National environmental standards for electricity transmission activities
The National Environmental Standards (NES) for Electricity Transmission Activities came into effect on 14 January 2010.
The NES sets out a national framework of permissions and consent requirements for activities on existing electricity transmission lines. Activities include the operation, maintenance and upgrading of existing lines.
The NES:
- specifies that electricity transmission activities are permitted, subject to terms and conditions to ensure that these activities do not have significant adverse effects on the environment
- specifies the resource consent requirements for electricity transmission activities that do not meet the terms and conditions for permitted activities.
The NES only applies to existing high voltage electricity transmission lines. It does not apply to the construction of new transmission lines, nor to substations. The NES does not apply to electricity distribution lines – these are the lines carrying electricity from regional substations to electricity users.
Copies of the NES
You can view the standards online on the NZ Legislation website, or order a copy from Government Bookshops.
Public Notice – Access to Material Incorporated by Reference
The Resource Management (National Environmental Standards for Electricity Transmission Activities) Regulations 2009 incorporate the following material by reference:
New Zealand Standard NZS 6803: 1999 Acoustics – Construction noise
German Standard DIN 4150–3:1999 Structural Vibration – Effects of Vibration on Structures.
This incorporated material can be inspected by appointment free of charge from the Ministry for the Environment’s head office at the following address.
Environment House
23 Kate Sheppard Place
Thorndon
Wellington 6011
New Zealand
To make an appointment to inspect the incorporated material, please contact the Ministry for the Environment on:
Email: infocentre@mfe.govt.nz
Phone: (04) 439 7537
Photocopying of incorporated material will not be permitted.
Alternatively the incorporated material above may be purchased from:
Standards New Zealand Limited
Radio New Zealand House
Level 10, 155 The Terrace
Wellington 6011
Freephone 0800 782 632
Email: enquiries@standards.co.nz
Website: http://www.standards.co.nz/
Guidance on the NES
General guidance
Questions and answers on the National Environmental Standards for Electricity Transmission Activities
Detailed guidance
The Ministry for the Environment has prepared two guidance documents for councils, industry and the public:
NES for Electricity Transmission Activities: Introduction
- For local authorities and Transpower – to assess the resource consent requirements for the maintenance and upgrade of existing transmission lines and determine which activities are permitted.
- For local authorities – to understand how the NES implements the National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission (the NPS).
- For members of the public – to understand the broad direction of the NES and how it relates to the NPS.
NES for Electricity Transmission Activities: Inclusion in District and Regional Plans
- These pages aim to assist local authorities with reviewing and amending district and regional plans, so the NES is fully incorporated in them. Several options are provided and illustrated.
Background to the NES
A discussion document setting out the resource management issues which arise from managing the operation, maintenance and upgrading of New Zealand’s electricity transmission network, and how a NES could potentially resolve some of these issues, was released for public comment in October 2007.
The Ministry for the Environment received eighty-four submissions, and the issues raised are reflected in the summary of submissions. Refer to the Report on submissions for the Proposed National Environmental Standards for Electricity Transmission.
In September 2008, Cabinet decided the NES should proceed and agreed that regulations should be drafted to give effect to the standards. Refer to the Cabinet paper: report back on development of national environmental standards for electricity transmission – May 2008.
The Cabinet paper was accompanied by a regulatory impact statement, presenting the costs and benefits of the policy. Refer to the Regulatory impact statement: National environmental standards for electricity transmission activities.
The section 32 report evaluated the efficiency, effectiveness and appropriateness of the NES. This is a requirement under the RMA when developing a regulation, including a NES. The report also includes a response to public submissions.
- What is a Section 32 report?
- Section 32 report for proposed NES for Electricity Transmission Activities
Supporting Material
To read more about the NES and the process by which it was developed see:
If you would like more information about the NES for electricity transmission activities please contact standards@mfe.govt.nz.
Last updated: 24 February 2012
