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• Review of the Provision

National Policy Statements (NPSs) and National Environmental Standards (NESs) are mechanisms for providing national policy guidance to local authorities on matters of national significance.

As part of the 2004 review of the Resource Management Act [link to MfE website], Cabinet invited the Minister for the Environment and the Minister for Economic Development to consider NPSs and NESs for the infrastructural issues to improve expression of the national interest [link to MfE website]:

For each infrastructure issue, it is generally proposed that a reference group be set up, comprising relevant departments and key stakeholder groups, to:

• Develop a detailed outline of what the proposed NPS would cover (and not cover);
• Confirm whether an NPS appears likely to be beneficial; and
• Identify and scope related National Environmental Standards.

• Scoping a National Policy Statement on Electricity Generation
  Consideration of an NPS for electricity generation is currently underway. The Electricity Generation Reference Group will post regular information sheets on this page to keep stakeholders informed of their progress.
• Scoping a National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission
  Consideration of an NPS and NESs for electricity transmission is currently underway. The Electricity Transmission Reference Group has released its draft report for public consultation. Comments on the draft report are invited by 5pm 28 February 2006.
• Review of the Provision for the National Benefits of Infrastructure
  In December the Ministry commissioned Beca Carter Hollings & Ferner Ltd to undertake a Stocktake and Analysis of Regional and District Plans and Policy Statements. A report was completed in June 2005.