Latest news with #RegionalCouncil
Scoop
3 days ago
- General
- Scoop
Environment Court Confirms 19 Outstanding Water Bodies In Hawke's Bay
Press Release – Hawkes Bay Regional Council A water body that is classified as outstanding holds a cultural, spiritual, recreational, landscape, natural form and character, or ecological values that are conspicuous, eminent, or remarkable within Hawkes Bay. The Environment Court has confirmed that 19 of Hawke's Bay's water bodies meet the high threshold to be classified as 'outstanding', following appeals on Proposed Plan Change 7 (Outstanding Water Bodies) to the Hawke's Bay Regional Resource Management Plan. This outcome concludes the plan change process and ensures that the region's most exceptional water bodies – including aquifers, lakes, wetlands, rivers and estuaries – will receive the highest level of protection moving forward. A water body that is classified as 'outstanding' holds a cultural, spiritual, recreational, landscape, natural form and character, or ecological values that are conspicuous, eminent, or remarkable within Hawke's Bay. Hawke's Bay Regional Council Group Manager Policy & Regulation Katrina Brunton says, 'These are exceptional places. They stand out as the best of the best, and this decision confirms they'll be recognised and safeguarded for future generations with the health and wellbeing of these water bodies prioritised.' 'While not every water body has been classified as outstanding, many others are highly valued by local communities and tāngata whenua. We remain committed to improving the health and mauri of all water bodies across Hawke's Bay.' List of Outstanding Water Bodies in Hawke's Bay Outstanding water body Outstanding values Heretaunga Plains Aquifer System Cultural or spiritual values (whakapapa o te wai, wāhi taonga, wairua, mauri) Lake Poukawa and Pekapeka Swamp Cultural or spiritual values; Ecology (habitat for aquatic native birds) Lakes Rotoroa and Rototuna (the Kaweka Lakes) Natural character (Lake Rotoroa and Lake Rototuna) Habitat for indigenous aquatic plant community (Lake Rototuna); Habitat for native fish community (Lake Rotoroa) Lake Tūtira (including Lake Waikōpiro) Cultural or spiritual values Lake Waikaremoana Ecology, specifically habitat for aquatic native plant communities; Landscape (wild and scenic) values; Natural character; Recreation (central focus of a Great Walk) Lake Whakakī – Te Paeroa Lagoon – Wairau Lagoon and Wetlands Ecology (habitat for high natural diversity of aquatic native birds) Lake Whatumā Cultural or spiritual values; Ecology (habitat for aquatic native birds, particularly Australasian bittern) Mangahouanga Stream Geology (presence of dinosaur fossils) The Mohaka River upstream of Willow Flat Natural character; Landscape (wild and scenic) values; Recreation, including trout angling, kayaking and rafting; Trout fishery (Mohaka River mainstem and in the tributaries upstream of State Highway 5 bridge) Ngamatea East Swamp Natural character; Ecology (habitat for indigenous plant populations Ngaruroro River & Waitangi Estuary Upstream of the Whanawhana cableway Natural character; Landscape (wild and scenic) values; Rainbow trout habitat; Recreation (trout angling, whitewater rafting, kayaking); Habitat for native aquatic birds (particularly whio) Downstream of the Whanawhana cableway Habitat for native aquatic birds (including banded dotterel, black fronted dotterel) Downstream of the Whanawhana cableway to Fernhill Natural form and character (braided river) Waitangi Estuary Cultural or spiritual values including wāhi taonga, mauri Ruataniwha Plains Aquifer System Cultural or spiritual values (including whakapapa o te wai) Taruarau River Natural character, especially the gorge; Recreation (whitewater rafting and kayaking) Pōrangahau River and Estuary downstream of the Beach Road Bridge Cultural or spiritual values; Ecology (habitat for native aquatic birds) Te Hoe River Landscape (wild and scenic) values; Habitat for aquatic native birds (particularly whio) Te Karamū River Cultural or spiritual values including wāhi taonga, whakapapa o te wai, nohoanga/pāhi Te Whanganui-a-Orotū (Ahuriri Estuary) Cultural or spiritual values including wāhi taonga; Aquatic bird habitat; Native fish habitat Tukituki River downstream of SH50 bridge to the sea, including the estuary Cultural or spiritual values including wāhi taonga for the estuary Ecology (habitat for native aquatic birds, particularly in the lower river) Mainstem of the Tūtaekurī River upstream of the SH50 Bridge Cultural or spiritual values
Scoop
5 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Regional Council Shapes 2025–26 Annual Plan With Community Input
The Hawke's Bay Regional Council has today made decisions on its draft Annual Plan 2025–26, following public consultation between 31 March and 2 May this year. Regional Council Chair Hinewai Ormsby acknowledges the contributions of the 99 people and groups who made formal submissions, as well as those who provided feedback via social media. 'Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their views through submissions. Your feedback reinforced that affordability is what matters most to our communities.' The Regional Council has made some tough decisions and trade-offs to reduce costs across some services, she says. 'We've cut the average rates increase to 9.9 percent — a significant reduction from the 18.3 percent originally forecast for 2025–26. (Please note - this excludes the new targeted rate for the Mangarau Stream for some Hastings district ratepayers). ' This plan is about more than the next year, says Chair Ormbsy, it's about building long-term resilience for our region. 