| This dissertation evaluates the implementation of coastal management functions by the Department of Conservation in New Zealand under the Resource Management Act 1991. The Minister and Department of Conservation are required by the Resource Management Act to prepare a New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement, monitor the effectiveness of the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement, approve regional coastal plans and restricted coastal activities, to allocate coastal space through a coastal tendering process, and decide on appropriate compensation for vesting of reclamations that remove land from the coastal marine area.;The influence of four institutional factors (intergovernmental relations, intra-departmental relations, resource allocation, and legislative conflicts) on implementation of each function was assessed to identify whether, and to what degree, institutional factors affect implementation. Following the implementation analysis, the study addressed the overall influence of the institutional factors, and recommended changes to allow more effective implementation of coastal management functions to occur.;Overall, implementation is poor, with New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement implementation and effectiveness-monitoring, and coastal tendering having very little implementation at all. Resource allocation and intra-departmental issues particularly affect these functions. Regional coastal plan interaction with regional councils is spatially and temporally variable, with intergovernmental relations and resource allocation key to the quality and extent of implementation. Restricted coastal activity approval has been implemented largely in congruence with intent, due to the greater degree of central control in this function through a series of Head Office prepared guidelines to ensure consistency in approach. Vesting of reclamations is implemented in general congruence with intent.;A combination of intra-departmental and resource allocation issues are the key barriers to implementation, with a lack of management interest in the coastal management functions manifested in poor resource allocation. Intergovernmental relations are less important overall, although they have been important for some functions. The dual legislative mandate of the Department of Conservation has not been a significant barrier to implementation. Remedies to improve implementation include greater emphasis on staff training, increasing staffing at the regional and conservancy levels, creating more specific implementation frameworks for each function, and greater collaboration with other entities. |
