Finding your way to regional rules using the Resource Management Act

This section of the guide can help you find a rule or regulation by searching through the restrictions in the Resource Management Act, 1991 (the RMA).

Part Three of the RMA contains people's duties and restrictions under the RMA. These restrictions are broadly categorised as

• use of land (section 9 of the RMA)
• use of the coastal marine area (section 12 of the RMA)
• uses of beds of lakes and rivers (section 13 of the RMA)
• taking, using, damming and diverting water, including water in the coastal marine area (section 14 of the RMA), and
• discharging contaminants into water, land, and air, including water, land and air in the coastal marine area (section 15 of the RMA).
• dumping and incineration of waste or other matter in the coastal marine area (section 15A of the RMA)
• discharging harmful substances from ships or offshore installations (section 15B of the RMA)
• prohibitions relating to radioactive waste or other radioactive matter and other waste in the coastal marine area (section 15C of the RMA).

You can search through these categories in this user guide to help you find out if any particular activity is allowed or restricted by a regional rule in one of our regional plans.

Central government can adopt National Environmental Standards (NES) that are mandatory regulations introduced through sections 43 and 44 of the RMA.They automatically supersede controls placed by regional councils- unless the regional rules are stricter. The NES for air quality can be viewed on this site.

Other regulations adopted by central government under the RMA are the Resource Management (Marine Pollution) regulations, 1998.