Volume One 2. Background not given meaning through the RMA may be given meaning through the Volume 2 of the MEP in Chapter 25, or where they are not so defined, should be read for their normal dictionary definition. Other terms, such as ‘inappropriate’, ‘significant’ and ‘life supporting capacity’ are used in the RMA without definition in Section 2. It is important for these terms to be interpreted in the context of the issue being considered. Guidance as to what may be considered ‘inappropriate’ or ‘significant,’ for example in a particular circumstance, should be gained from the wording of the issue, objective or policy itself and from the explanation accompanying these. Guidance is provided below on how several commonly used words are to be interpreted. This guidance is provided so that the reader or decision maker can place the appropriate interpretation on the use of the word within a particular provision and because the terms are used widely throughout the MEP. Enable The RMA has been described as an enabling piece of legislation. The reason for this can be found in the purpose of the RMA at Section 5(2), where it is stated: ‘“sustainable management” means managing the use, development, and protection of natural and physical resources in a way, or at a rate, which enables people and communities to provide for their social, economic, and cultural wellbeing and for their health and safety while …’. Additionally, in drafting rules, different approaches are needed for different activities. In general, Section 9 of the RMA states that no person may use land (including the surface of water in any river or lake) in a way that contravenes a rule in a district plan or regional plan. In other words, if there is no rule in a plan, then there is no need for restriction on the activity under Section 9 or any need to obtain resource consent. Sections 12, 13, 14 and 15 adopt the opposite approach. These sections place restrictions on the use of the coastal marine area, on certain uses of the beds of lakes and rivers, on the taking, use, damming or diversion of water and on discharging contaminants into the environment. Essentially, the restrictions mean that there must be a national environmental standard, resource consent or rule in a plan that allows activities of the nature described in Sections 12-15 to occur. This includes permitted activity rules for an activity or effect of a minor nature, which are considered to be enabling rules. Therefore, where the word ‘enable’ appears within a provision in the MEP, there will be a related rules method. Avoid Use of the word ‘avoid’ may or may not have the same meaning as prevent. In some cases the method used to implement a policy is a rule that will ‘prohibit’ something from occurring. In this case the word ‘prohibit’ is used within the rules method. There are other policies that use ‘avoid’ though this is not implemented through a prohibited activity rule. In these policies ‘avoiding’ an effect can be achieved through undertaking an activity in such a way that the effect does not occur or is significantly reduced. Where this is the case, policies clearly identify that remediation and/or mitigation is an option. It will be important that the explanations and methods accompanying the policies are read to help inform decision makers of the intent of the word ‘avoid’ where it is used. Control ‘Control’ has direct connotations with the implementation of rules. However, ‘control’ can be at the permitted activity end of the spectrum with associated standards that must be met for an activity to be permitted, through to a discretionary activity where the full range of effects need to be considered through the resource consent process. The rules methods will identify where controls are necessary to give effect to the policies. Manage ‘Manage’ or ‘managing,’ used in relation to particular activities or effects, can be in the context of regulatory and/or non-regulatory methods. For some activities or effects, rules will be the 2 – 13