About the Environmental Protection Authority

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is the government agency responsible for regulating many activities that affect Aotearoa New Zealand’s environment.

The EPA is a Crown Agent established under the Environmental Protection Authority Act 2011. The EPA balances social, economic, safety, and environmental factors, and makes sure New Zealand is meeting its international obligations around environmental protection.

The EPA’s work covers:

The EPA’s core roles in the Fast-track process

The EPA’s Fast-track team administers the Fast-track website, the application portal, and the substantive application process.

The team provides advice and administrative and secretariat support to the panel convener and expert panels. At the panel’s direction, the team will obtain reports and advice or invite comments from agencies to support the expert panels in their decision making. The team will support the hearing process if a hearing takes place.

The EPA’s Fast-track team is not involved in decision-making for approvals. Panels make the decisions to approve or refuse consents and whether to impose conditions.

Substantive application for resource consents and other approvals

The EPA’s Fast-track team manages the cost recovery process for all administering agencies. Fast-track involves an upfront levy and fees applied to costs that will be recovered for the agencies and any third parties involved.

More detail for applicants: Fees, charges and cost recovery

More detail for agencies: Cost recovery for agencies

Marine consents and permits under the EEZ Act

The EPA manages the effects of certain activities under the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Act 2012 (EEZ Act). Marine consents and permits under the EEZ Act are included in the Fast-track process. The EPA will provide the expert panel with reports, advice, and other information when required.

More detail: EEZ marine activities – Environmental Protection Authority website