Auckland’s coast and harbours are one of its most highly valued natural features. Auckland has a richly varied coast that includes the open beaches of the west and east coast, numerous sheltered bays and inlets and a number of harbours; the Kaipara and Manukau on the west coast, and Waitematā, Mahurangi and Whangateau on the east, and Port Fitzroy and Tryphena at Great Barrier Island. The outstanding quality and diversity of biology and landscape of the Hauraki Gulf and its islands (the Gulf) has been recognised through their inclusion in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.

Coastal areas all have their own distinct qualities, values and uses and share a rich history of Māori and European settlement. The coast is one of the earliest places of human settlement in New Zealand and continues to play a fundamental role in the character and identity of Auckland. The coastal environment and the resources of the coastal marine area comprise some of the most important taonga to Mana Whenua, who have a traditional and on-going cultural relationship with the coast.

Managing the coastal environment
The seaward extent of the coastal environment includes the coastal marine area (CMA) (mean high water springs to 12 nautical miles), except where this crosses a river, and includes islands within the CMA. The landward extent of the coastal environment is determined by the natural and physical elements, features and processes associated with the coast, including vegetation, landscape, landforms, coastal processes and the other matters included in Policy 1 (2) of the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010 (NZCPS). (Refer Figure 1).

The importance of the coastal environment is reflected in the statutory resource management framework, particularly the NZCPS and s. 6 and 7 of the RMA. In addition, s. 10 of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act 2000 (HGMPA) requires that the national significance and management directives (s. 7 and s. 8) of the HGMPA be treated as a NZCPS for the Hauraki Gulf. The HGMPA elevates the inter-relationship between the Hauraki Gulf, its islands, and catchments, and the ability of the Gulf to sustain the life-supporting capacity of the environment of the Hauraki Gulf and its islands, to a matter of national significance.

Values of the coastal environment
Auckland’s coastal environment is a finite resource with high environmental, social, economic and cultural values. It is the location of New Zealand’s largest commercial port and international airport, and marine industry, transport and aquaculture activities all contribute to our social and economic well-being. The coastal environment also contains potentially significant renewable energy resources. It is a highly desirable location for often competing residential, commercial, industrial and recreational use of both land and water. These demands will increase as Auckland grows.

Auckland’s CMA is highly used for a range of recreation activities and valued as an open space resource. There is a public expectation of free rights of use and access to the coast. These long-standing rights are recognised and protected as a matter of national importance in the NZCPS, the RMA and the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011. However there is a need to restrict public access in certain circumstances, including for safety, security and biosecurity reasons, or to enable the carrying out of activities, such as port or marine industry.

The CMA also provides a range of ecosystem services, including providing food, assimilating discharges from land into coastal waters and enabling a range of coastal uses, including port and marine activities, recreational activities, marine industry, transport and aquaculture that support our economy. The many uses made of the coast have to be managed to ensure that they do not threaten the life-supporting capacity of the marine environment, as a healthy marine environment is fundamental to many of the activities and values of the coast.

Land-based activities have a significant effect on the health of the marine environment. Sediment, contaminants and litter that are carried by waterways or pipes into the sea affect water quality and the ecological health of the coast, and are major environmental issue for Auckland’s CMA. There is a need to ensure integrated management of activities on both the land and sea to ensure the ecosystem services and values of the CMA are maintained.

In addition to the objectives and policies in this section the values of the coastal environment are recognised and provided for in the objectives and policies relating to:

•historic heritage (RPS - section 4.1)

•natural character (RPS – section 4.3.1)

•landscape and natural features (RPS – section 4.3.2) 

•biodiversity (RPS – section 4.3.4) 

•Mana Whenua values (RPS – sections 5.1 to 5.4)

1. Subdivision, use and development in the coastal environment is located in appropriate areas, taking into account the range of uses and values of the coastal environment.

2. The natural and physical resources of the coastal environment are used efficiently and activities that depend on the use of the natural and physical resources of the coastal environment are provided for in appropriate locations.

3. Conflict between activities is minimised, and rights to occupy parts of the CMA are limited to activities that have a functional need to be located below MHWS.

4. There is integrated management of activities on land and in the CMA, to ensure that the efficient operation of established activities that depend upon the use of the CMA, is not adversely affected by other land or CMA activities.

