Proposed Natural Resources Plan

Development of the proposed Plan

Developed through a partnership with mana whenua: The proposed Plan recognises the relationship that Māori have with ancestral claims to the region (mana whenua) and it's natural and physical resources. Special effort has been made to identify the values and sites of significance to mana whenua, as well as provisions which recognise and protect these special places. 

The plan has been guided by Te Upoko Taiao - Natural Resource Management Committee, GWRC's decision-making body which is comprised of 7 mana whenua and 7 elected council members. Together, five principles have guided the review: 

• Ki uta ki tai– recognising that natural and physical resources are reliant on one and other – interconnected
• Wairuatanga– recognises that people are connected to place – identify 
• Kaitiakitanga– that we all are guardians of the regions natural and physical resources – guardianship
• Tō mātou whakapono– decisions are to be based on best available knowledge in all its forms
• Mahitahi – that in good faith Greater Wellington Regional Council, iwi and the wider community work together to develop the plan – partnership

Developed with others: The proposed Plan was developed based on input and contributions from a wide range of parties: including iwi, industry, environmental organisations, communities, other agencies and local councils.

• Extensive public meetings; stakeholder workshops and feedback; and consideration of comments on the Working Document for Discussion and the draft Plan
• A plan that is more balanced between urban and rural activities
• Anticipated to be implemented with more buy-in

Developed with new information: The proposed Plan improves on the current plans, in part because a larger base of information and analysis was available. This includes information and analysis collected on good management practices, community values, historic heritage, sites of significance, management efficiency and effectiveness and natural hazards.

The proposed Plan gives effect to most recent legislation (including New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010, National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management 2014, National Environmental Standards for Drinking Water and Air Quality) and recognises current policy (including the 2013 Regional Policy Statement), guidance and industry standards.

Structure of the proposed Plan

Integrated objectives and policies: The proposed Plan will replace the five regional plans that currently have separate objectives and policies for managing the coast, soil, discharges to land, fresh water and air. This not only creates a document that is easier to use, it also reduces inconsistencies (such as those among the five current regional plans) and enables more integrated management between land and water; and between fresh water and coastal water.

• Considers the same policies and activity status across environments in a more consistent and integrated manner

Clearly written: The proposed Plan contains concise definitions and clearly written provisions. In contrast to the current regional plan, the provisions stand on their own and are not followed by the use of explanatory text, which, in the past, has led to confusion and misinterpretation.

• There are more permitted activities (108 compared to 89) providing less need for consents, when appropriate;
• A greater number of prohibited activities (10 as compared to 4) – giving clear protection where needed; and
• More restricted discretionary activities (16 compared to 4) reducing uncertainty and simplifying consenting

Catchment-specific chapters: Catchment-specific, known as “whaitua”, chapters contain provisions that will be amended through variation and plan changes, and will assist in implementing the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management.

• Allows local communities to set their own water quality and quantity limits within the context of national bottom-lines - through the use of recommended plan changes developed by five whaitua committees

Greater emphasis on “place-based” protection: The proposed Plan contains extensive schedules and maps that identify sites that are significant for natural, cultural, social or physical values. Provisions in the proposed Plan are used to manage these places so that they are protected (and enhanced).

• More detailed and informed schedules identifying significant values, e.g. significant biodiversity values or historic heritage;
• Schedules of sites of significance to mana whenua;
• Identified and set objectives for primary swimming rivers; and
• Better protection of trout habitat. 

On-line maps: To support the provisions and schedules, the proposed Plan uses indicative maps that are linked to GIS mapping, which offer more detail and can be zoomed into the individual property scale. Identified sites of significance have been mapped and are linked to their associated schedule.

Water Use

Allocation of freshwater: The proposed Plan uses current information that recognises the connections between groundwater and surface water and manages activities that take, use, dam or divert freshwater as one resource.

• Drives more efficient water use and promoting sustainable water storage – to promote economic development

Water quality: The proposed Plan objective is to maintain water quality or improve it where it does not meet the expectations of the community or of statute. An integrated package of regulatory and non-regulatory methods achieve this, including by expanding existing programmes such as farm environment planning, and by introducing investigations to better establish poor water quality in identified areas. 

The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management must be given effect to by 2022, in line with the Council’s progressive implementation programme and the progressive rolling out of each whaitua process.

The key directions from the NPS-FM:

• Requires councils to set water quality and quantity limits in regional plan to achieve defined outcomes by 2025 at the latest
• Sets national bottom lines for all freshwater through the National Objective Framework

Discharges to land: The proposed Plan identifies and manages discharges to land within drinking water catchments, as required by the National Environmental Standard for Drinking Water.

