Plan Change 1 to the Natural Resources Plan will shortly be at the stage of Hearings, where submitters have the opportunity to speak to a Hearing Panel about their submission.
There are five Hearing Streams, each stream covers a specific topic. Hearings start in November 2024 and finish in July 2025.
Hearing Panel Members, Minutes and Directions
Hearing Stream Timetable
There are five Hearing Streams. Each stream covers a specific topic. Hearings are held from November 2024 to July 2025.
| Event | Topics | Location | Date to start | Date to end |
| Hearing Stream One | Overarching Matters and Region-Wide: Air Quality; Beds of Lakes and Rivers; Schedules and Threatened Species Objectives |
Greater Wellington Council Chamber
Naumi Hotel as Alternative |
November 4th, 2024 | November 6th, 2024 |
| Hearing Stream Two | Objectives and Ecosystem health policies. | April 7th, 2025 | April 17th, 2025 | |
| Hearing Stream Three | Rural land use activities, Forestry including vegetation clearance and Earthworks | May 19th, 2025 | May 30th, 2025 | |
| Hearing Stream Four | Stormwater and general discharges to water policies, Water Quantity - Te Awarua-o-Porirua, Freshwater Action Plans and Wastewater | June 23rd, 2025 | July 4th, 2025 | |
| Hearing Stream Five | Integration Right of Reply hearing | July 28th, 2025 | August 2nd, 2025 |
Hearing Stream Five
Starts July 28, 2025
Integration Right of Reply hearing
Hearing Phase and Timeline
Submitters will be contacted by using the Address for Service provided in each submission. If you are a submitter and/or further submitter and wish to update this Address for Service, please email regionalplan@gw.govt.nz
Submitters and/or further submitters who have requested to be heard in support of their submission will have the opportunity to speak to a Hearing Panel from late-2024 onwards.
In advance of each hearing stream, documents are released to help inform the hearing panel. (These may include S42A reports, technical evidence, legal submissions, and rebuttal reports).
Hearings Panel will listen to submitters over the course of the hearing
The Friend of Submitter service is available during the hearing phase for submitters to use if support is needed in preparing for your hearing. The Friend of Submitters is fully independent and has not been involved in developing the Proposed Change 1. You can contact them by sending an email Friend.of.Submitter@gw.govt.nz
We have two Hearing Panels appointed for these Hearings:
- The Part 1, Schedule 1 (P1S1) Hearings Panel, appointed by the Council, who will hear and make recommendations on submissions in relation to the Part 1, Schedule 1 provisions of NRP Change 1.
- The Freshwater Hearings Panel (FHP) panel, appointed by the Chief Freshwater Commissioner to hear submissions on the Freshwater Planning Instrument component of NRP Change 1.
Hearing Panel Directions
The Hearing Panels will release Minutes prior to the Hearing to advise of directions, procedures, dates and evidence deadlines.
It is essential that all parties attending the Hearing have read and understood all of the Hearing Panel Minutes.
Further directions will be issued by the Hearing Panel prior to, during and post Hearings
Further Assistance
For any questions about Plan Change 1 National Resources Plan hearings that is not covered by our website content, please contact our team at regionalplan@gw.govt.nz.
If you have any questions regarding how to present a submission at a hearing, please email our independent Friend of the Submitter at Friend.of.Submitter@gw.govt.nz
Get in touch
- Phone:
- 0800 496 734
- Email:
- info@gw.govt.nz