What is the Natural Resources Plan?
Regional councils have a role in managing land where it affects water quality and quantity, soil conservation, and natural hazards. We set out how to manage discharges or activities involving these resources, to stop degradation or pollution. These plans tell you what you can or cannot do, and if you might need specific permission to use a resource.
In the Wellington region, our regional plan is called the Natural Resources Plan.
The purpose of the Natural Resources Plan (NRP) is to promote the sustainable and integrated management of land and water in the Wellington region.
To achieve this, the NRP has objectives, policies and methods (which include rules) to address issues of use, development and protection of land resources and freshwater resources, including the beds and margins of water bodies. The resources covered by the Natural Resources Plan are the Wellington region’s:
The Natural Resources Plan for the Wellington region is an integration and replacement of five regional plans for soil, fresh water, air, discharges to land, and the coastal marine area.
Why is the Natural Resources Plan important?
Regional councils have a role in managing land where it affects water quality and quantity, soil conservation, and natural hazards. We set out how to manage discharges or activities involving these resources, to stop degradation or pollution. These plans tell you what you can or cannot do, and if you might need specific permission to use a resource.
In the Wellington region, our regional plan is called the Natural Resources Plan.
Why is the Natural Resources Plan being changed?
We must review every provision (objective, policy, rule, or other method) in our Natural Resources Plan every 10 years.
Some councils review their entire plan (known as a full review). Others tackle sections at a time (known as a rolling review). Councils can also change their plan at other times if needed. A national policy statement or national planning standard may require a change in a plan within a certain timeframe.
The provisions of the Proposed Natural Resources Plan were deemed operative (under section 86F of the Resource Management Act 1991) in November 2021, and they need an update. Proposed Plan Change 1 to our Natural Resources Plan is being driven by the need to implement new national direction, the Wellington Regional Growth Framework, and Whaitua recommendations.
What does a change mean?
A plan change is a formal process under the Resource Management Act 1991 to change one or more provisions of the Natural Resources Plan.
What are the key drivers of Plan Change 1?
The changes are being driven by the need to implement Whaitua recommendations for te Awarua-o-Porirua and Te Whanganui-a-Tara, and the national direction for freshwater management.
Who can submit on a change?
Any person or organisation that may be affected can make a submission on any of the proposed changes to the Natural Resources Plan, either online or in written form.
If a person or organisation could gain an advantage in trade competition through a submission, then they may only make a submission if an effect of the Change adversely affects the environment and does not relate to trade competition or the effects of trade competition.
A second round of submissions, known as ‘further submissions’, is also required, however the scope of who may make a further submission is limited to someone representing a relevant aspect of the public interest, someone that has an interest greater than the general public, or the local authority itself. Further submissions may only be made in support or opposition of submissions made in the first round.
What issues does the Natural Resources Plan deal with?
The key natural resource issues identified across the region relate to:
- The quality of freshwater in both urban and rural areas
- The allocation and efficient use of water, including groundwater
- The state of the coastal environment, particularly the impacts that land use and degraded freshwater systems have on coastal and estuarine ecosystems.
- The management of natural hazards, including earthquakes, flooding hazard and natural erosion.
Other natural resource management considerations such as soil conservation, air quality, heritage protection and managing sites of significance are also addressed in the Plan.
The provisions that are part of the 'freshwater planning instrument' either give effect to the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (NPS-FM) with respect to freshwater quality or quantity, or otherwise relate directly to matters which impact freshwater quality or quantity. Amended or proposed Regional Coastal Plan provisions cannot be part of a freshwater planning instrument. The