5. The risk of subdivision, use and development in the coastal environment being adversely affected by coastal hazards is minimised.

1. Determine the appropriateness of subdivision, use and development in the coastal environment having regard, in addition to the objectives and policies in this section, to the regional policy statement objectives and policies in the historic heritage, natural character, landscape and natural features, biodiversity and Mana Whenua sections.

2. Avoid sprawling or sporadic patterns of subdivision, use and development that will individually or cumulatively compromise the RUB or the rural or coastal settlement growth policy for the coastal environment by:

a. concentrating subdivision, use and development within areas already characterised by development and where natural character values are already compromised

b. avoiding degradation of areas with high water quality and ecological values

c. ensuring that subdivision, use or development involving land above and below the MHWS can provide for any associated facilities or infrastructure in an integrated manner.

3. Provide for subdivision, use and development for activities that have a functional need to use the natural and physical resources of the coastal environment in appropriate areas having regard to the matters in Policies 1 and 2 above.

4. Maintain the value of the coast as an open space area with free public access by limiting use, occupation and development in the CMA to activities that:

a. have a functional need to be located below MHWS

b. are for public benefit, including infrastructure that cannot be reasonably or practicably be located outside the CMA, including existing uses

c. enable the cultural or traditional use of the CMA by Mana Whenua.

5. Provide for activities that are necessary to allow for the on-going use and operation of infrastructure and existing activities in the CMA, including port activities, while avoiding significant adverse effects to the extent practicable, and avoiding, remedying or mitigating other adverse effects.

6. Require subdivision, use and development in the coastal environment to assess the effects of activities on both the land and the CMA, including the effects on existing uses and on the coastal receiving environment.

Regulatory

Unitary Plan

•RPS objectives and policies for providing for growth in coastal settlements

•Auckland wide objectives, policies and rules for natural hazards, mineral extraction in the CMA, subdivision

•Zone objectives, policies and rules for the General Coastal Marine, Marina, Mooring, Minor Port, Ferry Terminal, Defence and Rural Coastal zones

•Overlay objectives, policies and rules for Historic Heritage, Natural Heritage, Mana Whenua

•Precinct objectives, policies and rules for coastal precincts.

Bylaws

•Bylaws that control use and activities in the coastal environment, including navigation and safety, vehicles on beaches and temporary events in the CMA.

Non-Regulatory

Non-statutory plans and strategies:

•Marine spatial planning; to identify conflicts, values and appropriate locations for activities

•Catchment management planning; to integrate land-use and coastal receiving environment planning.

Advocacy and education

Monitoring and information gathering

The objectives and policies recognise that the coastal environment is a finite resource with a range of values that need to be provided for. As Auckland grows the coastal environment is under increasing pressure for use and development and its natural and physical resources must be used efficiently to ensure it is able to sustain the needs of future generations.

The objectives and policies provide guidance to ensure that subdivision, use and development in the coastal environment is appropriate by:

•ensuring it is located in appropriate areas, taking into account the values identified and the strategic direction for managing subdivision, use and development in the coastal environment, in addition to the values of the coastal environment that need to be considered in other parts of the plan

•recognising that some forms of use and development rely on the use of the natural and physical resources of the coastal environment, for example renewable energy generation, and that this should be provided for in appropriate locations

•recognising that the CMA is a limited and highly valued public resource, and that use, development in the CMA should be for activities that have a functional need to be undertaken below MHWS and cannot be undertaken on land

•providing for activities associated with the on-going operation of infrastructure and existing activities in the CMA, including Auckland’s largest commercial port and airport recognising the social and economic benefit they provide, subject to managing the adverse effects

•requiring the impacts of land use activities on the CMA be taken into account, including impacts on water quality, and that the effects on established CMA activities like aquaculture, port activities, and recreational use 

•requiring that both the landward and seaward aspects of use and development be considered in an integrated manner, for example the parking and access on land that may be required as part of providing for an activity in the CMA.

Subdivision, use and development, including redevelopment needs take into account the risk of being affected by coastal hazards, including the effects of climate change, and avoid increasing the future risk of social, environmental and economic harm.

1. Public access to and along the CMA is maintained and enhanced in a manner that is sensitive to the use and values of an area.

