Rural planning objectives and policies : an assessment of some common objectives and policies in New Zealand rural district planning

The statutory authorities and responsibilities of councils are summarised. A selection of general objectives is examined to clarify Interpretation, referring to decisions of Planning Tribunals and principles of resource management. Objectives include those in Section 4 and most of those in Section 3 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1977. A selection of major rural planning issues is outlined: subdivision; houses; farming uses. A selection of policies dealing with those issues is examined in terms of their effectiveness and justification in order to assist achievement of general objectives. Policies examined are: zoning; arbitrary standards; economic unit; management plan. Conclusions are that objectives are not well understood, policies sometimes have little justification and both objectives and policies need regular reappraisal in times of rapid social and economic changes