Figure 6. Hierarchy of planning instruments under the RMA

Text Description of Figure:

Figure 6 shows the hierarchy of RMA plans and documents. At the top are the national level documents and plans consisting of:

• National Policy Statements
• The New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement.
• National Environmental Standards
• Water Conservation Orders
• Regulations

On the second tier of the diagram are regional policy statements. As all the national level plans and documents can influence a regional policy statement, each of the national level documents are shown with direct link to it.

The third tier of the diagram contains regional plans and district plans. While regional plans and district plans may be prepared by different councils, they are of roughly equivalent importance and cannot be inconsistent with each other. Therefore a horizontal link is shown between the two. The regional policy statement can have a direct influence over both regional plans and district plans and is therefore shown with downwards linkages to both.

Under the district plan are show heritage orders and designations. Details of these are usually contained in district plans so are drawn below the district plan label in the diagram.