The schemes are designed to help overcome barriers to participation under the Resource Management Act such as a lack of technical knowledge or funding. As the schemes are new, some refinements are likely. The fund is designed to assist environment, community, iwi and hapu groups to participate more effectively in the resource management process. The fund is not designed to increase the number of cases to the Environment Court, but simply to focus and strengthen cases that might otherwise suffer from being under resourced. An advisory panel appointed by the Secretary for the Environment will consider and make recommendations on applications for funding for legal action on a monthly basis.
Most laws work best when they are properly understood.
For that reason, the Government has made grants available to fund services and projects to better educate people about resource management in New Zealand. The next closing date for this fund is 31 August 2001. The final decision on success or failure of applications for funding of education and advisory services rests with the Ministry for the Environment. Where appropriate, the Ministry will seek guidance to help make decisions on funding priorities. A leaflet on these funds can be downloaded here Funding Legal action application form.