Introduces students to politics in New Zealand. Investigating policy pathways and planning forms part of the curriculum. Students assess scope of legislation, including the Resource Management Act (1991), for the economic and socio-political environment in New Zealand. Government obligations to the Treaty of Waitangi, and customary uses of resources are included as part of this course. Students are exposed to diverse perspectives of local authority planners and policy makers, local iwi (tribes), the Department of Conservation, and community groups. Students examine case studies involving the resource consent process at several levels of decision-making. Case studies provide a comprehensive overview of the interactions between the environment and people and their cultural and socio-economic needs. Prereq: junior/senior; permission. Coreq: NR 660, NR 661, and NR 663.