Greater Wellington — Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region

Link to: RPS Appeals page

The Regional Policy Statement (RPS) sets out the framework and priorities for resource management in the Wellington region. The Resource Management Act 1991 (the Act) requires all regional councils to produce an RPS for their region and review it every 10 years.

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.

Proposed Change 1 to the Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington Region

We have prepared Proposed Change 1 to the Regional Policy Statement to make changes to the Regional Policy Statement to account for new national direction and to address issues in the Wellington Region. 

The focus of Proposed Change 1 to the Regional Policy Statement is to implement and support the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020 (NPS-UD) and to start the implementation of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (NPS-FM). We are also addressing issues related to climate change, indigenous biodiversity and high natural character. 

Find out more about Proposed RPS Change 1 content and process.

Find out more about versions of the Regional Policy Statement.

Table 9A: Housing bottom lines in the Wellington Tier 1 urban environment

Tier 1 local authority	Total additional dwellings
Tier 1 local authority	Short-medium term (2021-2031)	Long term (2031-2051)
Hutt City Council	9,708	15,064
Kāpiti Coast District Council	6,123	10,053
Porirua City Council	5,916	8,062
Upper Hutt City Council	4,713	7,510
Wellington City Council	15,089	21,532
Wellington Tier 1 Environment Total	41,549	62,221

The short-medium term (2021- 2031) and long term (2031- 2051) housing bottom lines are drawn from the Wellington Regional Housing and Business Development Capacity Assessment, Housing update – May 2022.

Operative Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington Region 2013

The second-generation Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region (RPS) was made operative on 24 April 2013. Copies of the RPS in full or in sections can be downloaded from the toolbar on the right.

The RPS 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). Regional and district plans and the Regional Land Transport Strategy are required to give effect to the policies 1-34 of the RPS, and to consider policy 35-60.

The RPS also sets out a series of methods that the Wellington Regional Council and its partners will undertake, and how the RPS will be monitored to see how the anticipated results of its policies are being achieved.

Regional Policy Statement documents

Please note that both documents make up the Regional Policy Statement and should be read in conjuction.

Regional Policy Statement - Change 1 and Variation 1 - Appeals version

Updated 26/05/2025 Read more here

Published 22 Apr 2025

Download now (PDF 3.9 MB)

Regional Policy Statement 2013 - Updated July 2024

Implementation of the RPS

Historic Heritage

Method 20 of the Regional Policy Statement states that GWRC will develop information to assist with the identification of places, sites and area with significant historic heritage values.

A guide to historic heritage identification, the Historic Heritage User Guide aims to help people understand the different types of historic heritage values associated with places, sites and areas. The guide contains criteria for assessing historic heritage values and the significance of places in a regionally consistent way and in a common language that everyone can understand and use. The criteria are designed to be used by local authorities, community groups and others to evaluate the significance of historic heritage places, sites and areas in accordance with policy 20 of the RPS.

What is historic heritage?

The Resource Management Act 1991 and the proposed Regional Policy Statement define historic heritage asthe natural and physical resources that contribute to an understanding and appreciation of New Zealand’shistory and cultures, deriving from any of the following qualities:

Archaeological
Architectural
Cultural
Historic
Scientific
Technological

Historic heritage includes:

Historic sites, structures, places, and areas; and
Archaeological sites; and
Sites of significance to MÄori, including wahi tapu; and
Surroundings associated with the natural and physicalresources

Why is historic heritage important?

Historic heritage provides a connection to those who lived before us. It helps us define who we are and contributes to our sense of place. Once destroyed, it cannot be replaced. Our history is found in both the tangible physical remains and in the intangible values associated with our ancestors.

How do I identify historic heritage?

This guide includes advice to help you identify historic heritage, including the need for a full and accurate understanding of a place’s history, and to evaluate all aspects of its significance. The criteria help ensure that nothing is overlooked.

A guide to historic heritage identification

This user guide aims to help people understand the different types of historic heritage values associated with places, sites and areas. The guide contains criteria for assessing historic heritage values… Read more here

Published 31 Oct 2010

Download now (PDF 1.6 MB)

Landscape

The Wellington Region Landscape Atlas has been developed to support local authority initiatives associated with implementing policies 25 and 27 and method 50 of the Regional Policy Statement.

This Wellington Region Landscape Atlas is part of the Wellington Region GIS Database - an initiative to assist regional and district council staff and their professional consultants in making landscape character assessments.

The atlas has been developed from selected datasets within the overall geodatabase, and compiles landform, land cover, land use and landscape management spatial data across the Wellington Region and 25km beyond its boundary where available.

The Atlas is available to view in hard copy from Regional Council offices in Wellington and Masterton, or download it below.

