1632 NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 58 13 MARCH 2008

Act means the Resource Management Act 1991.

decision-makers means all persons exercising functions and
powers under the Act.

electricity transmission network, electricity transmission
and transmission activities / assets / infrastructure /
resources / system all mean part of the national grid of
transmission lines and cables (aerial, underground and
undersea, including the high-voltage direct current link),
stations and sub-stations and other works used to connect
grid injection points and grid exit points to convey
electricity throughout the North and South Islands of
New Zealand.

national environmental standard means a standard
prescribed by regulations made under the Act.

national grid means the assets used or owned by
Transpower NZ Limited.

sensitive activities includes schools, residential buildings
and hospitals.

4. MATTER OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE

The matter of national significance to which this national
policy statement applies is the need to operate, maintain,
develop and upgrade the electricity transmission network.

5. OBJECTIVE

To recognise the national significance of the electricity
transmission network by facilitating the operation,
maintenance and upgrade of the existing transmission
network and the establishment of new transmission
resources to meet the needs of present and future
generations, while:

● managing the adverse environmental effects of the
network; and

● managing the adverse effects of other activities on the
network.

6. RECOGNITION OF THE NATIONAL BENEFITS
   OF TRANSMISSION

POLICY 1

In achieving the purpose of the Act, decision-makers must
recognise and provide for the national, regional and local
benefits of sustainable, secure and efficient electricity
transmission. The benefits relevant to any particular project
or development of the electricity transmission network may
include:

(i) maintained or improved security of supply of
electricity; or

(ii) efficient transfer of energy through a reduction of
transmission losses; or

(iii) the facilitation of the use and development of new
electricity generation, including renewable generation
which assists in the management of the effects of
climate change; or

(iv) enhanced supply of electricity through the removal
of points of congestion.

The above list of benefits is not intended to be exhaustive
and a particular policy, plan, project or development may
have or recognise other benefits.

7. MANAGING THE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
   OF TRANSMISSION

POLICY 2

In achieving the purpose of the Act, decision-makers must
recognise and provide for the effective operation,
maintenance, upgrading and development of the electricity
transmission network.

POLICY 3

When considering measures to avoid, remedy or mitigate
adverse environmental effects of transmission activities,
decision-makers must consider the constraints imposed on

achieving those measures by the technical and operational
requirements of the network.

POLICY 4

When considering the environmental effects of new
transmission infrastructure or major upgrades of existing
transmission infrastructure, decision-makers must have
regard to the extent to which any adverse effects have been
avoided, remedied or mitigated by the route, site and method
selection.

POLICY 5

When considering the environmental effects of transmission
activities associated with transmission assets, decision-makers
must enable the reasonable operational, maintenance and
minor upgrade requirements of established electricity
transmission assets.

POLICY 6

Substantial upgrades of transmission infrastructure should
be used as an opportunity to reduce existing adverse effects
of transmission including such effects on sensitive activities
where appropriate.

POLICY 7

Planning and development of the transmission system
should minimise adverse effects on urban amenity and
avoid adverse effects on town centres and areas of high
recreational value or amenity and existing sensitive activities.

POLICY 8

In rural environments, planning and development of the
transmission system should seek to avoid adverse effects
on outstanding natural landscapes, areas of high natural
character and areas of high recreation value and amenity and
existing sensitive activities.

POLICY 9

Provisions dealing with electric and magnetic fields
associated with the electricity transmission network
must be based on the International Commission on
Non-Ionising Radiation Protection Guidelines for limiting
exposure to time varying electric magnetic fields (up to 300
GHz) (Health Physics, 1998, 74(4): 494–522) and
recommendations from the World Health Organisation
monograph Environment Health Criteria (No. 328, June
2007) or revisions thereof and any applicable New Zealand
standards or national environmental standards.

8. MANAGING THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF THIRD
   PARTIES ON THE TRANSMISSION NETWORK

POLICY 10

In achieving the purpose of the Act, decision-makers
must to the extent reasonably possible manage activities to
avoid reverse sensitivity effects on the electricity transmission
network and to ensure that operation, maintenance,
upgrading, and development of the electricity transmission
network is not compromised.

POLICY 11

Local authorities must consult with the operator of the
national grid, to identify an appropriate buffer corridor
within which it can be expected that sensitive activities will
generally not be provided for in plans and/or given resource
consent. To assist local authorities to identify these corridors,
they may request the operator of the national grid to provide
local authorities with its medium to long-term plans for
the alteration or upgrading of each affected section of the
national grid (so as to facilitate the long-term strategic
planning of the grid).

9. MAPS

POLICY 12

Territorial authorities must identify the electricity
transmission network on their relevant planning maps
whether or not the network is designated.