Stormwater: The proposed Plan recognises that the discharge of stormwater can result in unacceptable effects on water quality and the health of rivers, streams, lakes and the coast. Provisions require most stormwater discharges from the large networks owned by local authorities to be improved over time through a two-stage consent process that also links to the water quality limits to be set through each whaitua process.

Livestock access: The proposed Plan has clear direction on how surface water bodies are to be protected from livestock access.

Biodiversity

Biodiversity: The proposed Plan identifies sites of significance for indigenous biodiversity in the schedules and maps. Proposals for mitigation and biodiversity offsets will be assessed against defined and scheduled best practice.

Wetland protection: The proposed Plan has specific provisions for the protection and management of all wetlands in the region.

Coast and regionally significant infrastructure: Protects coastal areas from reclamation, while providing for the recognition of regionally significant infrastructure. 

• The New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010 - Requires the avoidance of coastal reclamation except in specified circumstances

Air Quality

Air quality: Prevents the burning of toxic materials open fires and wood burners – to clean up our air quality 

• National Environmental Standard for Air Quality -Currently the Masterton township has air quality which does not meet this standard.

Hazard Management

Hazard management: The proposed Plan guides the development of a Regional Natural Hazard Strategy in partnership with Territorial Authorities.

These FAQs are about provisions in the Plan: 

Have the rules about keeping lifestock out of waterways changed since the draft Plan last year? 

After the draft Plan, a focus group looked at the feedback given, and revised rules were presented at public meetings in March. Keeping lifestock out of waterways focuses on animals which have the most effect, and situations, such as intensive grazing, where they can do the most damage. We also want to protect areas of high value. 

Farms in the lowlands will be expected to exclude lifestock from high value areas within 3 years and cattle, such as farmed deer and pig from other waterways, within 7 years. Farms in the hill country will need to exclude lifestock from areas with (significant) value within 3 years, and dairy herds from waterways within 7 years. As well as the specific rules, no waterways can be polluted by lifestock at any time in any part of the region. 

Do I have to exclude lifestock from my wetland? 

Within three (3) years, all livestock will need to be excluded from the outstanding wetlands, listed in the proposed Plan (Schedule A3) and all livestock, other than sheep, from the significant wetlands in Schedule F3. You should have already been contacted by GWRC on this matter, if it affects you. 

How will I know if I have a significant site on my land? 

Do you have a river, lake, wetland or coastline on your land? If not, you cannot have a significant site because the Proposed Plan only identifies sites in 'wet places'. 

You should have been contacted by GWRC in the last 3 years if there is a significant site on your property. We have worked very hard to identify and contact all affected landowners. 

There is a GIS system on the GW website where you can look (LINK TO mapping.gw.govt.nz) to see the significant sites. Find your property by searching for you address and see if there are any overlays that might affect you. 

Why is there an emphasis on Māori values in the proposed Plan? 

The proposed Plan emphasises Māori values to meet the requirements of the Resource Management Act (RMA) and recognise the cultural relationship of Māori in the management of the environment. The Wellington Regional Council has done this by developing the proposed Plan in partnership with mana whenua (Māori who have customary authority) of the region. 

This approach gives resources users more specific information regarding Māori values and how they should be provided for. 

For more information, please view the Māori Values Section 32 Report. (LINK)

Why doesn't the proposed Plan say what Māori values I need to consider in a resource consent application? 

Māori values have been integrated into the proposed Plan and are found throughout the document.  Some values such as mauri and ki uta ki tai are overarching and relevant to all resource use whilst others are specific to a particular place and relationship with a specific mana whenua grouping.

Whilst all Māori values have a general definition which can be found in the glossaries, mana whenua groupings interpret and apply these values differently according to local conditions and custom and usage.  Therefore consideration of Māori values in consent processes depends on place and the people connected to that place.  The input of local mana whenua is needed in order to understand whether the values are likely to be affected by the proposed activity and if so, how those values can be protected.

For more information see Māori Values Section 32 report.

What does ‘legal effect ‘of rules mean to me?

It means if you are applying for resource consent, for the next few years you will need to apply under both the current operative regional plan(s) and the proposed Plan.

It also means that if you want to carry out a new activity that is a permitted activity, you need to comply with the permitted rules and their conditions in both (all) plans – both the operative plan(s) and the proposed Plan.

We suggest you contact us for advice about this if you are unclear about the status of the activity you want to do.

