Fees, charges and cost recovery

The upfront cost of making a Fast-track application

As part of the application process, you will receive an invoice for a levy and the application fee. The levy and application fee help to recover the cost of the process. The levy is a fixed fee for each type of application. The application fee is also a fixed amount depending on the kind of application, and is applied towards the costs of the application that you will need to cover.

These payments must be made before your application is considered to be lodged.

The levy helps cover Fast-track consenting overhead costs, including setup and operational expenses, as well as other costs not covered by the application fee.

The application fee is fixed based on the type of application you make. It is used to cover costs from the EPA and other administering agencies, local councils, iwi, and expert panels. The application fee is applied towards the costs incurred while your application is being processed.

Cost recovery and agencies

The Fast-track team acts as a one-stop shop. We receive information about costs from all agencies and pass them on to you in a consolidated invoice. The agencies include:

• the Ministry for the Environment

• the Environmental Protection Authority

• the Department of Conservation

• New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals, part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

• Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage

• the Ministry for Primary Industries

• Te Arawhiti

• Te Puni Kōkiri

• Relevant local authorities.

The EPA may also recover from you certain costs of relevant third parties, which may include iwi authorities, hapu and Treaty settlement entities.

More detail: Organisations involved in the Fast-track

Each agency sets rates for the work it carries out as part of the Fast-track process. The hourly rates for work by the Environmental Protection Authority are below.

Paying the application fee and any further application costs

You will receive a tax invoice for the amount in the table plus GST. If the application fee is used up, we will tell you if you need to pay a further fee or make other arrangements.

Any requests for waivers or refunds will be considered by the EPA on a case-by-case basis.

Monthly statement for the application costs

The Fast-track team will send you a statement at least monthly showing the costs deducted from your application fee for processing your application. We are required to recover all actual and reasonable costs.

Each statement will show which agency has incurred costs and what work you are being charged for. We will do our best to present an up-to-date view of costs. Costs may appear in a following invoice if we receive delayed information from other parties.

Your statement will show the remaining balance of your application fee. If your fee is used up, we will either:

• notify you if you will need to pay a further fee

• make other arrangements with you (at the discretion of the Fast-track team), which may include monthly invoicing.

Applications may be suspended for unpaid fees

Substantive applications may be suspended if the initial application fee is used up and you do not make the requested further payments. You will be informed if your application has been suspended

The EPA may direct suspension in processing substantive application – Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 – New Zealand Legislation website

Cost recovery for work before an application

Costs incurred before a substantive application is lodged are also recovered. This includes preparation for substantive applications, and work on referral applications and land exchange.

Before you submit a referral application, or a substantive application for a listed project, through the Fast-track process, you must meet the consulting requirements outlined in the Fast-track Approvals Act. You may seek assistance from administering agencies, local councils, or iwi. Any pre-application costs incurred with agencies will be recovered directly by the agency and invoices are expected to be paid by the due date.

Cost disputes

If you wish to dispute costs that you have been invoiced for, you must notify us within 15 working days of receiving the invoice or statement. Please contact the Fast-track team to discuss any disputes.