Updated 11 September 2018
earthworks
Means the removal, relocation or deposit of soil or cleanfill within, onto or from land and includes archaeological investigations authorised by Heritage New Zealand, grave digging or domestic gardening.
ecological restoration
Returning a place as nearly as possible to a known earlier state by reassembly, reinstatement and/or removal of extraneous additions, and includes ground reinstatement.
ecosystem
Shall have the same meaning as contained within the Environment Act 1986 which means any system of interacting terrestrial or aquatic organisms within their natural and physical environment.
edge of a bank
The topographical feature defined in the diagram below:

electric line
All conductors, support structures and associated electrical fittings (including fittings supporting, or connected to, those conductors), whether above or below ground, that are used, or intended to be used, in, or in connection with, the supply of electricity from the outgoing terminals of a generating station, a building, enclosure, or other structure to:
- Incoming terminals of any other building, enclosure, or other structure;
- An electrical appliance, in any case where the electrical appliance is supplied with electricity other than from a terminal in a building, enclosure, or other structure.
emergency event
An unexpected natural or man-made catastrophe causing significant physical damage or destruction, or imminent threat of physical damage or destruction.
emergency removal
The removal of a notable tree or heritage tree where that tree:
- Poses an existing or imminent threat to life or property;
- Poses an existing or imminent threat to an existing network utility;
- Carries a fatal disease.
emergency services
Land and buildings on a site owned or leased by agencies assisting the public in times of emergency, including the New Zealand Fire Service or an equivalent emergency fire service, the New Zealand Police Service and Saint Johns Ambulance Service, and is principally for the purposes of administration, vehicle and equipment storage and maintenance, and training related to the services provided.
environment
Has the same meaning as contained within the Resource Management Act 1991, which includes:
- Ecosystems and their constituent parts, including people and communities; and
- All natural and physical resources; and
- Amenity values; and
- The social, economic, aesthetic, and cultural conditions which affect the matters stated in paragraphs a) to c) of this definition or which are affected by those meters.
esplanade reserve
Has the same meaning as contained in the Resource Management Act 1991 which means a reserve within the meaning of the Reserves Act 1977:
- Which is either:
- A local purpose reserve within the meaning of section 23 of that Act, if vested in the territorial authority under section 239 of the RMA; or
- A reserve vested in the Crown or a regional council under section 237D of the RMA; and
- Which is vested in the territorial authority, regional council, or the Crown for a purpose or purposes set out in section 229 of the RMA (conservation values, public access or recreational use).
esplanade strip
Has the same meaning as contained in the Resource Management Act 1991 which means a strip of land created by the registration of an instrument in accordance with section 232 of the RMA for a purpose or purposes set out in section 229 of the RMA (conservation values, public access or recreational use).
exempted party
Persons or organisations either exempt from the provisions of the Local Government Act 2002 under section 8 of that Act, or which hold a valid resource consent issued before 1 July 2004 and which is subject to a requirement for a financial contribution in circumstances where the payment of financial contributions pursuant to that consent are outstanding.