The time taken to prepare a CIA will depend on the scale and nature of the proposed activity, what stage in the consent process the assessment is undertaken and the time and resources available to the iwi/hapū carrying out the work.
CIAs prepared for large or complex projects may take 6 months or more to prepare (e.g. a proposed wind farm or hydroelectric scheme). A CIA for a smaller scale activity may take only a few weeks to prepare.
The time frame for preparing the CIA is an important part of the terms of reference and needs to be incorporated into the project formulation and application process. Timing may be affected by the frequency of meetings of the iwi/hapū group (for obtaining a mandate and, later, sign off) or other community events of cultural significance and priority. Some flexibility in timing expectations is therefore recommended.
