Appendix 1: Section 32 of the RMA
Section 32 - Consideration of alternatives, benefits and costs
(1) In achieving the purpose of this Act, before a proposed plan, proposed policy statement, change, or variation is publicly notified, a national policy statement or New Zealand coastal policy statement is notified under section 48, or a regulation is made, an evaluation must be carried out by-
(a) the Minister, for a national policy statement or regulations made under section 43; or
(b) the Minister of Conservation, for the New Zealand coastal policy statement; or
(c) the local authority, for a policy statement or a plan (except for plan changes that have been requested and the request accepted under clause 25(2)(b) of Part 2 of Schedule 1); or
(d) the person who made the request, for plan changes that have been requested and the request accepted under clause 25(2)(b) of Part 2 of the Schedule 1.
(2) A further evaluation must also be made by-
(a) a local authority before making a decision under clause 10 or clause 29(4) of the Schedule 1; and
(b) the relevant Minister before issuing a national policy statement or New Zealand coastal policy statement.
(3) An evaluation must examine-
(a) the extent to which each objective is the most appropriate way to achieve the purpose of this Act; and
(b) whether, having regard to their efficiency and effectiveness, the policies, rules, or other methods are the most appropriate for achieving the objectives.
(4) For the purposes of this examination, an evaluation must take into account-
(a) the benefits and costs of policies, rules, or other methods; and
(b) the risk of acting or not acting if there is uncertain or insufficient information about the subject matter of the policies, rules, or other methods.
(5) The person required to carry out an evaluation under subsection (1) must prepare a report summarising the evaluation and giving reasons for that evaluation.
(6) The report must be available for public inspection at the same time as the document to which the report relates is publicly notified or the regulation is made.
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