How does the proposed Plan affect my resource consent?

The proposed Plan won’t affect your resource consent until it’s time to renew it. If you need to renew your consent in the next few years you will probably need to apply under both the operative regional plan(s) and the proposed Plan.  Once the proposed Plan is fully operative (probably not for a few years) then you will only need to apply under the new plan.

If I’m allowed to do something now without a resource consent, can I still do that with the proposed Plan?

If you are currently doing something, like taking water from a bore to water your garden, that is a permitted activity in the operative regional plan(s), as long as you don’t change the way you go about doing it (i.e. don’t change how much water you take or where you take it from) you can carry on doing it.  The new plan rules won’t affect you until 6 months after the new plan is operative (i.e. not for a few years).

If you are unsure, please contact us for advice.

Why have you changed the drain rules? 

Drains have become habitat for communities of indigenous plants and animals that used to live in the 95% of the Region’s wetlands that have disappeared. 

The rules for drain clearing in the proposed plan encourage best practice to reduce the impacts of drain maintenance on these communities. 

A resource consent is not needed if the conditions of Rule R121 can be met.

Wellington Regional Council will run an education programme to support landowners and contractors to understand and meet the requirements of Rule R121.

Do I need a resource consent to take or use water for my household needs or my animals? 

No resource consent is needed. Section 14(3)(b) of the Resource Management Act 1991 permits taking water for an individual’s reasonable domestic needs or the reasonable needs of an individual’s animal, provided that  the taking or use does not, or is not likely to have an adverse effect on the environment. Because the proposed Plan is silent on these takes, the Act applies as stated.

I currently have resource consent to take and use water. When my consent expires, will I have to give up any of the water I currently take?

Taking and using water by an existing resource consent can continue when the consent is renewed. Policies in the proposed Plan (R.P2, WH.P2, K.P2) do however limit the amount of water available for allocation so it is more difficult to get more water. Also the use of water must be efficient according to criteria set out in Schedule Q of the proposed Plan.

What other information is available?

Greater Wellington are developing information sheets which will assist Plan users to understand the new policy direction. These will be available on the Greater Wellington website shortly. 

Under section 32 of the RMA, any proposed plan change must be accompanied by a report that assesses both the extent to which each objective is the most appropriate way to achieve the purpose of the Act, and whether the proposed policies and methods are the most appropriate way in which to achieve the objectives in terms of their efficiency and effectiveness. A series of topic-based section 32 reports have been prepared and published alongside the proposed Plan for all the objectives, policies, and methods, including rules. See the  Introduction to the Resource Management Act 1991 (PDF 1.1 MB) Section 32 reports for more information.

