Fees, charges and cost recovery

The upfront cost of making a Fast-track application

As part of the application process, you will receive an invoice for a levy and the application fee. The levy and application fee help to recover the cost of the process. The levy is a fixed fee for each type of application. The application fee is also a fixed amount depending on the kind of application, and is applied towards the costs of the application that you will need to cover.

The levy and fee must be paid before your application is considered to be lodged. You will receive a tax invoice for the total amount in the table plus GST.

The levy helps cover Fast-track consenting overhead costs, including setup and operational expenses, as well as other costs not covered by the application fee.

The application fee is fixed based on the type of application you make. It is used to cover the actual and reasonable costs incurred by the Environmental Protection Authority (the EPA) and other administering agencies, local councils, and expert panels in processing your application. It also covers any contribution fee paid to Māori consultation groups in relation to your application.

Contributions – Fast-track Approvals (Cost Recovery) Regulations 2025 – New Zealand Legislation

Cost recovery and agencies

The Fast-track team acts as a one-stop shop. We receive information about costs from all relevant agencies and pass them on to you in a consolidated invoice. The agencies include:

• the Ministry for the Environment

• the Environmental Protection Authority

• the Department of Conservation

• New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals, part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

• Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga

• Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage

• the Ministry for Primary Industries

• Land Information New Zealand

• Te Tari Whakatau Office of Treaty Settlements and Takutai Moana (formerly Te Arawhiti Office for Māori Crown Relations)

• Te Puni Kōkiri Ministry of Māori Development

• Relevant local authorities.

More detail: Organisations involved in the Fast-track

Each agency sets rates for the work it carries out as part of the Fast-track process. The hourly rates for work by the EPA are below.

Monthly statement and any further application costs

The Fast-track team will send you a statement at least monthly showing the costs deducted from your application fee for processing your application. We are required to recover all actual and reasonable costs.

Each statement will show which agency has incurred costs and what work you are being charged for. We will do our best to present an up-to-date view of costs. Costs may appear in a following invoice if we receive delayed information from other parties.

Your statement will show the remaining balance of your application fee. If your fee is used up, we will either:

• notify you if you need to pay a further fee

• make other arrangements with you (at the discretion of the Fast-track team), which may include monthly invoicing.

Any requests for waivers or refunds will be considered by the EPA on a case-by-case basis. Please refer to our policy for Fast-track fees and levies for more information.

Policy for Fast-track applications – fees and levies (PDF, 159KB)

Applications may be suspended for unpaid fees

Substantive applications may be suspended if the initial application fee is used up and you do not make the requested further payments. You will be informed if your application has been suspended

The EPA may direct suspension in processing substantive application – Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 – New Zealand Legislation website

Cost disputes

If you wish to dispute costs that you have been invoiced for, you must notify us within 15 working days of receiving the invoice or statement. Please contact the Fast-track team to discuss any disputes.

Cost recovery for work before an application is lodged

Before you submit an application through the Fast-track process, you must meet the consultation and notification requirements outlined in the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024. You may also seek assistance from administering agencies and local councils in preparing your application.

Any pre-application costs should be agreed in advance with these parties and you must pay them for these costs directly, not through the EPA. Invoices for those costs are expected to be paid by the due date.

Policy for Fast-track fees and levies

The policy for Fast-track fees and levies provides more detail about how the EPA will recover costs. It describes:

• guiding principles for cost recovery

• fees and rates for various roles and processes

• cost-recovery scope

• cost-recovery methods

• refunds and waivers

• dispute resolution.

Policy for Fast-track applications – fees and levies (PDF, 159KB)