2. The open space, recreation and amenity values of the coastal environment are maintained or enhanced, including through the provision of public facilities in appropriate locations.

3. Public access is restricted where necessary to ensure health or safety, the efficient and safe operation of activities, or to protect the value of areas that are sensitive to disturbance.

1. Subdivision, use and development in the coastal environment must where practicable:

a. be designed and located to minimise impacts on public use and access of the CMA

b. be set back from the CMA to protect public open space values and access

c. take into account the likely impact of coastal processes and climate change, and be set back sufficiently to not compromise the ability of future generations’ to have access along the coast

d. maintain, or where possible, enhance public access to the CMA, including through the provision of esplanade reserves and strips.

2. Facilitate the provision of public access, particularly walking access, to and along the coast through:

a. acquiring esplanade reserves or strips on subdivision, and linking reserves, access strips and open space areas

b. investigating the option of using paper roads to provide access in appropriate locations

c. working with landowners to seek agreement for walking access to be allowed through private property to enable linkages between areas, or to provide access to areas or sites of historic or cultural significance

d. where appropriate providing boardwalks in the CMA to connect access between land-based walkways or open space areas.

3. Provide for a range of open space and recreational use of the coast by:

a. enabling a diverse range of recreational uses while managing uses to avoid conflicts and safety issues

b. identifying and providing areas for particular recreational use where this ensures the most efficient use of space, and supports the provision of land-based facilities for those uses

c. enabling the provision of facilities in appropriate locations to enhance public access and amenity values.

4. Manage the level and form of public access to retain the sense of remoteness and predominance of natural character in areas valued for their wilderness experience.

5. Public access to, and along, the CMA, particularly walking access, will only be restricted where it is necessary to:

a. protect public health and safety

b. provide for defence, port or airport purposes

c. protect identified significant historic heritage or natural heritage values

d. protect dunes, estuaries and other sensitive natural areas or habitats

e. protect scheduled sites and places of significance to Mana Whenua

f. have a level of security necessary to carry out an activity or function that has been established or provided for

g. provide for exclusive use of an area to carry out an activity granted an occupation consent under s. 12 of the RMA.

Regulatory

Unitary Plan:

•Auckland-wide objectives and policies and rules for public open space, public access, and subdivision, including esplanade reserve provisions

•Zone objectives, policies and rules for the General Coastal Marine, Marina, Mooring, Minor Port, Ferry Terminal and Defence zones.

•Precinct objectives, policies and rules for the Rowing and Paddling precinct.

Reserve Management Plans

Bylaws

•Bylaws that control use and activities in the coastal environment, including navigation and safety, vehicles on beaches and temporary events in the CMA.

Non-Regulatory

Non-statutory plans and strategies:

•Open space strategy

•Parks and reserve management plans

•Marine spatial planning

Advocacy and education

Both the RMA (s. 6(d)) and the NZCPS (Policies 18 and 19) recognise the national significance of maintaining and providing public access, particularly walking access, to and along the coast, and to recognise the significant open space values of the coast.

The coast is one of Auckland’s most highly used and valued open space areas. It is used for a range of recreational activities and will be subject to increasing pressure as Auckland grows. To meet these growing needs it will be necessary to work towards linking walking access around the coast and to provide facilities such as boardwalks and boat ramps in appropriate locations. In parts of the coast it may be appropriate to identify areas for a particular recreational activity, in order to make the most efficient use of coastal space and to avoid conflicts between activities.

Public access needs to be restricted in some circumstances to ensure public health and safety, enable the safe use and operation of activities provided for in the CMA, and to protect sensitive areas. This is consistent with Policy 19 (3) of the NZCPS.