• Background to the development of mahinga kai and Māori use outcomes (PDF 837 KB)
• Historic Heritage Addendum Report - Taranaki Street Terminal Breastwork, May 2020 (PDF 1.8 MB)
• Historic Heritage Addendum Report - Clyde Quay Wharf and Apartments, May 2020 (PDF 704 KB)
• Historic Heritage Addendum Report - Harbour edges - Lambton Quay, May 2020 (PDF 2.1 MB)
• A review of coastal and freshwater habitats of significance for indigenous birds in the Wellington Region (PDF 484 KB)
• Allocation recommendations for the Wellington region: Technical report to support the proposed Natural Resources Plan (PDF 2.2 MB)
• Assessment of sites of regional geological significance - Schedule J (PDF 1.7 MB)
• Benchmarking of aquatic ecosystem health and contact recreation outcomes in the Proposed Natural Resources Plan (PDF 1.6 MB)
• Capture zone delineation of community supply and State of Environment monitoring wells in the Greater Wellington Region (PDF 16 MB)
• Coastal and freshwater sites of significance for indigenous birds in the Wellington Region (PDF 809 KB)
• Conjunctive water management recommendations for the Hutt Valley. (PDF 3.3 MB)
• Delineation of drinking water supply catchment protection zones (surface water) – Method to support the Proposed Natural Resource Plan. (PDF 3.1 MB)
• Drinking water catchment protection peer review March 2015 (PDF 470 KB)
• Dodd, A. (2015a) Addendum to: Cochran, C., Murray, R. & Kelley, M. (2012), Archaeological values of freshwater historic heritage of the Wellington Region. A report prepared for Greater Wellington Regional Council. (PDF 4.9 MB)
• Indigenous fish spawning and migration calendar for the Wellington region: Background documentation for Schedule F1a of the draft Natural Resources Plan (PDF 73 KB)  
• Kāpiti Coast groundwater resource investigation: Proposed framework for conjunctive water management. (PDF 5.3 MB)
• Lake Wairarapa water balance investigation: Stage 1 report – interim findings and recommendations (PDF 2.1 MB)
• Lakes in the Wellington region with outstanding aquatic vegetation values: Technical memo to support Schedule A2 of the draft Natural Resources Plan (PDF 37 KB)  
• Lowe Environmental Impact.  2015. Discharge of Treated Municipal Wastewater to Land - Matters of Control and Technical Support. Prepared for WRC. (PDF 612 KB)
• Macroinvertebrate outcomes for aquatic ecosystem health in rivers and streams (PDF 1.7 MB)  
• Minimum flow recommendations for the Wellington region: Technical report to support the proposed Regional Plan (PDF 1.1 MB)
• NIWA REPORT Sites of significance for indigenous marine biodiversity in the Wellington region (PDF 3.4 MB)
• Periphyton and macrophyte outcomes for aquatic ecosystem health in rivers and streams (PDF 1.6 MB)
• Permitted Activity Thresholds: An evaluation of permitted activity thresholds in the Regional Air Quality Management Plan. (PDF 2.3 MB)
• Port Noise Management Plan for CentrePort  (PDF 845 KB)
• Recommended biological and water quality limits for trout fishery and trout spawning waters in the Wellington Region (PDF 1.5 MB)
• Recommended changes to Schedule H attributes and outcomes for the draft Natural Resources Plan: Coastal waters (PDF 238 KB)
• Recommended changes to Schedule H attributes and outcomes for the draft Natural Resources Plan: Groundwater (PDF 104 KB)
• Recommended changes to Schedule H attributes and outcomes for the draft Natural Resources Plan: Lakes (PDF 197 KB)
• Recommended changes to Schedule H attributes and outcomes for the draft Natural Resources Plan: Rivers and streams (PDF 844 KB)
• Recommended changes to Schedule H attributes and outcomes for the Draft Regional Plan: Wetlands (PDF 91 KB)
• Recommended water quality limits for rivers and streams managed for Aquatic Ecosystem Health in the Wellington Region (PDF 1.8 MB)
• Regionally significant surfbreaks for the Greater Wellington Region (PDF 8.9 MB)
• Rivers and lakes with significant indigenous ecosystems (PDF 372 KB)
• Selection of default supplementary allocation criteria for the Natural Resources Plan (PDF 216 KB)
• Technical background report for Schedule H of the Regional Plan working discussion document (PDF 2 MB)
• Technical guidance document: Aquatic ecosystem health and contact recreation outcomes in the Proposed Natural Resources Plan (PDF 423 KB)
• Technical report of Macroinvertebrate Community Index predictions for the Wellington region (PDF 1.1 MB)
• Wairarapa groundwater resource investigation: Framework for conjunctive water management (PDF 11 MB)
• Harris S. 2015. Wairarapa Flow Regimes: Economic impact of draft Plan changes (PDF 665 KB)
• Economic Impact of proposed Plan changes for Water allocation in the Wairarapa (PDF 2.3 MB)

Information sheets

Information sheets are for people wanting to know more about a topic e.g. a beach-care group wanting to know about the coastal management provisions of the Proposed Natural Resources Plan or a farmer wanting to know more about whether their stock can access a stream or how to go about clearing a drain.

• Air quality (PDF 2.1 MB)
• Boatsheds (PDF 2.4 MB)
• Building and maintaining seawalls (PDF 3.2 MB)
• Building structures in river and stream beds (PDF 2.3 MB)
• Coastal marine area (PDF 2.9 MB)
• Draining land (PDF 5.6 MB)
  
• Earthworks and vegetation clearance (PDF 2.3 MB)
• Farm water use (PDF 2.7 MB)
  
• Farming (PDF 2.6 MB)
• Gravel extraction, reclamation and stream diversion (PDF 2.5 MB)
• Household wastewater and septic tanks (PDF 2.2 MB)
• Household water use (PDF 2.1 MB)
• Livestock access to waterways, wetlands and estuaries (PDF 853 KB)
• Māori values (PDF 5.5 MB)
  
• On-farm nutrient and fertiliser management (PDF 7 MB)
• Plantation Forestry - file not found come back.
• Riparian Planting Programme  (PDF 573 KB)
• Rubbish management and offal pits (PDF 2.3 MB)
• Swimming in rivers and the sea and Māori customary use (PDF 2.5 MB)
• Water allocation (PDF 2.4 MB)
  
• Wetlands and the pNRP (PDF 3.3 MB)
• Wetlands Programme  (PDF 301 KB)

Userguides

These user guides are made to assist the implementation of the proposed Natural Resources Plan.