'We're preparing for the bigger conversations around future investments needed to strengthen our flood defences, and water supply resilience and support erosion control. We will engage with our community on these key priorities, with a focus on building a stronger future for Hawke's Bay.' Key decisions from consultation topics: Mangarau Stream flood resilience Regional Council will collect a new targeted rate over three years for flood resilience work for Mangarau Stream in Havelock North, following Cyclone Gabrielle. This will impact about 27,000 ratepayers in the Hastings district. We are collecting this rate to secure Crown funding as part of a regional recovery package and will pass the money collected on to Hastings District Council (HDC). HDC is responsible for the management of streams in Havelock North and are undertaking the work. Passenger transport funding Following public feedback, Regional Council will adjust the way the passenger transport service is rated. Regional Council provides the bus service, goBay and the Total Mobility scheme which provides essential services for people with permanent disabilities. The new model better reflects who has access to these services and standardises a large proportion of the amount paid by households. Upper Tukituki flood control scheme To ensure a more equitable distribution of costs among those who benefit from the scheme's protection, Regional Council will introduce a revised rating method for the Upper Tukituki Flood Control Scheme. The Regional Council also undertook consultation on the Draft Regional Public Transport Plan 2025-2035. The Regional Transport Committee are meeting on 6 June 2025 to deliberate on proposed changes. The Regional Council will formally adopt the Annual Plan 2025–26 and Regional Public Transport Plan 2025-2035 at the Council meeting on 25 June 2025.
Scoop
24-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Next Milestone Reached On Rotorua's Journey To Cleaner Air
Press Release – Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council Bay of Plenty Regional Council councillor Lyall Thurston says while this milestone marks significant progress to improving the citys air quality, the journey towards cleaner air in Rotorua continues. After 15 years of collective effort by the Rotorua community and Bay of Plenty Regional Council to improve air quality in the city, Rotorua will officially shed its 'polluted' air quality status today. Rotorua has long struggled with poor winter-time air quality, due to smoke from wood burners getting trapped by Rotorua's unique landscape. Smoke contains tiny particles, called particulate matter, and to help manage activities that may negatively impact air quality there is a national standard for particulate matter with a diameter of 10 micrometres or less called PM10. Under these standards, a geographical area (referred to as an 'airshed') is classified as 'polluted' if it averages more than one exceedance of the national standard per year for the previous five-year period. When an airshed is 'polluted', it means that Regional Council must decline certain consents for large air discharges as an extra safeguard while air quality is being improved. If an average of one or less exceedances of the national standard per year is maintained in this area for a continuous five-year period, the 'polluted' status can be removed from the airshed. Bay of Plenty Regional Council councillor Lyall Thurston says while this milestone marks significant progress to improving the city's air quality, the journey towards cleaner air in Rotorua continues. 'Over the past 15 years, a series of measures have been introduced by Regional Council to address winter-time air quality issues. These include banning older style burners, launching an extensive education campaign, and enhancing compliance efforts. As a result, the Rotorua Airshed has met the national criteria to have its 'polluted' status removed.' With research highlighting the ongoing health impacts associated with poor air quality, new national rules are expected in the future that will focus on limiting the release of smaller particles into the air. Councillor Thurston says this change will bring new challenges to places like Rotorua, where a lot of people use wood burners to heat their homes. 'While there are still improvements to be made, with numerous smokey fires in use, this milestone marks an opportunity to say thank you to those who have already made the change to cleaner heating, and recognise how collective change has made an impact for the benefit of all Rotorua residents and visitors. 'We want to also acknowledge the work by the other members of the Rotorua Air Quality Working Group, including Rotorua Lakes Council, Kainga Ora and the medical officers of health at Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora.' The Rotorua Airshed will officially lose its polluted status on Saturday 24 May. Under the current National Environmental Standards for Air Quality, if there are a certain number of exceedances in any five-year period, it will be reclassified as 'polluted' again. Regional Council is responsible for monitoring and managing air quality. For more information on its work to improve air quality in Rotorua, visit Background The Rotorua Airshed, a geographic area for air quality management, was established in 2005 to enable monitoring and the introduction of rules to help improve air quality. Regional Council has been monitoring air quality at two sites in the Rotorua Airshed since 2008, measuring small particles that can be inhaled, called particulate matter, against the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality. These standards ensure a minimum level of health protection for people living in New Zealand. Currently, there is only a national standard for PM10, (particulate matter with a diameter of 10 micrometres or less), not the finer particulate matter called PM2.5, although this is expected to change in the coming years. For years, monitoring in Rotorua showed the city struggled with poor air quality over winter, primarily due to wood burner emissions being trapped by the city's unique topography. Numerous