They may also produce plans for the management of the region's natural and physical resources, Territorial authorities have the main responsibility for the control of land use, including subdivision, and for the control of the surface of rivers and lakes. They must prepare district plans. A Regional policy statement gives an overview of the natural and physical resource management issues and priorities. It describes the policies and the methods that will be used to manage these resources. Each regional council must always have one policy statement.
Regional plans deal with specific resource management issues.
Regional plans are not compulsory and there may be more than one. Any person may request the preparation of a regional plan for a matter of serious concern, but the council is able to recover certain costs from the applicant for doing so. There must be one regional coastal plan for the coastal marine area of each region. It may be included as part of the regional plan . Each territorial authority must have one district plan to help them carry out their functions.