“(1) This section sets out the general scheme and effect of this Part. This section is by way of explanation only and does not limit or affect the other provisions of this Part or this Act.
“(2) This Part provides the Minister with specific powers (known as call in powers) in relation to applications for resource consents, applications for changes to or cancellation of resource consent conditions, local authority plan changes or variations, requests for plan changes, requests for the preparation of regional plans, and notices of requirement that are or are part of a proposal of national significance.
“(3) If exercised by the Minister, these powers set in motion one of 2 procedures by which the application, request, or notice (the matter) is decided. Instead of the normal procedures set out in the Act, either a board of inquiry or the Environment Court decides the matter. A decision by a board of inquiry or the Environment Court may be challenged only by an appeal to the High Court on a question of law. If that decision is challenged, a further appeal may be taken to the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeal on a question of law, but only with the leave of the Supreme Court.
“(4) There are 3 ways in which a matter may come to the Minister for his or her decision on whether to call in the matter. The Minister may act on his or her own initiative. The Minister may receive a request to call in a matter that has been lodged with a local authority, from the local authority, or the applicant, or the Minister may receive a recommendation from the Environmental Protection Authority to call in a matter lodged with the EPA.
“(5) If the Minister decides not to call in a matter, the matter will be processed by the local authority that, in the normal course of the Act, would be responsible for dealing with it. However, the Minister may still intervene in the process, for example, by making a submission on the matter for the Crown, appointing a project co-ordinator to advise the local authority on any thing relating to the matter, or appointing an additional hearings commissioner.