Government Direction On Plan Changes
Last week, the Government announced that all resource management plan changes and district plan reviews that have not yet reached the hearing stage must stop. This forms part of the transition to a new national resource management system, expected to come into effect in 2027.
The direction is intended to reduce pressure on councils and communities as the Government moves to replace the current Resource Management Act (RMA) with a new planning framework.
Council's Director of Sustainable Futures Jocelyne Allen says the Council's planning team is now reviewing the implications, including what the change means for current and future planning work, community consultation and the timing of key planning processes across the region.
'We understand that while this announcement provides direction, it also brings uncertainty and raises questions for our community – especially landowners, developers, tangata whenua and others involved in planning processes currently underway.
While we await the details of the legislation, we're carefully reviewing our current work programme and will provide more information once we have a clearer picture,' says Allen.
As Council navigates these changes, Mrs Allen recognises the hard work that has gone into meeting national requirements while shaping a plan that reflects what matters most to our region and its people.
"We thank our communities, tangata whenua partners and industry stakeholders for their contributions - the work done still matters and continues to guide our priorities. We remain committed to working alongside our communities, Treaty partners and stakeholders to shape the decisions ahead.'
'We welcome the shift toward a planning system that is simpler, more cost-effective and better equipped to support our community's aspirations.'
'In the next coming months, we will actively prepare for the transition to ensure a smooth and effective changeover to deliver positive outcomes to our people and places.'
Council will continue to keep the community updated as further information is released.
For more details, refer to:
Government to stop Council plan changes – Beehive.govt.nz
Speech to the 2025 LGNZ Conference – Beehive.govt.nz
About the Tairawhiti Resource Management Plan:
As a unitary authority, all of Council's management plans are combined into a single document - the Tairāwhiti Resource Management Plan.
This plan guides how we manage and protect our natural and physical resources in Tairāwhiti including land use, development and environmental wellbeing.
Because the plan is large and wide-ranging, Council has been working on updating it through a series of targeted plan changes.
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