Transport investments and activities have a long-lasting impact on people, places and the planet. At Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency our role is to ensure that transport decisions made today are sustainable in the long term and meet the needs of current and future generations.
Our environmental and social responsibilities are informed by the Land Transport Management Act 2003, the Resource Management Act 1991, and a range of other statutes and regulations.
Our guiding environmental and social legislation and policy
The LTMA provides the legal framework for managing and funding land transport activities. The purpose of the LTMA is to contribute to an effective, efficient, and safe land transport system in the public interest. Section 96 (1)(a) requires that Waka Kotahi exhibits a sense of social and environmental responsibility.
Land Transport Management Act 2003
Our Environmental and Social Responsibility (ESR) Policy guides how we will exhibit a sense of social and environmental responsibility when decisions are made.
Environmental and Social Responsibility Policy [PDF, 129 KB]
The ESR policy provides the overarching mandate for Z/19 Taumata Taiao – Environmental and Sustainability Standard. Taumata Taiao consists of tools, guides and policies that guide the design, delivery and management of transport infrastructure activities.
Z/19 Taumata Taiao – Environmental and Sustainability Standard
Our environmental and social responsibilities are guided by legislation, external and internal strategies, policies and frameworks, and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with other organisations.
The RMA promotes sustainable development by managing the use, development and protection of natural and physical resources in a way, or at a rate, that enables people and communities to provide for their social, economic and cultural wellbeing and for their health and safety. Waka Kotahi has a duty to avoid, remedy or mitigate adverse environmental effects from its activities.
Resource Management Act 1991(external link)
Waka Kotahi is also subject to a number of other statutes which influence how we meet our social and environmental responsibilities including:
To ensure our environmental statutory requirements are managed in a robust, user-friendly and transparent manner, we use a legal compliance system.
Consenting and consent compliance
