Proposed Waikato Regional Coastal Plan

Read the Proposed Waikato Regional Coastal Plan and its policies, rules and methods to manage the use and allocation of resources in the coastal marine area.

Hearings information

Read other information on the hearings, including Section 42A reports, submitter evidence and expert conferencing material.

Summary of Decisions Requested

Further submissions closed at 5pm on 29 April 2024.

Submissions and further submissions received to Proposed Waikato Regional Coastal Plan

The submissions period closed on 14 November 2023 and 1359 submissions received of which 1252 were proforma submissions.

The period for further submissions closed on 29 April 2024 with 30 further submissions received.

Follow the link below to read the submissions.

Submissions received to Proposed Waikato Regional Coastal Plan
Ext. link

Further submissions received to Proposed Waikato Regional Coastal Plan
Ext. link

Rules with immediate effect

The Proposed Waikato Regional Coastal Plan contains certain rules that will have immediate legal effect upon notification, including all associated standards, schedules, maps and definitions.

Rules relating to discharges to air, aquaculture, historic heritage, discharges to water, and water take, use, dam or divert have immediate legal effect from 18 August 2023. All other rules (with some exceptions) have legal effect from 26 October 2023.

The following information provides details on these rules and what it means for activities that may require resource consent.

Click here to read the information sheet on the legal effect of rules in the proposed coastal plan
Ext. link

Materials incorporated by reference

Material incorporated by reference in the proposed coastal plan is listed below.

Material incorporated by reference in the proposed coastal plan is listed below.

Integrated management
- Vision and Strategy for the Waikato River
- Waikato Navigation Safety Bylaw [PDF, 9.8 MB]
Biosecurity
Ecosystems and indigenous biodiversity
- New Zealand Threat Classification Systems lists
Noise and vibration
Water quality and discharges
- Default Guideline values in ANZG (2018)

Supporting documents

The following links are to the maps and referenced documents used in the proposed coastal plan.

Plan stages and information

Proposed plan development – 2018 to 2023
Proposed plan notified – 18 August 2023
Submissions on proposed plan – closed 14 November 2023
Further submissions - closed 29 April 2024
Hearings - completed 30 April 2025
Decisions notified
Appeals
Plan operative

Timeline of the review process

Diagram showing Regional Coastal Plan development timeline

Development of the proposed coastal plan

Over the last five years, council has carried out a review of the Waikato Regional Coastal Plan to bring it into line with national and regional policy direction while ensuring it meets the needs of Waikato communities.

The Resource Management Act (RMA) requires the coastal plan to be reviewed every 10 years to update provisions, as necessary, and take into account legislative changes and national and regional policy direction.
The Coastal Plan became operative in 2005 and a lot has changed since then.
- It does not fully implement some statutory documents, e.g. New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement, and national policy statements and environmental standards
- Some of the rules in the plan do not sustain values of the coastal marine area, enable regional development, or incorporate Treaty Settlement obligations
- It’s also been identified as confusing, and difficult to meet, monitor and enforce.
The Waikato Regional Coastal Plan is the rulebook for activities in the coastal marine area – the area from the Mean High Water Springs (MHWS) mark to 12 nautical miles.
Land based areas within the coastal environment are managed by regional and district plans.
To develop the coastal plan, we have sought feedback from a range of stakeholders, including iwi, agencies, industry and coastal users and residents.
Waikato communities have told us that the coastal plan needs to protect and enhance our unique way of life by providing for the restoration of indigenous habitats and ecosystems, prohibiting discharges and establishing water quality standards, and managing disturbances to protect natural coastal processes.
And at the same time, address climate change and the impacts of coastal erosion and inundation, while providing for tangata whenua perspectives and values, and support for our region’s aquaculture industry.
This feedback, along with iwi management plans and statutory requirements, have informed the development of the Proposed Waikato Regional Coastal Plan which was notified on 18 August 2023.
The following reports provide an analysis of the feedback we’ve received from communities.
The following documents provide information on the coastal plan review.

Te Mahere Takutai Moana ā-Rohe o Waikato e Marohitia Nei Proposed Waikato Regional Coastal Plan

Current status