The Minister for the Environment may direct a matter to a board of inquiry or the Environment Court if it is, or is part of, a proposal of national significance.When making the decision, the Minister can take into account any relevant factor as set out in section 142 of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). The Minister may
consider whether the matter:
- has aroused widespread public concern or interest regarding its actual or likely effect on the environment, including the global environment
- involves or is likely to involve significant use of natural and physical resources
- affects or is likely to affect a structure, feature, place, or area of national significance
- affects or is likely to affect or is relevant to New Zealand's international obligations to the global environment
- results or is likely to result in or contribute to significant or irreversible changes to the environment, including the global environment
- involves or is likely to involve technology, processes, or methods that are new to New Zealand and that may affect its environment
- is or is likely to be significant in terms of the Treaty of Waitangi
- will assist the Government in fulfilling its public health, welfare, security, or safety obligations or functions
- affects or is likely to affect more than one region or district
- relates to a network utility operation that extends or is proposed to extend to more than one district or region.