https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/massey/oai:mro.massey.ac.nz:10179/5543
type: CreativeWork
name: Public participation in New Zealand regional councils : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philososphy in Resource and Environmental Planning at Massey University, New Zealand
description: In 1989 and 1991, the New Zealand Parliament enacted legislation which reformed local government structure and planning processes. Inherent in these statutes are, among other things, the strengthening of regional councils and the prescription of opportunities for active public participation in the decision-making process. To explore the impact of these legislative mandates, it was felt that the philosophy and practice of public participation in New Zealand regional councils should be analyzed. This study, therefore, sets out to critically examine the philosophies of public participation held by decision-makers in regional councils; establish the relationships between these philosophies and the actual practice of public participation; and assess the effectiveness of participatory processes adopted. A two-fold approach was adopted towards meeting the study goal and objectives. Firstly, in-depth case studies of the participatory activities adopted by two Regional Councils were undertaken. Thus, the strategies adopted by the Taranaki Regional Council and the Hawke's Bay Regional Council to involve the public in its annual planning process, regional policy statement development, and consents processing were examined. SpecificallY, for consent processing, an actual consent application process handled by each Council was studied. These concerned the discharge permit application of Egmont Tanneries Ltd., in Taranaki, and the renewal of the resource consents of Richmond (Takapau) Ltd. in Hawke's Bay. Through examination of council documents, interviews with council officers, and a survey of submitters and consents applicants, the overall public participation strategy for each Council was determined. It was observed that the Taranaki Regional Council had an overall program for public involvement, which was geared towards building sound public support for the council. The Hawke's Bay Regional Council was found wanting in terms of not having a public participation Programme. Ho…
abstract: In 1989 and 1991, the New Zealand Parliament enacted legislation which reformed local government structure and planning processes. Inherent in these statutes are, among other things, the strengthening of regional councils and the prescription of opportunities for active public participation in the decision-making process. To explore the impact of these legislative mandates, it was felt that the philosophy and practice of public participation in New Zealand regional councils should be analyzed. This study, therefore, sets out to critically examine the philosophies of public participation held by decision-makers in regional councils; establish the relationships between these philosophies and the actual practice of public participation; and assess the effectiveness of participatory processes adopted. A two-fold approach was adopted towards meeting the study goal and objectives. Firstly, in-depth case studies of the participatory activities adopted by two Regional Councils were undertaken. Thus, the strategies adopted by the Taranaki Regional Council and the Hawke's Bay Regional Council to involve the public in its annual planning process, regional policy statement development, and consents processing were examined. SpecificallY, for consent processing, an actual consent application process handled by each Council was studied. These concerned the discharge permit application of Egmont Tanneries Ltd., in Taranaki, and the renewal of the resource consents of Richmond (Takapau) Ltd. in Hawke's Bay. Through examination of council documents, interviews with council officers, and a survey of submitters and consents applicants, the overall public participation strategy for each Council was determined. It was observed that the Taranaki Regional Council had an overall program for public involvement, which was geared towards building sound public support for the council. The Hawke's Bay Regional Council was found wanting in terms of not having a public participation Programme. Ho…
author: Javison, Edgar L.
keywords: Regional council decision-making, Public participation, Decision-making, Taranaki Regional Council, Hawke's Bay Regional Council
date published: 1994
date modified: 2026-07-27T20:16:53Z
provider: Massey University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Massey University