Environmental and Resource Management Law

Environmental and resource management law is a major component of legal practice. It is also relevant to the work of many other professions, those engaged in industry or working in central or local government and community groups. A key factor in the development of the law was the introduction of two pieces of legislation - the Resource Management Act 1991, and the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996. Both Acts have been amended frequently since their enactment. Other legislation and central government initiatives continue to affect practice in the field. Examples include actions taken under the Climate Change Response Act 2002 and the enactment of the Environmental Protection Authority Act 2011; the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011; the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Act 2012; and the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014. The Courts, including the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, have issued decisions influencing the interpretation and application of our environmental laws in a significant manner.

This book is intended primarily for legal practitioners and other people working in the environmental and resource management law field, but will also be useful for students, since it covers the same ground as many environmental and resource management law courses taught in New Zealand universities and other educational institutions.