The objectives and policies recognise that:

•subdivision, use and development can have a significant impact on public open space and access. It may enhance access through the provision of esplanade reserves and open space areas, or the design and form of development can limit or detract from open space value and public access

•The likely future impact of coastal erosion and sea level change needs to be taken into account in considering the appropriate width of reserves and set backs from the coastal edge, particularly for new greenfield development. There is otherwise a risk that coastal reserves will erode and access will be lost, or that foreshore protection works will be required, if they are to be retained in the long term

•the provision of facilities, including boardwalks, boat ramps and pontoons can considerably enhance public access and amenity values. Facilities should be enabled in locations where there is high recreational use and it would enhance public access and use of the coast

•as Auckland grows and there is greater intensification and less private open space it will be important to ensure that there continue to be areas that people can still ‘escape’ the city and experience wilderness values. These areas need to be managed to ensure changes to access, including car-parking, or changing nature of access (e.g low impact walking tracks to formed accessways or vehicle access) do not result in losing the wilderness experience these areas are valued for

•Restrictions on public access to or along the CMA may need to be limited where it is necessary to protect public health and safety or the values of areas sensitive to disturbance. Restrictions may also be necessary to enable the efficient operation of activities undertaken in the coastal environment, including port, airport and marine industry activities, including access restrictions necessary for customs, security and biosecurity requirements. Some activities in the CMA are granted rights of occupation under s. 12 of the RMA, for example aquaculture or moorings, which require public access to be restricted or limited in parts of the CMA. 

Auckland’s coastal receiving environments are under continued pressure from both coastal and land-based activities. Low energy inner harbour and estuarine areas where sediments and contaminants accumulate are usually most adversely affected areas. This is particularly the case in Auckland, where the city has historically developed around the Waitemata and Manukau Harbours.

Degradation of coastal receiving environments can have significant adverse effects on recreational, amenity, Mana Whenua and economic values.

Degraded areas have been identified based on water quality, sediment contamination and benthic health. Where an area was identified as degraded for any one of these measures, it has been identified as degraded.

Degraded 1 areas are the areas where monitoring data shows a high level of degradation, or that can be identified with high certainty. Degraded 2 areas are where monitoring data shows a moderate level of degradation, or that can be identified with reasonable certainty. The distinction between degraded 1 and degraded 2 does not imply a ranking of degradation or priority for action. It is important that they are considered together because of the dynamic and interconnected nature of coastal environments and because the divisions may shift over time as more knowledge is gained and as pressure on receiving environments change. There is evidence that even moderate levels of degradation can result in ecosystem level changes, and it is not yet known how reversible these changes might be.

Identifying an area as degraded does not imply that it has no value. Degraded areas may contain valuable habitats, support important species, or form critical connections with other systems. Many are identified as SEAs.

1. There is no further decline in the water quality and ecological integrity of degraded areas.

2. The ecosystem functioning and water quality of degraded areas is improved over time and can support a range of recreational, cultural and other activities.

3. The water quality of areas of special value to Mana Whenua is such that it provides for the traditional and cultural use and values of the CMA.

1. Require discharges from catchments that are affecting the water quality of degraded areas to be managed to avoid further degradation of water quality and loss of ecosystem function.

2. Prioritise catchment management and restoration initiatives by:

a. identifying the key contributors and sources that are adversely impacting on the water quality of degraded areas

b. determining the restoration objective(s) by considering the current and future use and value of an area

c. consulting with Mana Whenua to identify areas they have a particular interest in.

3. Promote the restoration of the water quality and ecosystem function of degraded areas through:

a. targeted catchment management programmes

b. managing discharges to meet identified outcomes, having regard to the matters in policy 2.

Regulatory

Unitary Plan:

•Auckland-wide objectives, policies and rules for lakes, rivers and wetlands, earthworks, on-site wastewater, other discharges of contaminants, rural production discharges, stormwater management, vegetation management, wastewater network management

•General Coastal Marine zone objectives, policies and rules for discharges and disturbance, including rules for stock access to CMA.

Non-regulatory

Non-statutory plans and strategies

•Identification of the use and values of areas through marine spatial planning

•Catchment management programmes, including riparian planting and coast care

•Integration of the work on identifying values for freshwater.

Advocacy and education

•Working with groups such as the Hauraki Gulf Forum and Integrated Kaipara Harbour Management Group and the Manukau Forum to improve coastal water quality

•Working with Mana Whenua to identify areas of coastal waters they have a particular interest and in identifying ways to remedy of mitigate the adverse effects from degraded water quality. 

Water quality is fundamental to a range of use and values, to the ecosystem function and the life-supporting capacity of the coast. The coast is the receiving environment for discharges, both from historic and present activities that are undertaken in the CMA and from land.

