ABSTRACT
The development of the environmental management systems (EMSs) and the resulting guidance had to reflect the impact of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) on local government's approach to environmental management and its ability to move beyond legislative compliance towards continual improvement in the management of wider environmental impacts. This chapter describes the relationship between local government, RMA and ISO 14001. It also describes the drivers for ISO 14001 by the case study local authorities. The chapter explains the EMS development process by the case studies and the development of the national guidance document. The chapter also explains an assessment of the failures and successes in case study development of ISO 14001. There is no requirement in the RMA to have an EMS in place, although the implementation of an EMS is consistent with the philosophy and purpose of the RMA and an 'EMS-type method' is also provided for in a number of sections of the RMA.