• Cleanfills (PDF 536 KB)
• Composting Toilets (PDF 610 KB)
• Farm Refuse Dumps (PDF 427 KB)
• Offal Pits (PDF 419 KB)
• Onsite Wastewater (PDF 546 KB)
• Pit Latrine (PDF 494 KB)
• Watercourse categorisation guidance document (PDF 843 KB)

Good Management Practice is defined as “Practices, procedures or tools that are effective at achieving the desired performance while providing for desired environmental outcomes. Good management practice evolves through time and results in continuous improvement as new information, technology and awareness of particular issues are developed and disseminated”.

Current GMP guidelines and documents referred to in the Proposed Plan can be found here.  Wellington Regional Council will continue to develop GMP in collaboration with industry, other relevant organisations and stakeholders to support the implementation of policies which rely on GMP to achieve the desired environmental outcomes. 

As new GMP guidelines and documents are developed they will be added to this site.

Good Management Practice links:

Action Plan for Water Quality

• Good Farming Practice Action Plan (PDF 7.4 MB)  published in 2018 jointly by Beef + Lamb, DairyNZ, Horticulture New Zealand, Federated Farmers, Irrigation New Zealand, Ministry for Primary Industries and Ministry for the Environment and supported by Regional Councils
• Action Plan for Water Quality Summary (PDF 242 KB)

Agrichemicals & fumigants

• "NZS 8409:2004" by Standards New Zealand

Agricultural industry activities

• Industry-agreed Good Management Practices relating to water quality, Version 2 18 September 2015 (PDF 1.2 MB)

Biofouling cleaning guidelines

• "Anti-fouling and in-water cleaning guidelines" by DAFF (PDF 361 KB)

Biosolids

• Guidelines for the Safe Application of Biosolids to Land in New Zealand, New Zealand Water & Wastes Association (NZWWA), August 2003 (PDF 845 KB)

Break-feeding/winter grazing

• Break Fed Wintering by DairyNZ (PDF 860 KB)
• Forage Crop Grazing by Beef + Lamb New Zealand

Cultivation and breakfeeding

• "Non-Inversion Agronomy" by FAR (PDF 1.5 MB)

• "Reducing the impacts of winter grazing on soil and water quality" by GWRC (PDF 307 KB)  

Culverts

• Culvert and bridge construction: Guidelines for farmers by MfE

Dairy effluent

• "Dairy effluent guidelines" by GWRC page not found come back

Domestic fires

• "Good practice guide for operating wood burners" by Tasman District Council
• "Warmer Cheaper" by Environment Canterbury
  
• "Webpage on home fires" by Waikato Regional Council

Erosion and sediment control

"Erosion and Sediment Control Guidelines for the Wellington Region" by GWRC - page not found come back

Fertiliser

• Code of Practice for the Placement of Fertiliser in New Zealand August 2020, New Zealand Fertiliser Quality Council

Hazardous substances

• Hazardous Substances by EPA

Industrial air discharges

• "Good practice guide for assessing discharges to air from industry" by MfE
• "Webpage on industrial emissions" by Waikato Regional Council

Nutrient management – rural

• "Industry-agreed Good Management Practices" by FAR, New Zealand Pork, DairyNZ, Beef+Lamb, Horticulture NZ, Deer Industry NZ - page not found come back

Outdoor burning

• "Good practice guide to outdoor burning" by Tasman District Council
• "Learn how to burn smoke free"
  
• “Water sensitive urban design for stormwater: Treatment Device Design Guideline”
• "Webpage on outdoor burning" by Waikato Regional Council

Plantation forestry

• National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry (NES-PF) guidance by MPI

Riparian management

• "Getting riparian planting right in the Wellington Region" by DairyNZ

Rural landuse

• Land and Environment Planning by Beef+Lamb NZ
• "Webpage on farm practices" by Deer Industry NZ

Stormwater

• "Low impact urban design and development (LIUDD) Stormwater guidelines (2012)by Kapiti Coast District Council
• “Water sensitive urban design for stormwater: Treatment Device Design Guideline” by Wellington Water Limited
• "Water sensitive urban design guide"  by Wellington City Council

Wastewater discharges from vessels

• "Sewage systems for recreational boats" by MfE

Watercourse

• Watercourse Categorisation Guidance Document (PDF 2.9 MB)