Getting ready for consent renewal

If your consent expires within the next two years, it’s a good idea to start planning for this now.

Since your last consent application, there have been some regulatory changes. This means you'll probably need to provide more information than you have in the past.

We therefore recommend that you check your consent renewal date. If it expires within the next two years, start thinking about what information you may need to collect and whether you need a consultant to help with your application.

Two years may seem like a long time, but if you need technical science reports and/or to consult with your neighbours, tāngata whenua (Ngāi Tahu), users of the same water source, or interest groups such as Fish & Game New Zealand, a long lead-in is needed.

Before starting your resource consent application, familiarise yourself with the application process, rules, fees and how to engage an environmental consultant. 

Act early to avoid consequences 

Consents must be lodged six months before the expiry date for you to gain continuance under Section 124 (S124) of the Resource Management Act (RMA).

Section 124 continuance allows you to continue operating if your consent expires and we’re still processing the new consent application.

If you don’t get Section 124 continuance, there could be serious consequences for your business. For example, if your activity is related to water take or use in an over-allocated catchment, you may not be able to continue the activities covered by your consent.

Please note that your application needs to be in the same name as in your expiring consent. If you want a different name, first transfer the existing consent into the new name then lodge the new application.

Pre-application: what do you need to know? 

Consent renewals are unique to each application, depending on the activity’s scale and significance. Key factors include the type of consent, the state of the environment, and - for water take renewals - the current water allocation in your district.

By discussing your proposal with us through our pre-application service, we can evaluate the potential environmental effects of your activities.

How do I get the most out of the pre-application service? 

To ensure a smooth process, start your application early and provide thorough, high-quality information. This helps us process the renewal efficiently and keep costs down.

If you’re working with a consultant, we recommend preparing a planning rule and desktop assessment to identify key issues and questions arising from your proposal. This should include a draft assessment of environmental effects, which allows pre-application advice to focus on areas where you need most help. Bringing a list of questions or having technical elements reviewed beforehand also helps.

Between our duty planner and pre-application services, we can offer advice on:

• types of resource consents needed 
• required supporting information 
• groups who should be consulted 
• application process 
• review of technical reports or assessments required 
• review of draft applications 
• feasibility of your proposal. 

What it will cost

The first hour of our pre-application service is free. Please note that tasks such as preparing or reviewing relevant information, preliminary meetings, emails or phone calls, as well as administrative tasks, will be included in this time. After the first hour, we will charge for this service.  For information on our fees and charges, visit the consenting section on our website. 

Contact us

Questions? Our advisory team can put you in touch with our duty planner, please phone 0800 324 636 or email ecinfo@ecan.govt.nz.