Proposed Regional Policy Statement

The Resource Management Act 1991 requires all regional councils to produce a regional policy statement for their region and then review it every 10 years to promote the purpose of the Act. A core purpose of the Act is “sustainable management of natural and physical resources”. In this context, “sustainable management” means development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

The Regional Policy Statement identifies the regionally significant issues around the management of the regions natural and physical resources and sets out what needs to be achieved (objectives) and the way in which the objectives will be achieved (policies and methods).

Both regional and district plans are required to give effect to the Regional Policy Statement, so it has a direct bearing on what councils will need to do to protect and enhance our environment. The proposed Regional Policy Statement will also need to given regard when resource consents are processed.

The proposed Regional Policy Statement follows a lengthy review of the existing document and significant work in collaboration with the other councils in the Wellington region. Submissions on the proposed Regional Policy Statement closed on 25 May 2009. On 11 July 2009 Greater Wellington publicly notified the summary of submissions received and on 8 August further submissions closed. Hearings for the Proposed Regional Policy Statement ran between 3 and 16 November. View a copy of the staff report and hearing schedule.

Download the complete proposed Regional Policy Statement 2009 or the individual sections.

Decisions on submissions were approved by the Wellington Regional Council on 18 May 2010 and publicly notifed on 22 May 2010.

A copy of the proposed Regional Policy Statement including changes as a result of decisions on submissions can also be downloaded here.

Copies of any of the documents releating to the Regional Policy Statement review can also be obtained free of charge from Greater Wellington. If you would like a hard copy and/or a CD, please contact the publications officer on 04 801 1094.