Implementing the national policy statement on urban development

Guidance for councils

Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga - The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) have developed guidance to support councils with jurisdiction over urban environments across New Zealand to meet the requirements of the NPS-UD.

NPS-UD implementation guidance , opens in a new window

Fact sheets and guidance on what the NPS-UD does and why it is needed.

environment.govt.nz
Urban development dashboard

The urban development dashboard provides a range of market and price efficiency indicators that help Councils to understand how their local markets are responding to growth.
NPS UDC development feasibility tool

A model for estimating the feasibility of land of land or building development in local areas.
Tagged with:
- Resource
- Urban development
Excel, 1.1 MB

HUD and MfE have ongoing engagement with councils to provide support on specific areas of implementation and will issue further guidance where a need is identified.

Please note that guidance is for information purposes only and does not have statutory weight.

Implementation timeline

Every tier 1, 2 and 3 council must amend its regional policy statement or district plan to give effect to the provisions of the NPS-UD as soon as practicable. In addition, some policies have specific requirements. The following table shows the timelines for local authorities to meet the requirements.

Initial implementation

Deadline	NPS-UD requirement
Initial implementation
20 August 2020	The NPS-UD comes into force, replacing the NPS-UDC. All objectives apply.
By 31 July 2021	Tier 1 and 2 councils have completed the housing assessment aspect of the new HBAs
Not later than 20 February 2022 (18 months after commencement date)	Tier 1, 2 and 3 councils have removed provisions in plans relating to minimum parking rates
Not later than 20 August 2022 (Two years after commencement date)	Tier 1 and 2 councils have notified plan changes implementing intensification policies Tier 1 councils do this with the incorporation of the MDRS under the Resource Management Act 1991.
As soon as practicable	Tier 1, 2 and 3 councils have amended their regional policy statements and district plans to give effect to the NPS-UD. Tier 3 councils have notified plan changes implementing intensification policies
In time to inform 2024 long-term plans	Tier 1 and 2 councils have completed HBA Tier 1 and 2 councils have prepared or reviewed FDSs

Ongoing timeframes

Quarterly	Tier 1, 2 and 3 councils must monitor housing indicators Tier 1 councils must also monitor development uptake in medium- and high-density zones
At least annually	Tier 1, 2 and 3 councils must publish the results of their monitoring
As soon as practicable and within 12 months of publishing the relevant monitoring report	Tier 1 councils evaluate zone rules, where uptake is not meeting the development outcomes anticipated and notify plan changes if required
Every three years	Tiers 1 and 2 update HBA to inform FDS, long term plan, infrastructure strategies Tiers 1 and 2 update FDSs
Every six years	Tiers 1 and 2 prepare new FDS

Urban environments

Tier 1 urban environments

Auckland (Auckland Council)
Christchurch (Canterbury Regional Council, Christchurch City Council, Selwyn District Council and Waimakariri District Council)
Wellington (Wellington Regional Council, Wellington City Council, Porirua City Council, Hutt City Council, Upper Hutt City Council, Kāpiti Coast District Council)
Tauranga (Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council)
Hamilton (Waikato Regional Council, Hamilton City Council, Waikato District Council and Waipa District Council).

Tier 2 urban environments

Whangārei (Northland Regional Council, Whangārei District Council)
Rotorua (Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Rotorua District Council)
New Plymouth (Taranaki Regional Council, New Plymouth District Council
Napier-Hastings (Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Napier City Council and Hastings District Council)
Palmerston North (Manawatū-Whanganui Regional Council and Palmerston North City Council)
Nelson Tasman (Nelson City Council, Tasman District Council)
Queenstown (Otago Regional Council, Queenstown Lakes District Council)
Dunedin (Otago Regional Council and Dunedin City Council).

Tier 3 urban environments

All other local authorities with jurisdiction over an “urban environment” are also required to comply with the NPS-UD.
An “urban environment” is defined in the NPS-UD as “any area of land (regardless of size, and irrespective of local authority or statistical boundaries) that: (a) is, or is intended to be, predominantly urban in character; and (b)  is, or is intended to be, part of a housing and labour market of at least 10,000 people”.