19 August 2026
Regional Compliance & Enforcement Snapshot
The Compliance & Enforcement Special Interest Group (CESIG) connects regulatory expertise across the motu. It is a national practice network for consistent, credible and connected environmental regulation.
Why CESIG matters
One sector. Shared expertise. Consistent outcomes.
By working across regions and through national working groups, CESIG turns local experience into practical sector-wide solutions. This collaboration strengthens regulatory consistency and will help support a coordinated transition through Resource Management Reform.
Successes
Turning strategy into sector-wide improvement
CESIG focuses on key strategic priorities that support continuous operational improvement, national consistency in compliance, monitoring and enforcement, and stronger sector capacity.
Examples of this work include:
- Annual CME metrics report
Annual compliance, monitoring and enforcement metrics report providing a national picture of regional activity, emerging trends and the collective impact of the sector.
- Compliance and Monitoring Strategic Framework
Provides consistency in framework, which supports and recognises local environments and context.
- Enforcement consistency
Regular peer discussion and the sharing of practical experience strengthen consistency in enforcement decision-making across councils.
- A collective national voice
CESIG provides a coordinated sector voice into national reform, policy development and discussions with central government.
- Shared operational learning
Members share lessons from each region to help improve practice across the whole sector.
- Capability building
Practical peer review, training and cross-council support help build regulatory capability, confidence and resilience throughout the regions.
Bringing value
Builds national consistency by helping councils apply compliance and enforcement tools in a more aligned, transparent and defensible way.
Connects regional expertise so councils can share practical experience, specialist knowledge and proven approaches.
Strengthens sector capability through peer support, training, working groups, shared resources and professional development.
Provides a collective voice for compliance and enforcement practitioners in Te Uru Kahika, national policy discussions and Resource Management Reform.
Supports councils facing complex or high-risk issues by enabling cross-regional advice, peer review and practical assistance.
Turns local experience into national improvement by sharing lessons from investigations, enforcement action, audits and court processes.
Promotes efficient use of resources by reducing duplication and enabling councils to develop tools, guidance and solutions collectively.
Strengthens Te Uru Kahika’s wider work programme by bringing an operational regulatory perspective into cross-SIG projects and sector priorities.
Supports better environmental and community outcomes through stronger, effective regulatory practice across regional councils.
Promote sector outputs
Useful outputs only matter if people know they exist and use them.
Key highlights
National Forestry Audit
The National Forestry Audit provides a shared assurance approach for assessing forestry risk, using a common lens across monitoring, reporting, enforcement and lessons learned. It helps the sector identify national patterns in risk, resourcing and regulatory consistency, while turning hard-earned regional experience into an ongoing cycle of sector-wide improvement.
Cross-Regional Help
CESIG provides practical peer support when pressure is high, sharing experienced people, trusted advice and proven templates across council boundaries. Sharing support has been critical when managing high-risk incidents, complex investigations and sudden high demand. It acts as a spare pair of hands for regional councils, but with sound regulatory judgement attached.
Cross-SIG Collaboration
Compliance thinking earlier in the system.
• Strong links with CMG and other key sector SIG groups.
• Helps guidance, reform and implementation remain workable on the ground.
In addition to strong cross-SIG collaboration, CESIG maintains close links with the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT; previously MfE,Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, and the local government functions of the Department of Internal Affairs) and the EPA, both of which regularly participate in our virtual and in-person meetings.
What leaders can do
- Actively endorse participation and provide staff the time and mandate to contribute.
- Using CESIG as a trusted source of advice on compliance, enforcement and regulatory reform.
- Supporting cross-regional assistance, including releasing experienced staff when another council is under pressure.
- Championing consistent national practice, to achieve efficiencies and elevate the sector reputation.
- Investing in shared training, conferences and capability building initiatives.
- Bringing CESIG into early policy and reform discussions.
- Acting on national metrics, audit findings and emerging risks identified through the group.
- Recognising and promoting CESIG outputs across Te Uru Kahika and within their own organisations.
The future
- Easier to see
Raise the profile of CESIG, recognise the achievements and make its expertise and outputs visible across Te Uru Kahika.
- Easier to use
Provide clear ways for councils to access advice, resources, peer support, training and cross-regional assistance.
- Harder to ignore
Involve CESIG early in reform, policy and strategic discussions, and ensure its advice informs national decisions.
- Support Change
Provide a framework and support to implement strong CME delivery under the new planning system as a trusted and credible regulator.
Let's connect
Convenors
Trudy Richards, Bay of Plenty Regional Council
Gary McKenzie, Gisborne District Council