exceedances of the national limits were recorded. At its worst, Rotorua was the city with the worst winter-time air pollution in the country, impacting air quality and those vulnerable to respiratory issues. You can view the number of exceedances recorded here: Recent research highlighting the ongoing negative health impacts associated with poor air quality include Our air 2024, PM2.5 in New Zealand – Modelling the current levels of fine particulate air pollution and WHO global air quality guidelines: particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide. You can also view an update on air quality in Rotorua in the Agenda of Strategy and Policy Committee – Tuesday, 13 May 2025. New rules focusing on PM2.5 were consulted on through the Proposed amendments to the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality in July 2020. We are currently waiting on Government direction as to when these standards will be updated.
Scoop
24-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Next Milestone Reached On Rotorua's Journey To Cleaner Air
After 15 years of collective effort by the Rotorua community and Bay of Plenty Regional Council to improve air quality in the city, Rotorua will officially shed its 'polluted' air quality status today. Rotorua has long struggled with poor winter-time air quality, due to smoke from wood burners getting trapped by Rotorua's unique landscape. Smoke contains tiny particles, called particulate matter, and to help manage activities that may negatively impact air quality there is a national standard for particulate matter with a diameter of 10 micrometres or less called PM10. Under these standards, a geographical area (referred to as an 'airshed') is classified as 'polluted' if it averages more than one exceedance of the national standard per year for the previous five-year period. When an airshed is 'polluted', it means that Regional Council must decline certain consents for large air discharges as an extra safeguard while air quality is being improved. If an average of one or less exceedances of the national standard per year is maintained in this area for a continuous five-year period, the 'polluted' status can be removed from the airshed. Bay of Plenty Regional Council councillor Lyall Thurston says while this milestone marks significant progress to improving the city's air quality, the journey towards cleaner air in Rotorua continues. 'Over the past 15 years, a series of measures have been introduced by Regional Council to address winter-time air quality issues. These include banning older style burners, launching an extensive education campaign, and enhancing compliance efforts. As a result, the Rotorua Airshed has met the national criteria to have its 'polluted' status removed.' With research highlighting the ongoing health impacts associated with poor air quality, new national rules are expected in the future that will focus on limiting the release of smaller particles into the air. Councillor Thurston says this change will bring new challenges to places like Rotorua, where a lot of people use wood burners to heat their homes. 'While there are still improvements to be made, with numerous smokey fires in use, this milestone marks an opportunity to say thank you to those who have already made the change to cleaner heating, and recognise how collective change has made an impact for the benefit of all Rotorua residents and visitors. "We want to also acknowledge the work by the other members of the Rotorua Air Quality Working Group, including Rotorua Lakes Council, Kainga Ora and the medical officers of health at Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora.' The Rotorua Airshed will officially lose its polluted status on Saturday 24 May. Under the current National Environmental Standards for Air Quality, if there are a certain number of exceedances in any five-year period, it will be reclassified as 'polluted' again. Regional Council is responsible for monitoring and managing air quality. For more information on its work to improve air quality in Rotorua, visit Background The Rotorua Airshed, a geographic area for air quality management, was established in 2005 to enable monitoring and the introduction of rules to help improve air quality. Regional Council has been monitoring air quality at two sites in the Rotorua Airshed since 2008, measuring small particles that can be inhaled, called particulate matter, against the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality. These standards ensure a minimum level of health protection for people living in New Zealand. Currently, there is only a national standard for PM10, (particulate matter with a diameter of 10 micrometres or less), not the finer particulate matter called PM2.5, although this is expected to change in the coming years. For years, monitoring in Rotorua showed the city struggled with poor air quality over winter, primarily due to wood burner emissions being trapped by the city's unique topography. Numerous exceedances of the national limits were recorded. At its worst, Rotorua was the city with the worst winter-time air pollution in the country, impacting air quality and those vulnerable to respiratory issues. You can view the number of exceedances recorded here: Recent research highlighting the ongoing negative health impacts associated with poor air quality include Our air 2024, PM2.5 in New Zealand - Modelling the current levels of fine particulate air pollution and WHO global air quality guidelines: particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide. You can also view an update on air quality in Rotorua in the Agenda of Strategy and Policy Committee - Tuesday, 13 May 2025. New rules focusing on PM2.5 were consulted on through the Proposed amendments to the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality in July 2020. We are currently waiting on Government direction as to when these standards will be updated.