Policy 21 of the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010 requires that where the quality of water in the coastal environment has deteriorated so that it is having a significant adverse effect on ecosystems, natural habitats, or water based recreational activities, or is restricting existing uses, such as aquaculture, shellfish gathering and cultural activities, to give priority to improving water quality by identifying such areas and including provisions in plans to improve, and where possible restore water quality in these areas.

Both urban and rural activities have adverse impacts on coastal water quality. The most degraded areas are generally found in estuaries receiving runoff from the older, intensively urbanised and/or industrialised catchments, particularly in the Tamaki Estuary, Mangere Inlet and the Waitemata Harbour. Water quality is highly impacted by the condition of and type of network (stormwater, wastewater or combined) infrastructure found in the surrounding catchment. The best water quality is found at locations that are more exposed to open ocean water currents and have less development in their catchments, or have received upgrades to the network infrastructure.

Outside of urban areas, degradation also occurs in all of the smaller east coast estuaries. This is partly due to high sediment accumulation rates because of their size and shape, but also as a result of historic and ongoing land disturbance from rural activities in their catchments.

Water quality in marinas and ports are particularly impacted by the use of antifouling paints and other vessel related contaminants as well as often receiving inputs of urban stormwater. Port and marinas are also often subjected to high sedimentation rates created by their enclosed environment and as a result are often dredged.

There are large areas of the Auckland region where we do not have monitoring data and these areas were therefore not graded. In general, all enclosed estuaries and harbours around mainland Auckland were graded (except Matakana Estuary), while the open waters of the Hauraki Gulf, Tamaki Strait and areas around off-shore islands were not.

The objectives and policies seek to avoid on-going decline in water quality and to improve water quality over time through a range of mechanisms. They also recognise the significance and value of the coastal marine area for Mana Whenua, and that we need to work towards restoring the mauri of coastal water.

1. The management of the Gulf gives effect to s. 7 and 8 of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act 2000.

2. The life-supporting capacity and ecological values of the Gulf and its marine ecosystems are protected, and where appropriate, enhanced.

3. Use and development supports the social and economic well-being of the resident communities of Waiheke and Great Barrier islands, while maintaining, or where appropriate, enhancing the natural, historic and physical resources of the islands.

4. Additional marine protected areas are created to support linkages with restored or high-value ecological areas on the islands or in catchments of the Gulf, and to enhance the recovery of ecosystems and enhance tourism opportunities.

5. The historic resources of the Gulf, its islands, and catchments are protected, and where appropriate enhanced.

6. The significant open space, recreation and amenity values of the Gulf are maintained or enhanced.

7. Economic well-being is generated from the use of the Gulf's natural and physical resources without resulting in further degradation of environmental quality or adversely affecting the life-supporting capacity of marine ecosystems.

Integrated management

1.Encourage and support the restoration and enhancement of the Gulf’s ecosystems, its islands, and catchments.

2.Require the integrated management of use and development in the catchments, islands, and waters of the Gulf to ensure that the ecological values and life-supporting capacity of the Gulf are protected, and where appropriate enhanced.

3.Require applications for use and development to be assessed in terms of the cumulative effect on the values of the Gulf, rather than on a jurisdictional, area-specific, or case-by-case basis.

Maintaining and enhancing the values of the islands in the Gulf

4.Avoid use and development that will compromise the natural character, landscape, conservation, and biodiversity values of the islands, particularly in areas identified as having significant values.

5.Promote the restoration and rehabilitation of natural character values of the islands of the Gulf.

6.Ensure that use and development of the CMA adjoining conservation islands, regional parks or Department of Conservation land, does not adversely affect their scientific, natural or recreational values.

7.Enhance opportunities for educational and recreational activities on the islands of the Gulf if they are consistent with protecting their natural, historic, and physical values.

Managing catchment land use activities and the marine environment

8.Identify and protect areas or habitats, particularly those unique to the Gulf, that are:

a.significant to the ecological and biodiversity values of the Gulf

b.vulnerable to modification.

