May 2026
Recent amendments to the Resource Management Act (RMA), introduced in August 2025, allow councils to return resource consent applications that have not progressed after a request for further information.
Council currently has a number of resource consent applications on hold following requests for further information under section 92 of the RMA. These are applications where no response has been received.
Review of applications currently on hold
Council is now reviewing these applications and will begin returning those that have remained inactive for extended periods.
As part of this process under s92AA:
- Applications that have been inactive for more than 12 months may be returned.
- Where possible, applicants will be contacted and given a final opportunity (typically 15 working days) to provide the requested information.
- Applications that have been on hold for less than 12 months will receive a letter with a longer timeframe to respond.
- Applications that have been on hold for a significant period (including those prior to 2015) may be reviewed and returned.
If your application is returned
If no response is received, applications may be returned as incomplete under section 92AA.
Returning an application means:
- the application is closed without a decision being made
- it is not declined on its merits
- you may submit a new application at any time.
All outstanding fees for work completed to date will still apply.
What you should do
If you think you have an application on hold:
- contact our planning team as soon as possible
- provide the requested information, or
- talk to us about your options.
Responding early will help avoid delays or your application being returned.
Please contact RCAdmin@gdc.govt.nz
More information
For more information about this process including what it means if you application is returned.