Enforcement Policy

Regional Councils have a number of obligations in implementing the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA), including monitoring and enforcing compliance with provisions of the Act, National Environmental Standards, Regional Plan Rules, and resource consents.

On occasion, when a breach of the Act has been confirmed, there is a need to take enforcement action against the party or parties responsible. This action can be highly contentious and the subject of much public and judicial scrutiny. The attached Bay of Plenty Regional Council Enforcement Policy has been developed to provide clear guidance on how our enforcement obligations are carried out.

Note, the Government has replaced the RMA with the Natural Environment Act and Planning Act, and the new system will be introduced over several years. While we transition to the new planning system, existing resource consent processes, regional plans and consent conditions remain in place.

Applicable legislation: Resource Management Act 1991