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Factors of national significance
For a matter to be directed to a board of inquiry or the Environment Court by the Minister for the Environment, it must be, or be part of, a proposal that is nationally significant.
The Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) does not define what national significance means. However, section 142 of the RMA states that when deciding whether a matter is, or is part of, a proposal of national significance, the Minister for the Environment may have regard to any relevant factor. Section 142 then sets out some examples of factors that the Minister may consider, including whether the matter:
- has aroused widespread public concern or interest regarding its actual or likely effect on the environment (including the global environment); or
- involves or is likely to involve significant use of natural and physical resources; or
- affects or is likely to affect a structure, feature, place, or area of national significance; or
- affects or is likely to affect or is relevant to New Zealand's international obligations to the global environment; or
- results or is likely to result in or contribute to significant or irreversible changes to the environment (including the global environment); or
- involves or is likely to involve technology, processes, or methods that are new to New Zealand and that may affect its environment; or
- is or is likely to be significant in terms of section 8; or
- will assist the Crown in fulfilling its public health, welfare, security, or safety obligations or functions; or
- affects or is likely to affect more than one region or district; or
- relates to a network utility operation that extends or is proposed to extend to more than one district or region.
More information on previous and current projects that were directed to a board of inquiry or the Environment Court can be viewed on the current applications page.
Last updated: 1 October 2009