9.Work with agencies and stakeholders to establish an ecological bottom line, or agreed target, for managing the Gulf’s natural, historic and physical resources which will:

a.provide greater certainty in sustaining the Gulf’s ongoing life-supporting capacity and ecosystem services

b.assist in avoiding incremental and ongoing degradation

c.co-ordinate cross jurisdictional integrated management and effort to achieve agreed outcomes

d.better measure the success of protection and enhancement initiatives

e.assist in establishing a baseline for monitoring changes

f.enable better evaluation of the social and economic cost-benefits of management

g.provide an expanded green-blue network linking restored island and mainland sanctuaries with protected, regenerating marine areas where the ecological health and productivity of the marine area will be enhanced.

Providing for the relationship of Mana Whenua with the Gulf

10.Work in partnership with Mana Whenua to protect and enhance culturally important environmental resources and values of the Gulf that are important to their traditional, cultural and spiritual relationship with the Gulf.

11.Incorporate mātauranga Māori with western knowledge in establishing management objectives for the Gulf.

12.Require management and decision-making to take into account the historical, cultural and spiritual relationship of Mana Whenua with the Gulf, and the ongoing capacity to sustain these relationships.

Maintaining and enhancing social, cultural and recreation values

13.Identify and protect the natural, historic and physical resources that have important cultural and historic associations for people and communities in and around the Gulf.

14.Identify, maintain, and where appropriate enhance, areas of high recreational use within the Gulf by managing water quality, development and potentially conflicting uses so they do not compromise the particular values or qualities of these areas that add to their recreational value.

15.Encourage the strategic provision of infrastructure and facilities to enhance public access and recreational use and enjoyment of the Gulf.

Providing for the use of natural and physical resources, and for economic activities

16.Provide for commercial activities in the Gulf and its catchments while ensuring that the impacts of use, and any future expansion of use and development, do not result in further degradation or net loss of sensitive marine ecosystems.

17.Encourage the strategic provision of infrastructure and facilities that support economic opportunities for the resident communities of Waiheke and Great Barrier islands.

18.Promote economic development opportunities that complement the unique values of the islands and the Gulf.

19.Promote the national significance of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park by:

a.supporting the development of Auckland’s waterfront as the gateway to the Gulf

b.promoting the Gulf as a visitor destination.

Regulatory

Unitary Plan:

•Regional Policy Statement – objectives and policies in: Protecting out historic heritage, historic character and natural heritage, Addressing issues of significance to Mana Whenua, Sustainably managing our natural resources, Sustainably managing our coastal environment

•Auckland-wide objectives, policies and rules for maori cultural heritage, natural resources and general 

•Zone objectives, policies and rules for activities for all the zones that lie within the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park and catchments in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Land Drainage Area

•Overlay and precincts objectives, policies and rules that apply to land or water within the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park and catchments in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Land Drainage Area.

Non-Regulatory

Non-statutory plans and strategies:

•Open space strategy

•Economic development strategy - promoting tourism and economic development consistent with protecting the values of the gulf.

Collaborative processes

•Marine spatial planning

•Hauraki Gulf Forum

•Department of Conservation

•Cross-boundary and jurisdiction management.

Monitoring and information gathering

•Hauraki Gulf Forum State of the Environment monitoring

•Council monitoring of environmental quality and research

•Monitoring and information from other agencies just a Ministry of Primary Industries (fisheries management), Department of Conservation and research agencies (Leigh Marine Laboratory and Auckland University research)

•Water quality and stormwater monitoring and information

•Consent monitoring and information.

Funding and assistance:

•Funding of catchment management initiatives to improve water quality

•Investment in infrastructure and facilities that support the social and economic well-being and management objectives for the gulf.

The provisions of s. 55 of the RMA apply as though s. 7 and 8 of this Act were a national policy statement and a regional council or a territorial authority must take action in accordance with that section.

The objectives and policies provide guidance on giving effect to the HGMPA by:

•recognising the need to integrate the management of the natural, historic, and physical resources of the Hauraki Gulf, its islands, and catchments 

•promoting restoration efforts on islands and maintaining the values of conservation islands

•supporting protection of areas of significant ecological value, including linkages between land and sea

•promoting use and development that provides for social and economic opportunities while avoiding further degradation of the marine environment of the Gulf

•recognising the significance of the open space, recreation and heritage values of the Gulf

•working with Mana Whenua in managing the Gulf

•recognising the need for collaboration in achieving the outcome sought for the Gulf as management of the catchments, marine area and islands is split between different councils and agencies and controlled under different legislation.