Wellington Region Landscape Atlas

This Wellington Region Landscape Atlas has been developed as part of the Wellington Region GIS Database made available through the Regional Council in April 2009. The GIS Database was developed… Read more here

Published 31 May 2009

Download now (PDF 5.7 MB)

About the Wellington Region GIS Database

The Wellington Region GIS database has been developed in collaboration with the eight territorial authorities of the Wellington region and the adjacent regional and district authorities in the Manawatu-Wanganui region (Figure 1.)

The full Database comprises the landscape atlas, a geodatabase of all the compiled land form, land cover, land use and landscape management datasets and a Wellington region landscape 3D visualisation feature. The latter contains selected datasets which can be viewed using Google Earth.

It is designed to support local authority initiatives associated with implementing the proposed Regional Policy Statement policies 24 (Identifying outstanding natural features and landscapes) and 26 (Identifying significant amenity landscape values) and method 49 (Prepare a regional landscape character description).

Regional landscape character description studies

Regional landscape character description studies have been produced for the Wairarapa and Hutt Valley. These landscape descriptions describe and categorise the landscapes to assist with identifying outstanding natural features and significant amenity landscapes.

Full copies of these landscape character descriptions can be found at the links below.

Wairarapa Landscape Character Description Study 2010

This Wairarapa Landscape Character Description documents stage two of the three-part Wairarapa Landscape Study, a comprehensive landscape assessment of the Masterton, Carterton and South Wairarapa districts. Read more here

Published 31 Aug 2010

Download now (PDF 9.8 MB)

Hutt Landscape Character Description Study 2012

This Landscape Character Description documents stage two of the Hutt Landscape Study, a comprehensive landscape assessment of the Lower and Upper Hutt districts. Read more here

Published 30 Apr 2010

Download now (PDF 23 MB)

Reports - evaluation of efficiency and effectiveness

The Section 32 Reports summarise the Council’s evaluation of:

the extent to which each objective is the most appropriate way to achieve the purpose of the Act; and
whether, having regard to their efficiency and effectiveness, the policies and methods are the most appropriate for achieving the objectives.

Eleven reports have been prepared by Greater Wellington. Each Report addresses a topic covered by the Regional Policy Statement and can be downloaded here. If you would like a hard copies please contact the publications officer on 04 801 1094, or email rps@gw.govt.nz

Section 32 report: soils and minerals

This report presents the Resource Management Act 1991 Section 32 evaluation “Consideration of alternatives benefits and costs” for the proposed Regional Policy Statement on soils and minerals. Read more here

Published 28 Feb 2009

Download now (PDF 299 KB)

Section 32 report: natural hazards

This report presents the Section 32 evaluation in accordance with the Resource Management Act 1991, “Consideration of alternatives benefits and costs” for the proposed Regional Policy Statement on natural hazards. Read more here

Published 31 Mar 2009

Download now (PDF 331 KB)

Section 32 report: regional form, design and function

Published 31 Mar 2009

Download now (PDF 295 KB)

Section 32 report: coastal environment (including public access)

Published 31 Mar 2009

Download now (PDF 509 KB)

Section 32 report: air quality

This report presents the Resource Management Act, 1991 Section 32 evaluation “Consideration of alternatives benefits and costs” for the proposed Regional Policy Statement on air quality. Read more here

Published 31 Mar 2009

Download now (PDF 220 KB)

Section 32 report: energy, infrastructure and waste

Published 31 Mar 2009

Download now (PDF 315 KB)

Section 32 report: historic heritage

Published 31 Mar 2009

Download now (PDF 252 KB)

Section 32 report: Indigenous ecosystems

Published 31 Mar 2009

Download now (PDF 283 KB)

Section 32 report: landscape

Published 31 Mar 2009

Download now (PDF 240 KB)

Section 32 report: resource management with tangata whenua

Published 31 Mar 2009

Download now (PDF 416 KB)

Section 32 report: fresh water (including public access)

Published 31 Mar 2009

Download now (PDF 423 KB)

Selection of rivers and lakes with significant amenity and recreational values

The Regional Policy Statement provides direction for city and district councils and the Wellington Regional Council (Greater Wellington) on the management of the natural and physical resources of the Wellington… Read more here

Published 31 Mar 2009

Download now (PDF 512 KB)

Selection of rivers and lakes with significant indigenous ecosystems

The Regional Policy Statement provides direction for city and district councils and Greater Wellington Regional Council on the management of the natural and physical resources of the Wellington region. Read more here

Published 31 Mar 2009

Download now (PDF 512 KB)

Memorandums from council

Updated May 28, 2025 at 10:46 AM

Get in touch

Phone:: 0800 496 734
Email:: info@gw.govt.nz

Document Title	Date Uploaded
Amendment of Change 1 to the Regional Policy Statement pursuant to clause 16 of Schedule 1 to the Resource Management Act 1991 (PDF 255 KB)	28/05/2025