Town and Country Planning Act 1953. Country/Territory New Zealand Document type Legislation Date 1953 Source FAO, FAOLEX Long titleAN ACT to consolidate and amend certain enactments of the General Assembly relating to the making and enforcing of regional planning schemes and district schemes. Subject Land & soil Keyword Land-use planning Land commission Protection of environment Public health Zoning Geographical area Asia and the Pacific, Australia and New Zealand, Oceania, South Pacific Entry into force notes Enters in force on 01 February 1954 Abstract The Act is organised in 3 Parts. Part 1 regulates the general planning schemes; it clarifies the purpose, the process and procedures for approval and establishes an obligation to conform for every public body and local authority in the performance of their duties and functions. Every regional planning scheme shall have for its general purpose the conservation and economic development of the region to which it relates, shall classify the lands comprised therein for the purposes for which they are best suited by nature or for which they can best be adapted, and shall not be limited by the boundaries of the district of anyone local authority, or do not relate exclusively to the development of anyone such district. Every regional planning scheme shall be designed as a guide to Councils engaged in the preparation of district schemes. Part 1 also established that for the purposes of every regional planning Regional scheme proposed to be prepared there shall be a Regional Planning Authority consisting of the representative or representatives of the several Councils. Full text English Website www.legislation.govt.nz