Printed from https://fyi.org.nz/request/31644-the-response-of-regional-and-district-councils-to-the-department-of-conservation-s-review-of-the-effect-of-the-nzcps-2010-on-rma-decision-making on August 18, 2025 13:51

The response of regional and district councils to the Department of Conservation’s review of the effect of the NZCPS 2010 on RMA decision-making

Isabelle Douglas made this Official Information request to Department of Conservation

Currently waiting for a response from Department of Conservation, they must respond promptly and normally no later than (details and exceptions).

From: Isabelle Douglas

17 July 2025

To the Department of Conservation,

Dear Sir or Madam,

Official information request: The response of regional and district councils to the Department of Conservation’s review of the effect of the NZCPS 2010 on RMA decision-making

I am seeking information regarding the Department of Conservation’s report for the Minister of Conservation Review of the effect of the NZCPS 2010 on RMA decision-making.

This report is a consequence of Policy 28(1) of the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010 (NZCPS). The provision requires the Minister of Conservation to collaborate with local authorities, collect data, and assess the impact of the NZCPS on regional policy statements, plans, resource consents, and other decision-making, and publish a report and a conclusion on these matters.

The provision is rendered in full below:

Policy 28: Monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness of the NZCPS

1. To monitor and review the effectiveness of the NZCPS in achieving the purpose of the Act, the Minister of Conservation should:
a. in collaboration with local authorities collect data for, and, as far as practicable, incorporate district and regional monitoring information into a nationally consistent monitoring and reporting programme;
b. undertake other information gathering or monitoring that assists in providing a national perspective on coastal resource management trends, emerging issues and outcomes;
c. within six years of its gazettal, assess the effect of the NZCPS on regional policy statements, plans, and resource consents, and other decision-making; and
d. publish a report and conclusions on matters (a) to (c) above.

In Part 2 of the Report (“Background information”), the Department of Conservation sent out requests to local government bodies, asking them to complete surveys on coastal issues and the work that council had done to uphold NZCPS. This was to be completed by Friday 4 November 2016. A blank copy of the survey, and further context provided by DOC can be found in Part 2J of the Report.

Part 2K of the Report subsequently lists the councils that responded to the survey, and those who did not.

Links to the reports can be found below:

DOC NZCPS page, also containing the Report: https://www.doc.govt.nz/nzcps

Part One of the Report: https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/doc...

Part Two of the Report: https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/doc...

My requests:

1. Please provide copies of the completed local government surveys (found in Part 2J) by the councils who responded to DOC’s request.

2. Please provide any associated documents that said councils attached to the survey, relating to Policy 11 of the NZCPS (“Protect significant indigenous biodiversity”).

3. If a council did not complete the survey, but did respond to DOC’s request with some reason or justification for why they would not complete the survey, then I request a copy of those responses as well.

4. If any of those responses in (3.) contained attached information about Policy 11, or indigenous biodiversity, then I would also request that information be sent to me.

If you need any more information from me please let me know as soon as possible.

I look forward to hearing your reply within 20 working days of receiving this request.

Yours faithfully,

Isabelle Douglas

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From: do-not-reply
Department of Conservation

Kia ora Isabelle,

Thank you for your official information request to the Department of
Conservation, received on 18/07/2025.

Your reference number is OIAD-5474.

 

We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible and no
later than 15/08/2025, being 20 working days after the day your request
was received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will
notify you of an extension of that timeframe.

If you have any queries email us at [1][email address].

Ngā mihi

Government Services

Department of Conservation

Te Papa Atawhai

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From: OIATeam
Department of Conservation

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Tēnā koe Isabelle

 

Thank you for your Official Information Act (OIA) request received by the
Department of Conservation (DOC) regarding the review of the effect of the
New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010 (NZCPS 2010) on Resource
Management Act (RMA) decision-making and local government responses.

 

We’ve begun reviewing the material we hold, and I’d like to check in to
see whether you would consider refining your request to help us respond
more efficiently.

 

To date, we’ve identified a spreadsheet containing completed survey
responses from approximately 40 councils. However, to release these
responses, we would need to consult with each council individually. This
consultation process would be substantial, and it is likely we would need
to extend the statutory timeframe under the OIA.

 

We also note that the original survey did not request information specific
to individual policies such as Policy 11 (Indigenous Biodiversity). We
have not located any attachments that relate specifically to that policy.
As a result, we are currently unable to fulfil parts 2, 3, and 4 of your
request as described.

 

To help us progress your request more quickly and to potentially avoid the
need for a time extension, you may wish to consider refining the scope in
one or more of the following ways:

 

o Narrowing the request to responses from specific councils or a
particular region of interest
o Focusing on part 1 of your request only, which relates to the
completed surveys themselves
o Clarifying whether you are still seeking information specifically
related to Policy 11, given the original survey did not request this

 

Please let us know how you would like to proceed. If you do decide to
refine your request, the statutory timeframe for our response will restart
from the working day after we receive your clarification, in accordance
with section 15(1AA) of the Official Information Act.

 

If we don’t hear from you, we’ll continue processing your request as it
stands, but we are likely to notify you of an extension due to the need
for consultation.

 

 

Ngā mihi

 

 

Wiki Love (she/her)

OIA Advisor | Kaitohutohu OIA

Whare Kaupapa Atawhai – Conservation House
18 – 32 Manners Street | Wellington | 6011

[1]www.doc.govt.nz

Caution - This message and accompanying data may contain information that
is confidential or subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended
recipient you are notified that any use, dissemination, distribution or
copying of this message or data is prohibited. If you received this email
in error, please notify us immediately and erase all copies of the message
and attachments. We apologise for the inconvenience. Thank you.

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From: Isabelle Douglas

Kia ora,

Thank you for your response.

If Councils did not attach any extra information in their response to the survey, relating to Policy 11, then that portion of my request does not need to be pursued.

Secondly, in regards to the survey responses, I would request that some councils are prioritised over others. If possible, I would prefer to have these processed within the standard 20 working days. The responses I would like within the 20 working day timeframe (if possible) are: Christchurch City Council, Environment Canterbury, Wellington City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, West Coast Regional Council, and Buller District Council.

In addition, if Grey District Council and Westland District Council, neither of which completed the survey, responded with reasons as to why they did not complete it, I would like a copy of those responses as soon as possible as well.

However, I would ultimately like all responses (including any responses from councils as to why they would not complete the survey). I accept that there may be an extension necessary for this.

Please let me know if you foresee any additional issues with this refined request.

Much appreciated,

Isabelle

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Things to do with this request

Anyone:
Department of Conservation only: