The Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 facilitates the delivery of projects with significant regional or national benefits. Fast-track applications can be filed from 7 February 2025.
Find out more at Fast-track Approvals Act.
Approvals required
Conservation approvals under the Fast-track Approvals Act include:
- concessions and approvals under the Conservation Act 1987 and Reserves Act 1977
- authorities provided under the Wildlife Act 1953
- specific permissions under the Freshwater Fisheries Regulations 1983
- access arrangements under the Crown Minerals Act 1991
- exchanges of land under the Conservation Act 1987 and Reserves Act 1977
- amending or revoking conservation covenants under section 27 of the Conservation Act 1987 or section 77 of the Reserves Act 1977.
What you need to do
- You need to contact us before lodging a fast-track referral or application for a listed project with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- Complete the form below to request a consultation.
- Email your form to FastTrackApplicationEnquiries@doc.govt.nz.
Request for pre-lodgement fast-track application consultation form (PDF, 187K)
Request for pre-lodgement fast-track application consultation form (WORD, 327K)
We’ll contact you with next steps.
The EPA is developing a dedicated portal for fast-track applications. This webpage will be updated when this is available.
Costs
We charge an hourly rate to recover actual and reasonable costs incurred during the consultation process. We do not charge for the first hour of work.
The proposed hourly rate is $204.00, excluding GST.
Charges are not dependent on the final submission of your application.
Our team will be timely, efficient, consistent, and cost-effective during consultations.
More information
For further information on the fast-track process, please visit Ministry for the Environment fast-track approvals proposed process.