Scoop
24-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Next Milestone Reached On Rotorua's Journey To Cleaner Air
After 15 years of collective effort by the Rotorua community and Bay of Plenty Regional Council to improve air quality in the city, Rotorua will officially shed its 'polluted' air quality status today. Rotorua has long struggled with poor winter-time air quality, due to smoke from wood burners getting trapped by Rotorua's unique landscape. Smoke contains tiny particles, called particulate matter, and to help manage activities that may negatively impact air quality there is a national standard for particulate matter with a diameter of 10 micrometres or less called PM10. Under these standards, a geographical area (referred to as an 'airshed') is classified as 'polluted' if it averages more than one exceedance of the national standard per year for the previous five-year period. When an airshed is 'polluted', it means that Regional Council must decline certain consents for large air discharges as an extra safeguard while air quality is being improved. If an average of one or less exceedances of the national standard per year is maintained in this area for a continuous five-year period, the 'polluted' status can be removed from the airshed. Bay of Plenty Regional Council councillor Lyall Thurston says while this milestone marks significant progress to improving the city's air quality, the journey towards cleaner air in Rotorua continues. 'Over the past 15 years, a series of measures have been introduced by Regional Council to address winter-time air quality issues. These include banning older style burners, launching an extensive education campaign, and enhancing compliance efforts. As a result, the Rotorua Airshed has met the national criteria to have its 'polluted' status removed.' With research highlighting the ongoing health impacts associated with poor air quality, new national rules are expected in the future that will focus on limiting the release of smaller particles into the air. Councillor Thurston says this change will bring new challenges to places like Rotorua, where a lot of people use wood burners to heat their homes. 'While there are still improvements to be made, with numerous smokey fires in use, this milestone marks an opportunity to say thank you to those who have already made the change to cleaner heating, and recognise how collective change has made an impact for the benefit of all Rotorua residents and visitors. "We want to also acknowledge the work by the other members of the Rotorua Air Quality Working Group, including Rotorua Lakes Council, Kainga Ora and the medical officers of health at Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora.' The Rotorua Airshed will officially lose its polluted status on Saturday 24 May. Under the current National Environmental Standards for Air Quality, if there are a certain number of exceedances in any five-year period, it will be reclassified as 'polluted' again. Regional Council is responsible for monitoring and managing air quality. For more information on its work to improve air quality in Rotorua, visit Background The Rotorua Airshed, a geographic area for air quality management, was established in 2005 to enable monitoring and the introduction of rules to help improve air quality. Regional Council has been monitoring air quality at two sites in the Rotorua Airshed since 2008, measuring small particles that can be inhaled, called particulate matter, against the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality. These standards ensure a minimum level of health protection for people living in New Zealand. Currently, there is only a national standard for PM10, (particulate matter with a diameter of 10 micrometres or less), not the finer particulate matter called PM2.5, although this is expected to change in the coming years. For years, monitoring in Rotorua showed the city struggled with poor air quality over winter, primarily due to wood burner emissions being trapped by the city's unique topography. Numerous exceedances of the national limits were recorded. At its worst, Rotorua was the city with the worst winter-time air pollution in the country, impacting air quality and those vulnerable to respiratory issues. You can view the number of exceedances recorded here: Recent research highlighting the ongoing negative health impacts associated with poor air quality include Our air 2024, PM2.5 in New Zealand - Modelling the current levels of fine particulate air pollution and WHO global air quality guidelines: particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide. You can also view an update on air quality in Rotorua in the Agenda of Strategy and Policy Committee - Tuesday, 13 May 2025. New rules focusing on PM2.5 were consulted on through the Proposed amendments to the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality in July 2020. We are currently waiting on Government direction as to when these standards will be updated.
