determinations that follow.
      
   2. Although not defined in the RMA, the term ‘regional significance’ in context refers to major issues of importance to the Region. There will be degrees of significance ranging from little regional significance, where an issue or effect is of concern to a few people, to issues or effects of much greater importance or concern. The Glossary provides a definition of ‘regional significance’ as it applies within the Waikato Region. A summary of significant resource management issues is included in each section of Part 3 which also provides the objectives and policies for the significant resource management issues.
      
   3. Where an issue or effect is concentrated within a single territorial authority area, it is more likely to be of local rather than regional significance. Issues or policies dealing with matters of regional significance do not necessarily require implementation by Environment Waikato. Such matters may relate to the functions of territorial authorities.
   
   
2. Putting in place objectives, policies and methods to achieve integrated management of the natural and physical resources of the whole Region. The RMA does not provide a definition for integrated management, therefore for the purpose of this RPS, a definition has been adopted (refer Glossary).

Thus, a regional policy statement is a document which provides a framework for promoting the sustainable management of a region’s natural and physical resources by identifying issues and outlining objectives, policies and methods, including processes, for addressing these issues².

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Footnotes

1. RMA, s59.
2. Appendix 2 outlines the legislative requirements with respect to the preparation and contents of regional policy statements.