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Shortage of Resource Management Practitioners Workshop

21 September 2005

Irene Clarke
Local Government New Zealand

Is there a shortage of RMA practitioners in local government?

  • Yes!
  • The shortage is not unique to local government
  • The shortage in local government is not unique to RMA functions

What are the contributors to the shortage?

  • RMA practitioners are in demand for other local government functions:
    • LGA - LTCCPs, policy and bylaws
    • Reserves planning
    • Project management
    • etc
  • Local government RMA practitioners are in demand outside the sector
  • Economic growth and activity increases challenges and workloads for local government
  • RMA continues to become more complex, have higher workloads, absorb more and more time
  • Continuing increase in regulation for local authorities to administer

What are the implications for local government?

  • Operational impacts on the ability to carry out statutory functions
  • Impacts on the ability to:
    • Provide appropriate, timely and responsible outcomes in line with good practice and the requirements of the RMA
    • Meet expectations of communities and parties involved in resource consents
  • Flow-on effect on the perception of local authorities, the planning profession, and the RMA

The way forward...

  • Range of responses required:
    • Work place solutions for recruitment & retention
    • Reducing workload demand
    • Increasing supply of practitioners
  • LGNZ interest and involvement as we move forward on actions

Last updated: 16 January 2009