National policy statement objectives are potentially in conflict

The National Policy Statement on Urban Development Capacity (NPS-UDC) has put the cat among the environmental pigeons in New Zealand. It requires local authorities to ensure there is sufficient housing and business land development capacity to meet demand.

Even though the preamble states “this national policy statement does not anticipate development occurring with disregard to its effect” it leaves it up to councils to figure out how to meet demand for growth in their area while also meeting other national objectives, including the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management and the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement.