Craw, Jean2010-12-091998https://hdl.handle.net/10182/2994There are various social effects on people resulting from implementing new concepts and rules arising out of the Resource Management Act 1991. Rural residents are often closer to the effects of change than many other sectors of society. This research responds to conflict situations created by instrumental weaknesses within the Act. The issue of dairy farm effluent disposal in the Selwyn District was used as a test case to reveal some of these weaknesses. In order to do this, known conflict situations involving existing operations and effluent disposal activities were identified and explored with regard to regional and district policies and processes. The focus of the research was on social issues influencing and reflecting participant behaviours relative to implementation of regulatory requirements. Global influences arising out of the politics of trade, consumerism and environmentalism are discussed. The field, at both the global and local levels, is a topical issue for analytical research of rural communities and the natural environment. It questions whether all sectors of society responsible for water quality/degradation receive equitable attention from enforcement authorities. There is a strong emphasis on the social aspect of sustainable land management policies at the local, national and international levels.enResource Management Actrural sociologysustainable land managementenvironmental policyCanterbury Regional CouncilSelwyn District CouncilThesisQ112851011