Regional planning involvement in notified applications for planning consent

Abstract

This study investigates one of the means available to regional planning authorities for seeking the implementation of regional policy. Regional involvement with planning applications is set in the context of the New Zealand statutory planning system and the relationships between district and. regional planning bodies are described. The judicial capacity of district councils in determining applications is discussed and the writer's concept of what regional objection means is outlined. Information from questionnaire responses received from established and new regional planning authorities is used to describe and analyse different formal and informal involvement practices. Procedures adopted to determine regional action are noted. The role of the Ministry of Works and Development in district scheme administration is examined. Some aspects of regional/district interaction in development control overseas are discussed. Finally some comments are made on considerations in defining appropriate regional roles in the determination of planning applications.