Published on the Ministry for the Environment website.
The main objective of this policy statement is to create well-functioning urban environments in New Zealand. Notable policy implications include:
- Intensification (Policies 1, 2, 4 & 5).
- Building heights of at least 6 stories in some Tier 1 urban environments (Policy 3).
- Significant changes to built form are not to be considered an adverse effect (Policy 6).
- Housing bottom lines (Policy 7).
- Responsive planning (Policy 8).
- Collaboration (Policies 9 and 10).
- No minimum car parking rate requirements (Policy 11).
Tier 1 and 2 local authorities are required to prepare both a Future Development Strategy (FDS) and Housing and Business Development Capacity Assessment (HBA). The Tier 1 and 2 urban environments and local authorities are:
| Auckland | Auckland Council |
| Hamilton | Waikato Regional Council; Hamilton City Council; Waikato and Waipā District Councils |
| Tauranga | Bay of Plenty Regional Council; Tauranga City Council; Western Bay of Plenty District Council |
| Wellington | Wellington Regional Council; Wellington, Porirua, Hutt and Upper Hutt City Councils; Kāpiti Coast District Council |
| Christchurch | Canterbury Regional Council; Christchurch City Council; Selwyn and Waimakariri District Councils |
| Whangārei | Northland Regional Council; Whangārei District Council |
| Rotorua | Bay of Plenty Regional Council; Rotorua District Council |
| New Plymouth | Taranaki Regional Council; New Plymouth District Council |
| Napier Hastings | Hawke’s Bay Regional Council; Napier City Council; Hastings District Council |
| Palmerston North | Manawatū-Whanganui Regional Council; Palmerston North City Council |
| Nelson Tasman | Nelson City Council; Tasman District Council |
| Queenstown | Otago Regional Council; Queenstown Lakes District Council |
| Dunedin | Otago Regional Council; Dunedin City Council |
Tier 3 local authorities are all other regional councils and territorial authorities not listed.