Coastal land development
Roles and responsibilities in the coastal environment under legislation other than the RMA
Department of Conservation
In addition to the RMA, the Department of Conservation is responsible for administering a number of statutes relevant to the coastal environment. This includes the Conservation Act 1987, the Reserves Act 1977, the Marine Reserves Act 1971, the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978, the Wildlife Act 1953 and the National Parks Act 1990.
Land Information New Zealand
Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) is responsible for providing New Zealand's authoritative land and seabed information. In completing this function LINZ is responsible for:
- national topographic mapping at 1:50,000 to 1:4,000,000 scales, which is available for defence, emergency services and government purposes
- providing official hydrographic information for navigational purposes, as the National Hydrographic Authority. This includes navigational charts, nautical information and notices to mariners.
Maritime New Zealand
Maritime New Zealand is a Crown entity, whose objectives and requirements are set out in the Maritime Transport Act (1994). Its focus is to ensure that the maritime environment is safe, secure and clean for all its users, and that it stays that way well into the future.
Ministry for the Environment
The Ministry for the Environment was established under the Environment Act 1986 and is the principal central government adviser on environmental sustainability and international matters that affect the environment. In relation to the coastal environment the Ministry has drafted the Exclusive Economic Zone Environmental Effects Bill. This legislation will help safeguard the integrity of New Zealand 's ocean ecosystems in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) by bringing in new mechanisms to monitor and manage the environmental effects of activities in the EEZ.
See current Oceans work on the Ministry's for the Environment website for more information.
Ministry of Economic Development
The Ministry of Economic Development is responsible for the Crown Minerals Act 1991. The Crown Minerals Act applies to minerals on or under the surface of 'land ', which includes land covered by water, including the foreshore and seabed to the outer limits of the Territorial Sea. The Crown has total ownership of defined minerals in the Territorial Sea.
Ministry of Fisheries
The Ministry of Fisheries is legislated under the Fisheries Acts 1983 and 1996 to:
- advise the Government on the development of fisheries policies
- develop laws to manage fisheries
- administer the Quota Management System that regulates New Zealand commercial fishing activity
- promote fishing practice that is within fisheries laws
- give effect to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi as they relate to fisheries.
Ministry of Justice
The Ministry of Justice administers the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004 and has a lead role in its implementation, particularly as the principal Crown agency in direct negotiations with claimants. The Attorney General, Minister of Maori Affairs and the Minister of Conversation all exercise functions under the Foreshore and Seabed Act.
New Zealand Historic Places Trust
The New Zealand Historic Places Trust Pouhere Taonga is a charitable trust established by an Act of Parliament in 1954. It implements the Historic Places Act 1993 (HPA) and is the consenting authority for activities relating to archaeological sites. The HPA also empowers the Trust to operate a national register of historic places, historic areas, wahi tapu and wahi tapu areas.
