14 APRIL 2011 NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 51 1183

F INCORPORATING PROVISIONS FOR SMALL AND COMMUNITY-SCALE RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY GENERATION ACTIVITIES INTO REGIONAL POLICY STATEMENTS AND REGIONAL AND DISTRICT PLANS

POLICY F

As part of giving effect to Policies E1 to E4, regional policy statements and regional and district plans shall include objectives, policies, and methods (including rules within plans) to provide for the development, operation, maintenance and upgrading of small and community-scale distributed renewable electricity generation from any renewable energy source to the extent applicable to the region or district.

G ENABLING IDENTIFICATION OF RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY GENERATION POSSIBILITIES

POLICY G

Regional policy statements and regional and district plans shall include objectives, policies, and methods (including rules within plans) to provide for activities associated with the investigation, identification and assessment of potential sites and energy sources for renewable electricity generation by existing and prospective generators.

H TIME WITHIN WHICH IMPLEMENTATION IS REQUIRED

POLICY H1

Unless already provided for within the relevant regional policy statement or proposed regional policy statement, regional councils shall give effect to Policies A, B, C, D, E, F and G by notifying using Schedule 1 of the Act, a change or variation (whichever applies) within 24 months of the date on which this national policy statement takes effect.

POLICY H2

Unless already provided for within the relevant regional or district plans or proposed plans, plan changes or variations, local authorities shall give effect to Policies A, B, C, D, E, F and G by notifying using Schedule 1 of the Act, a change or variation (whichever applies) within the following timeframes:

(a) Where the relevant regional policy statement or proposed regional policy statement already provides for the Policies, 24 months of the date on which this national policy statement takes effect; or

(b) where a change or variation to the regional policy statement or proposed regional policy statement is required by Policy H1, 12 months of the date on which the change or variation becomes operative.

MONITORING AND REVIEWING THE IMPLEMENTATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE NATIONAL POLICY STATEMENT

To monitor and review the implementation and effectiveness of this national policy statement in achieving the purpose of the Act, the Minister for the Environment should:

• in collaboration with local authorities and relevant government agencies collect data for, and, as far as practicable, incorporate district and regional monitoring information into a nationally consistent monitoring and reporting programme, including monitoring the performance of local authorities against the timeframes for giving effect to this national policy statement;

• utilise other information gathered or monitored that assists in measuring progress towards the Government’s national target for the generation of electricity from renewable sources;

• within five years of its taking effect, and thereafter as considered necessary, assess the effect of this national policy statement on relevant regional policy statements and regional or district plans, resource consents and other decision-making; and

• publish a report and conclusions on matters above.

REBECCA KITTERIDGE, Clerk of the Executive Council.

Explanatory Note

This note is not part of the national policy statement but is intended to indicate its general effect.

This national policy statement takes effect 28 days after the date of its issue by notice in the New Zealand Gazette.
It recognises renewable electricity generation activities and the benefits of renewable electricity generation as matters of national significance under the Resource Management Act 1991.

This national policy statement is to be applied by all persons exercising powers and functions under the Act. The objective and policies are intended to guide applicants and decision-makers on applications for resource consent, in making decisions on the notification and determination of resource consent applications, in considering a requirement for a designation or a heritage order, in considering an application for a water conservation order and when exercising other powers as required by the Act. Regional policy statements, regional plans and district plans must give effect to this national policy statement.

This national policy statement requires regional councils, unless they have already provided for renewable electricity generation activities, to give effect to its provisions by notifying changes to existing or proposed regional policy statements within 24 months of the date on which it takes effect. In the case of district plans, proposed plans or variations, local authorities are required to give effect to its provisions by notifying changes within the following timeframes: 24 months of the date on which this national policy statement takes effect where the regional policy statement or proposed regional policy statement already provides for the policies; or, where a change or variation to the regional policy statement or proposed regional policy statement is required, within 12 months of the date on which the change or variation becomes operative.

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