From:
Jim McLeod
Date:
Dec 02 14:54 NZDT
Short link
Many Regional Councils are gearing up to review their Regional Policy
Statements (RPS) - documents required by the RMA. These policies identify
the resource issues, objectives, policies, methods and expected
environmental results.
Under guidance from MfE and arguments from District and City Councils,
Regional Councils are leaning towards the idea that management of resource
information is actually an administrative matter and therefore isn't an
issue that needs to be mentioned in their RPS's. This would mean that
resource information became solely an issue to be considered under the Local
Government Act and the Local Government Official Information and Meetings
Act. This is different to the approach in say the Crown Minerals Act which
makes special mention of resource information and data.
There are some reasons to argue that in fact management of resource
information is as critical as the management of the natural resource.
However, advocates for this view are few.
I am interested to hear whether there are any thoughts on whether people
consider this to be an issue, and if so what the options might be.