(Section 13 of the RPS)

Regulatory methods will enable a certain amount of control over actions that may cause adverse environmental effects. However, changes in attitudes to resource use and in the behaviour of large sections of the community are needed if the quality of Northland's environment is to be maintained or enhanced long term. Involving the community in setting directions for the future of the region's resources ensures that resource management objectives take into account both the community's need to use resources, and the need to maintain and enhance environmental quality.

The RMA provides considerable scope for individual and community involvement in resource management. Councils generally consult widely when preparing policies and plans, and are required to consider methods other than regulation to address resource management issues. Councils must also notify those people likely to be directly affected by proposed policies, plans, or resource consent applications. There are provisions in the RMA which enable councils to appoint people from the community on to committees hearing resource consent applications.

Community involvement also extends to monitoring and enforcement. Communities (and individuals) have an important role to play in reporting pollution related incidents and the monitoring of consent conditions.

Anticipated Outcomes

Not stated for this section. This section contains policy related to resource management procedures and processes rather than policy relating to the use, development and protection of resources and therefore does not have anticipated environmental outcomes.

Policy Mix

The objectives for the community involvement section are:

· The informed participation of the community in the management of the natural and physical resources of the region.

· Individual and community stewardship of the natural and physical resources of the region.

· Greater public awareness and understanding of Maori cultural and spiritual values associated with natural and physical resources.

The policy approach for the education section (Policy 13.4 (a)) is to inform resource users of the environmental effects of their activities and to inform people of the significance of Maori cultural and spiritual values and associated environmental perspectives.

The policy approach for the consultation section (Policy 13.4 (b)) is to ensure that appropriate consultation is undertaken when preparing resource management policies, plans related work programmes, and codes of practice.

The approach for involvement in implementation (Policy 13.4 (c)) is to investigate and promote opportunities for involvement in decision-making, monitoring and policy implementation. The policy approach for the consent process is to encourage all applicants to consult and to ensure that notified applications are available for public inspection.

The community involvement management section contains nine individual methods of implementation that flow from the policy direction discussed above.

What has worked well in this section?

Environmental education initiatives such as stormwater and earthworks seminars and the coast care position within NRC are working well. The enviro-schools project is also working successfully. There is regular informal engagement with the community through staff interaction, field days, boat shows and public meetings on issues such as the priority rivers project.

Consultation is undertaken well for the development of draft resource management plans. A positive result of the circulation of resource consent applications by councils is that it assists in education about the council/resource consent process.

What has not worked in this section?

There is no doubt that this is an area that can always be improved and work is on-going to enable genuine partnerships and involvement of the community in resource management.

Informing people of the significance of Maori cultural and spiritual values and associated environmental perspectives has not been undertaken through specific projects or initiatives but other documents, such as the LTCCP, have significant sections on cultural and spiritual values.

General comments on this section:

This section does appear to rely quite heavily on the assumption that providing information results in behaviour change. It would be useful to undertake some specific analysis of the effectiveness of education campaigns and identify any resulting behaviour change from those campaigns.

Is this section Efficient and Effective?

On face value it appears that this section has been effective and almost all of the provisions have been implemented. However, in terms of actually involving the community in resource management, this section does not actually achieve anything greater than that which is required under the provisions of the RMA. It has been successful in achieving the purpose of the RMA but not effective in involving the wider community in resource management. The NRC directs a significant amount of effort at community education and involvement but unfortunately there is not currently any direct evidence to confirm the assumptions that the education campaigns are effective and are providing for community involvement and are resulting in behaviour change.

Emerging Issues for this section?

The RMA has been amended in regard to the rights of interested and affected parties and the requirements for consultation. There is now more emphasis on consultation associated with plan preparation and non-statutory consultation. There is no duty on applicants for resource consent applications to consult anyone under the RMA.

Partnerships with organisations such as the NZ Landcare Trust should also be supported through this section.

Conclusions

There is a general lack of knowledge with regards to the role, function and purpose of the RPS amongst the community. There is a need for local authorities to continually come up with innovative methods to engage their communities in order to achieve better and more wide-spread engagement and buy in to resource management matters. It is considered that this section could achieve more than just what is required under the RMA as community involvement should be about genuine partnerships and working together.