Where are we in the change process?

Pause to the Plan Change 1 process
Proposed Plan Change 1 to the Natural Resources Plan (PC1) is currently paused effective from 26 June 2025. The plan change process will resume when there is greater certainty on the direction of the amended National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (which may be post-Cabinet decisions and prior to gazettal).
The notified version of proposed PC1 remains in effect during the pause period.
Further information on the decision to pause PC1 is available in the Council order paper from the 26 June 2025 Council Meeting (item 6).
A minute from the Hearing Panel was issued on 2 July 2025 which outlines the implications for the PC1 hearings. Minute 14 - Pausing of Plan Change 1 Hearing Process
Variation to Plan Change 1
Council intends to initiate a Variation to Plan Change 1 which will make amendments to the following aspects:
- The date by which financial contributions would be payable
- The date by which the hydrological control requirements of permitted activity rules WH.R5 and P.R5 would apply
As a result of amendments to Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Act 2025 (plan stop amendments) council is required to seek approval from the Minister for the Environment to proceed with a variation to PC1.
Council has sought an exemption to the plan stop legislation to notify a variation to Plan Change 1. The Ministry for the Environment are unsure how long it will take for the minister to process/respond to applications, however this website will be kept up to date as soon as a response is received.
You can view the proposed wording for the variation (PDF 303 KB) that Greater Wellington have submitted as part of our application as well as a document detailing the context for the changes (PDF 155 KB) .
It is important to note is that this is the proposed wording. It is not operative and therefore the current version of PC1 will continue to be applied by our regulation team until we get that permission and the subsequent variation is formally notified.
This stage is now closed
This stage starts in November 2024
Use the 'Layer List' to view the Proposed Change 1 to the Natural Resources Plan mapping through Greater Wellington's GIS Viewer.
Get in touch
- Phone:
- 0800 496 734
- Email:
- info@gw.govt.nz