Appendix 2 – Regional policy statement review table and summaries
1. Regional policy statement review table
| Name of Plan | Reference | Identifies relationship between Māori and fresh water (Yes /No / Other) |
Identifies role of Māori in freshwater management (Yes / No / Other) |
Identifies issues/ concerns for Māori | Identifies methods of implementation to assist Māori in management of freshwater (Yes / No / Other) |
Nature of methods (refer to key at bottom of table) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland Regional Policy Statement (1999) | Chapters 2.3.8, 3, 8.2.4, 8.4.24 and Appendix D | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Statutory, operations, education and consultation |
| Bay of Plenty Regional Policy Statement (1999) | Chapters 3.1.1, 3.1.4, 3.2.1, 3.3.1, 3.4.0, 3.4.1, 4 and 5.3 | Yes | In part | Yes | Yes | Statutory, operations, education and consultation |
| Canterbury Regional Policy Statement (1998) | Chapters 2.2, 3.2(b), 5, 6, 9 1(a), and 9.4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Statutory, operations, education, consultation and governance |
| Regional Policy Statement for Southland (1997) | Chapters 1.4, 2.2, 3.8, 5.1, 5.3, 5.4 and 5.5. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Statutory, operations, projects, education, consultation, governance and levies |
| Waikato Regional Policy (Statement (2000) | Chapters 2.1 and 3.4.10 | Not really | Not really | Yes | Yes | Statutory, operations, projects, education and consultation |
| Taranaki Regional Policy Statement (1994) | Sections 3.2.13, 3.3.8 and 4.4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Statutory, operations, projects, education, consultation, governance and levies. |
Reference key for “nature of methods” in table above
- Statutory
- Provides a policy or rule in relation to Māori involvement in water management
- Operations
- Operational tasks and activities that are already part and parcel of services provided by a statutory body (would continue regardless of its reference in the document/are required by legislation)
- Projects
- Temporary activities or tasks that require resourcing, a detailed plan and management
- Education
- Programmes or publications designed to raise awareness, educate and guide management
- Consultation
- Requests to applicants to liaise, discuss, or engage with Māori regarding a proposal
- Relationship
- Cooperation, partnership, relationship to resolve matters as they arise
- Governance
- The establishment of a new governance or management structure that includes Māori in decision-making processes
- Levies
- The consideration of a tax, rate or levy on an activity as financial contribution to environmental impacts
- Monitoring
- Measuring water quality and quantity
- Information
- The provision of relevant information (outside resource consent process)
2. Regional policy statement summaries
Auckland Regional Policy Statement (1999)
The ARPS has a specific section on matters of significance to iwi. This section sets out a broad range of methods to address policy relating to Māori and fresh water. The methods of implementation include:
- consultation
- listing sites of significance
- protection of sites of significance
- provision of information
- evaluation of management techniques
- recognition of customary uses of ancestral tāonga
- maintaining an inventory of customary uses
- formal agreements
- information base of Treaty claims
- lists of representatives
- Māori hearings commissioners
- Māori language and tikanga in hearings
- consultation guidelines
- directory of Māori organisations
- consultation when considering section 33 transfers
- consultation with tāngata whenua when Treaty claims and relevant customary uses affected in regard to findings of Waitangi Tribunal
- opportunities to involve tāngata whenua in management/transfer of functions in specific sites and areas.
Bay of Plenty Regional Policy Statement(1999
The Bay of Plenty Regional Policy Statement (RPS) has a specific chapter on ‘Matters of Resource Management Significance to Iwi Authorities’. Freshwater issues are focused on water contamination and natural hazards (flood).
Methods of implementation include:
- maintaining understandings of law and Tribunal reports
- considering Māori hearings commissioners
- protection mechanisms
- consultation
- feedback during reviews of RPS
- consultants in resource consents
- contact with other councils
- establishing joint committees
- assistance with iwi management plans
- considering s33 transfers.
Tāngata whenua is not mentioned (specifically) in freshwater section of RPS (chapter 8).
A recent Plan Change No 1 became operative in late June 2008. This plan change includes a set of criteria for identifying, recording and assessing the significance of natural and historic heritage features (Chapters 5, 15 and 16). These changes will effect district plan changes and resource consents.
Environment Bay of Plenty is currently conducting a review of the regional policy statement. It is using section 35 (RMA) as a method for reviewing the plan’s efficiency and effectiveness. The tools it is using have identified gaps in policy which have suggested rationalisation, prioritisation, more measureable objectives, and use of key performance indicators.
Canterbury Regional Policy Statement (1998)
Promotes partnerships, relationships and three Treaty principals (partnership, active protection, good faith).
Chapter 5 which deals specifically with tāngata whenua regional management matters – relationships, roles and tribal organisation, and the representation list – is useful.
Freshwater and rivers issues cover water quality and quantity and sites protection. Issues are identified for the region and each committee’s interest area. These are more an expression of tāngata whenua views rather than the council’s position or policy.
Chapter 6 sets out provision for the relationship of tāngata whenua with resources. Methods of implementation include consultation, participation, conflict revolution procedures, education and promotion, joint management of sites (such as Lake Ellesmere (Te Waihora)), and encouragement for iwi management plans and monitoring.
In Chapter 9 Water, methods cover those above plus setting levels.
Regional Policy Statement for Southland (1997)
The Southland Regional Policy Statement (RPS) includes a full range of methods and well-linked policy. The issue user guide in the front section of the plan includes ‘takata whenua’ issues. In 1.4 ‘terminology’, reference is made to Māori dialect in the plan.
The RPS identifies iwi authorities as having some statutory role through iwi management and Part II matters. It sets out the following methods of implementation:
- information, education and public awareness
- promotion
- advocating
- negotiation, facilitation, mediation and arbitration
- consultation
- developing guidelines for resource users
- protocols and accords
- monitoring
- investigation and research
- strategies
- regional plans, coastal plans
- district plans
- plans and other documents
- resource consents
- conditions on public works
- economics instruments – compensation – grants
- assistance (technical)
- works and services
- delegations and transfers of powers
- ownership.
In 5.1.7, the RPS has a specific section: ‘the values and relationships of takata whenua with water’.
In 5.1.11, the RPS articulates the commitment through the accord with ‘takata whenua of Murihiku’ to methods of implementation for each section of the RPS – information, education and awareness, consultation, assistance for investigation and research, engagement on preparing and administering regional and district plans, consultation on resource consents, and consideration of section 33 + 34 transfers.
In 5-3, 5-4, 5-5, underwater quality and water quantity, the RPS has consultation provisions.
Waikato Regional Policy Statement (2000)
The RPS puts a lot of emphasis on consultation with tāngata whenua to determine how to recognise Part II matters relevant to tāngata whenua.
Implementation methods regarding the principles of the Treaty include identification of iwi authorities, process for mutual understanding of Treaty principles, agreement on roles and implementing Treaty principles, and education programmes.
For active participation of tāngata whenua in plan development and resource consents, there is support for iwi preparing plans, negotiating assistance and encouraging consultation.
For acknowledging the relationship of tāngata whenua with natural and physical resources, there is:
- consultation regarding significant sites
- consultation over policy and plan preparation
- provisions in plans and consents.
With regard to kaitiakitanga, there is:
- consultation on a resource and site-specific basis
- consultation on practical expressions of kaitiakitanga
- integrating kaitiakitanga into regional plans and district plans.
In Chapter 3.4.10, Water – implementation methods for Māori interests include:
- recognition in regional plans and consents
- establish water bodies that recognise Māori
- develop an action plan for regional information
- provide information and guidance.
