This interactive and informative course will give you a solid understanding of the RMA and your role in its implementation, enabling you to be confident and effective communicators and decision-makers.
There are many ways you might come into contact with the RMA as representatives of your communities. For instance, by contributing to decision-making on resource consent applications; making, reviewing and varying district plans; or enforcement matters and complaints. The scale and complexity of the issues and processes involved in RMA decision-making can vary widely, as can the degree to which people in your local communities may be impacted and involved.
Focus
In the workshop, you will focus on:
- What is the RMA, and what is it meant to do?
- How, where and why you may become directly involved with the RMA.
- Key RMA documents and their relationship to each other.
- How RMA plans intersect with other council documents, such as long term plans and annual plans.
- Key RMA processes, including resource consents, plan making, and designations.
- How the RMA and building consent processes interact.
- How your community may get involved in RMA processes.
- RMA terminology 101.
- The importance of asking questions in RMA processes.
- What’s on the horizon – expected changes to the RMA and how they may affect your council and communities.
- What can happen if you don’t get it right.
- Share stories about the RMA.
Target Audience
We recommend this workshop to elected members:
- Of all ranges of experience and background, from first termers through to accredited RMA commissioners;
- Who are interested in local environmental and planning issues;
- Who may be considering undertaking the accreditation programme to become a planning commissioner.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this workshop you will be able to:
- Outline the key elements of the RMA in respect to the local government planning framework;
- Review RMA processes that you may encounter as an elected member;
- Describe how local RMA documents fit within other RMA policy, and plans and strategies developed under other Acts (such as the Local Government Act).
- Participate effectively and appropriately at a governance level when RMA matters are in front of you; and
- Display confidence when talking about RMA matters with fellow councillors, council staff and members of your communities.
