What is the National Direction and Legislation

National Environmental Standards (NES)

These are national regulations which have the effect of national rules. They supersede any rules in the Waipa District Plan, which both Council and those proposing activities must meet in the relevant NES.

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National Policy Statements (NPS)

These provide national policy direction that all councils must follow. They can be directive (e.g. “council must”) or provide clear guidance (e.g. “council should”).

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National Planning Standards

These set out a framework which all district and regional plans must follow. The first set of standards came out in 2018, and prescribe the way our district and regional plans must be laid out. The Waipa District plan must be in the latest format by 2024, and it must also be in an electronic plan format or “eplan”.

Click here for further information on National Planning Standards

Legislation - Resource Management Act Reform

The previous government introduced legislation to replace the Resource Management Act. This legislation was repealed by the current government in late 2023. Find more information on the Ministry for the Environment website: Changes to resource management.