(1) The Minister must follow the steps set out in subsection (2) before recommending the making of a national environmental standard to the Governor-General. Subsection (3) modifies this subsection.
(2) The steps are—
(a) to notify the public and iwi authorities of—
(i) the proposed subject matter of the standard; and
(ii) the Minister's reasons for considering that the standard is consistent with the purpose of the Act; and
(b) to establish a process that—
(i) the Minister considers gives the public and iwi authorities adequate time and opportunity to comment on the proposed subject matter of the standard; and
(ii) requires a report and recommendation to be made to the Minister on those comments and the proposed subject matter of the standard; and
(c) to publicly notify the report and recommendation.
(3) The Minister need not follow the steps if the Minister is recommending the making of an amendment—
(a) that has no more than a minor effect; or
(b) that corrects errors or makes similar technical alterations.
Section 44: replaced, on 1 October 2009, by section 45 of the Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 31).