Notice of Requirement

The Resource Management Act 1991 allows for areas of land to be designated for public use, for things like roads, telecommunications facilities and schools.

Once land is ‘designated’ in the district plan, this also provides the land use authorisations needed for that work under the Resource Management Act 1991. If a Crown authority wants land designated for a particular purpose, it must submit a Notice of Requirement for a new designation to the local authority. This is similar to applying for resource consent.

Because Te Ahu a Turanga highway involves building a new road in a new location, a designation was needed to secure RMA approvals and to provide certainty as to where the new road was needed.

In May 2019 a hearing panel with representatives from Palmerston North City Council, Tararua District Council and Manawatū District Council recommended the Notice of Requirement with modifications following the outcome of the submissions and hearings process.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency confirmed the requirements with some changes in June 2019, but this was the appealed to the Environment Court by the Department of Conservation, the Queen Elizabeth II Trust and private land owners who ultimately withdrew their appeals. The Environment Court confirmed the notices of requirement for a new designation on 27 March 2020.

Here are the documents that make up the Notice of Requirement consent application:

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency decision – Notice of Requirement (NoR)

Decision of Waka Kotahi in relation to the Notices of Requirement relating to Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway Project.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency evidence – Notice of Requirement (NoR)

More information on the Palmerston North City Council website(external link)

Pre-hearing meetings report

NoR for designations

Lodged 2 November 2018