These regulations, which come into force on 14 April 2022, specify territorial authorities that are required to prepare and notify an intensification planning instrument (IPI). As made, these regulations specify only the Rotorua District Council, which is a tier 2 territorial authority for the purposes of the Resource Management Act 1991 (the Act). Other tier 2 or 3 territorial authorities may be specified in these regulations in the future.

An IPI is a change to a district plan or a variation to a proposed district plan that at least—

• incorporates the medium density residential standards set out in Schedule 3A of the Act; and

• in the case of a tier 2 or 3 territorial authority, gives effect to policy 5 of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020.

Under section 80F(1) and (2) of the Act, a tier 2 or 3 territorial authority must notify its IPI—

• on or before 20 August 2022, if it is a tier 2 territorial authority that is required to prepare and notify the IPI by regulations made before 21 March 2022; or

• on or before the date specified in regulations, in any other case.

Section 80F(3) of the Act sets out requirements for how a territorial authority must prepare its IPI.