2. Background Volume One directly consulted, especially those whose properties were identified as having significant wetland or important landscape values. Early in the review process the Council considered it important for the provisions to be ‘tested’ before the new resource management documents were formally notified under the First Schedule of the RMA. The rationale for this was that the greatest flexibility for change to provisions actually exists prior to notification of a proposed document. Once notified, only those provisions submitted on can be changed and then only within the scope of those submissions. For this reason the Council organised a number of focus groups with the task of reviewing the provisions and discussing their likely effectiveness or otherwise. The aim was to identify and resolve any substantive issues prior to notification, which would then have the effect of minimising the number and size of submissions received and effectively expedite the First Schedule process. Given the interconnections between many of the issues, resource based focus groups were established (Rural, Urban, Freshwater and Marine). Key stakeholders with experience in resource management issues were used in each of the focus groups. A number of issue based groups had already been established by the Council. These groups included the Sounds Advisory Group, the Landscape Group and the Significant Natural Areas Project Group. An Iwi Working Group had been established early in the review process and continued in its existing partnership role with the Council in the development of policy. Energy and Utility groups also considered draft provisions. A Practitioners’ focus group was established to provide an objective and external view of provisions from those in the planning and legal professions. The Council’s view was that as these professions will use the resource management documents the most, they would be good indicators of the workability of draft provisions. The Council did not limit its consultation on the draft provisions to the focus groups; many other organisations were consulted directly. Provisions were also considered by internal staff and the Council’s formal committees established to oversee the review process. Integrated management of the Marlborough environment Kaitiakitanga, the environmental guardianship practiced by Marlborough’s tangata whenua iwi, has its foundation in the world view that all life and elements within the natural world that support life are connected. As a community we also recognise the existence and importance of these connections. Integrated management attempts to acknowledge and provide for the interconnectedness of natural and physical resources within our environment. Natural and physical resources include land, water, air, soil, minerals, energy, all forms of plants and animals and all structures. Integrated management of the Marlborough environment is important due to the degree of connection between these resources and the multiple agencies responsible for environment management in Marlborough. Integrated management is an active process of managing the use, development and protection of natural and physical resources as a whole and recognises the following: (a) The use, development or protection of one natural or physical resource can affect other natural and physical resources or other parts of the environment. These effects can occur across space and over time. (b) The need for cooperation and coordination between the multiple agencies that have statutory roles and responsibilities for the management of natural and physical resources. (c) The effect of statutory documents prepared by the Council and others with functions under legislation relating to the management of natural and physical resources, but which is not the RMA. 2 – 2