5 MAY NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE 1567

justify the restriction notwithstanding the national importance of maintaining that access.

Purposes are those in accordance with the Defence Act 1990.

Policy 3.5.2
In order to recognise the national importance of enhancing public access to and along the coastal marine area, provision should be made to identify, as far as practicable:

(i) the location and extent of places where the public have the right of access to and along the coastal marine area;

(ii) those places where it is desirable that physical access to and along the coastal marine area by the public should be enhanced; and

(iii) those places where it is desirable that access to the coastal marine area useable by people with disabilities be provided.

Policy 4.1.6
Policy statements and plans should require that on applications for coastal permits for the following in relation to lands of the Crown in the coastal marine area:

(a) reclamations;

(b) the removal of sand, shingle, shell or other natural materials for commercial purposes; and

(c) rights to occupy;

regard shall be had to any available alternatives to what the applicant seeks to do, and the applicant’s reasons for making the proposed choice.

Policy 3.5.3
In order to recognise and provide for the enhancement of public access to and along the coastal marine areas as a matter of national importance, policy statements and plans should make provision for the creation of esplanade reserves, esplanade strips or access strips where they do not already exist, except where there is a specific reason making public access undesirable.

Policy 3.5.4
Policy statements and plans should as far as practicable identify the access which Maori people have to sites of cultural value to them, according to tikanga Maori.

CHAPTER 4—THE CROWN’S INTERESTS IN LAND OF THE CROWN IN THE COASTAL MARINE AREA

4.1 Maintenance of the Crown’s Interest in Land of the Crown in the Coastal Marine Area

Policy 4.1.1
Regional coastal plans should identify land and areas under the Conservation Act 1987 and other land and areas administered by the Department of Conservation so that their status will be taken into account in deciding resource consents.

Policy 4.1.2
If an application for a resource consent affects an area proposed for protection under a statute administered by the Department of Conservation then the publicly notified purpose of the proposal should be taken into account when deciding the application.

Policy 4.1.3
In respect of the erection of any structures in the coastal marine area, in cases where the provisions of the Building Act 1992 do not apply, provision should be made to ensure that, where appropriate, the consent holder will remove any abandoned or redundant structure that the consent holder erected or took responsibility for, or any structure that is not in active use and is not likely to be used in the future.

Policy 4.1.4
Provision should be made to ensure that material used to create and form a reclamation, or material sited on a reclamation, in land of the Crown in the coastal marine area, does not include contaminants which are likely to, or have the potential to, adversely affect the coastal marine area.

Policy 4.1.5
Regional coastal plans should make provision for use of the coastal marine area for Defence Purposes. Defence

4.2—Taking Into Account the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi) in Land of the Crown in the Coastal Marine Area

Policy 4.2.1
All persons exercising functions and powers under the Act in relation to land of the Crown in the coastal marine area shall recognise and facilitate the special relationship between the Crown and the tangata whenua as established by the Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi).

Policy 4.2.2
All persons exercising functions and powers under the Act in relation to land of the Crown in the coastal marine area should follow these general guidelines:

(a) take into account the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi;

(b) make provision for consultation with tangata whenua which is early, meaningful and on-going, and which is as far as practicable in accordance with tikanga Maori;

(c) have regard to any relevant planning document recognised by the appropriate iwi authority;

(d) where appropriate, involve iwi authorities and tangata whenua in the preparation of plans and policy statements, in recognition of the relationship of Maori and their culture and traditions with their ancestral lands; and

(e) where practicable, and with the consent of the tangata whenua, incorporate in policy statements and plans and in the consideration of applications for resource consents, Maori customary knowledge about the coastal environment, in accordance with tikanga Maori.

CHAPTER 5—THE MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED IN ANY OR ALL REGIONAL COASTAL PLANS IN REGARD TO THE PRESERVATION OF THE NATURAL CHARACTER OF THE COASTAL ENVIRONMENT, INCLUDING THE SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH THE MINISTER OF CONSERVATION WILL DECIDE RESOURCE CONSENTS

5.1 Maintenance and Enhancement of Water Quality

Policy 5.1.1
Rules should be made as soon as possible with the object of enhancing water quality in the coastal environment (including aquifers) where that is desirable to assist in achieving the purpose of the Act, and in particular where:

(a) there is a high public interest in, or use of the water;