Proposed Change 1 to the Natural Resources Plan (NRP)

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:  

• Coast   
• Air   
• Water   
• Land   

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.

• Proposed Plan Change 1 document as notified on 30 October 2023 (PDF 61 MB)
• Clause 16 Memo - 6 December 2023 (PDF 131 KB)
• Proposed Plan Change 1 Section 32 report provides the reasoning supporting the proposed changes (PDF 4.7 MB)
• Full public notice setting out the date of notification and the process for participation (PDF 224 KB)
• Form 5 - GWRC Plan Change 1 to the Natural Resources Plan Change (XLSX 54 KB)
• Guide to making a submission (PDF 306 KB)
• Online submission Portal
• Information Statement (PDF 253 KB)
• GIS Map database

  We have made changes to Plan Change 1 maps 90-95 to improve the user experience. Changes include: addition of aerial basemap, new erosion-risk tile images for faster loading, and contextual data (roads, parcels and address points) for viewing at a large scale (i.e. when zoomed in)

All Technical reports (PDF 24 MB)

• Conwell C 2023. Baseline and current e.coli states for primary contact sites across the Wellington region (PDF 304 KB)
• Crisp 2023. Threatened freshwater species mapping technical guide for the Wellington region (PDF 1.4 MB)
• Easton S., Nation T., Blyth J., - Erosion Risk Mapping for Te-Awarua-o-Porirua and Te-Whanganui-a-Tara (PDF 3.5 MB)
• Farrant, S. 2023. Technical Memorandum: Minimum Stormwater Contaminant Treatment Requirements for New Urban Development and Redevelopment – PC1 NRP. Prepared for Wellington Regional Council. Morphum Environmental (PDF 208 KB)
• Greer 2023a Alignment between reg provisions and TAS in proposed PC1 - TWT Whaitua (PDF 3.9 MB)
• Greer, M.J.C. 2023b. Assessment of alignment between the regulatory provisions and target attribute states in proposed Plan Change 1 to the Natural Resources Plan – Te Awarua-o-Porirua Whaitua (PDF 3.4 MB)
• Greer, M.J.C., Blyth, J., Eason, S., Gadd, J., King, B., Nation, T., Oliver, M., Perrie, A. 2023. Technical assessments undertaken to inform the target attribute state framework of proposed Plan Change 1 to the Natural Resources Plan for the Wellington Region (PDF 9.4 MB)
• Norman, D and Donaldson, E. 2023. Wastewater improvement affordability- Implications of implementation timeframes for affordability (PDF 2.2 MB)
• Norman, D & Peck, L. 2023. Environmental effects offsets: Estimating financial contribution. Prepared for Greater Wellington. GHD project number No. 12584753. GHD Limited, Wellington, New Zealand. (PDF 600 KB)
• Norman, D. 2023 - Technical Memorandum - Defining EHUs and estimating FCs for stand-alone roading projects (PDF 77 KB)
• Oliver 2023. Coastal sites and habitats with significant indigenous biodiversity values in the Wellington region (PDF 291 KB)

• Shearer K and Hayes J 2021. Environmental flows and allocation investigations for small streams in the Greater Wellington region. Prepared for Greater Wellington Regional Council. Cawthron Report No. 3674. 66 p. plus appendices (PDF 2.4 MB)

• Thompson, M.J. 2023. Plan Change 1 – Te Awarua o Porirua, Water quantity and allocation technical report (PDF 780 KB)

Plan Change 1 has some documents incorporated by reference.

FULL PUBLIC NOTICE - Proposed Plan Change 1 to the Natural Resources Plan for the Wellington Region - Documents proposed to be incorporated by reference (PDF 132 KB)

Documents incorporated by reference’ are publications which are referred to within Plan Change 1.

Most of the documents to be incorporated by reference are available for viewing online through the links below. Full sets of the documents to be incorporated by reference are also available for viewing at:

• Greater Wellington Regional Council – Wellington Office, 100 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington
• Greater Wellington Regional Council – Masterton Office, 34 Chapel Street, Masterton (except the New Zealand Standards, these are available to view in person on request)

You can also arrange to view the documents at any Greater Wellington office around the Region by calling 0800 496 734.

New Zealand Acts and Regulations:

• National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020
• Resource Management (Freshwater Farm Plans) Regulations 2023
• Resource Management (National Environment Standards for Freshwater) Regulations 2020
• Resource Management (National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry) Regulations 2017
• Resource Management (Stock Exclusion) Regulations 2020

Australian and New Zealand Standards:

The following documents are published by Standards New Zealand and cannot be viewed online for copyright reasons. Please contact Greater Wellington to arrange to see a copy of these standards in person.

• AS/NZS 2243.8:2014 Safety in Laboratories -Part 8: Fume cupboards
• AS/NZS 4114:2020 Spray painting booths, designated spray painting areas and paint mixing rooms
• NZS 8409:2021 Management of agrichemicals

Other publications:

• Greater Wellington Regional Council Erosion and Sediment Control Guidelines for Land Disturbing Activities in the Wellington Region 2021
• Ministry for Primary Industries 2023, Guidance: What is a forestry advisor?
• Te Awarua-o-Porirua Whaitua Implementation Programme 2019
• Te Awarua-o-Porirua Whaitua Implementation Programme 2019: Ngāti Toa Rangatira Statement
• Te Mahere Wai o Te Kāhui Taiao 2021
• Whaitua Te Whanganui-a-Tara Implementation Programme 2021