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Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 15
3. Resource management issues, objectives and summary of policies and methods to achieve the objectives in the Regional Policy Statement
This chapter provides an overview of the issues addressed by the Regional Policy Statement, the objectives sought to be achieved and provides a summary of the policies and methods to achieve the objectives. These are presented under the following topic headings:
• Airquality• Coastalenvironment,includingpublicaccess• Energy,infrastructureandwaste• Freshwater,includingpublicaccess• Historicheritage• Indigenousecosystems• Landscape• Naturalhazards• Regionalform,designandfunction• Resourcemanagementwithtangatawhenua• Soilsandminerals
Each section in this chapter addresses a topic then introduces the issues. All the issuesare issues of regional significance or have been identified as issues of significance to theWellington region’s iwi authorities. Each section includes a summary table showing allthe objectives that relate to that topic and the titles of the policies and methods that will achieve those objectives. The table also includes a reference to other policies that need to be considered alongside to gain a complete view of the issue across the full scope of the Regional Policy Statement.
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 17
Overall,theWellingtonregionhasgoodairquality.Thisisbecauseithasawindyclimate,andtherearefewairpollutingindustriesintheregion.However,theregiondoesexperiencelocalisedairqualityproblemsthatimpactontheamenityandhealthofthecommunityandthe mauri of air.
Somecontaminantsinairareassociatedwithpeople’sactivities–suchassmokefromfires,dust and other emissions – which may produce fumes or odours.
Of those discharges associated with people’s activities:
• ThemostpollutingaircontaminantintheWellingtonregionisfineparticulatematter.Inwinteralmostallofthiscomesfromdomesticfires
• Odours,smokeanddustfrompeople’sactivitiescanreducetheamenityofanarea,affectpeople’shealthandsocialandculturalwellbeing,createannoyance,andsometimes cause poor visibility
• Ourmonitoringshowsthatdischargesfrommotorvehiclesintheregiondonotoccuratlevelsthatcouldadverselyaffectpeople’shealth
• Industrialdischargesfromsources–suchasabrasiveblastingandwoodprocessing–canhavelocalisedadverseeffects.Industriesthatdischargetoairarelargelyconcentrated around Seaview
Theamenityvalueofairdependsonhowcleanandfreshitis.Highamenityisassociatedwith good visibility, low levels of deposited dust and people’s ability to enjoy their outdoor environment is not impaired. Amenity is reduced by contaminants in the air affectingpeople’s wellbeing – such as when dust and smoke reduces visibility or soils surfaces, or when odour is objectionable.
Reverse sensitivity effects can arise along the interface between areas of differing landuses–suchasbetweenresidentialandindustrialorruralareas.Amenityvaluesneedtobeconsidered in the context ofdifferent environments and theymay change temporarilyorseasonally. Ineffect,whatconstitutesanobjectionableodour,or levelofsmokeordust is,inpart,dependantonthenormalconditionsexperiencedinalocalityoratatimeofyear.Theseeffectsaremostlikelytoarisewhereproductionisadjacenttoresidentialandrural-residentialsubdivisionsoradjacenttoareaswhichcanbesubdivided.Insuchcircumstances,the new activitieswouldneed to accept the effects or incorporate provisions that ensureadequateprotectionfromadverseeffectsfromtheestablishedactivity.
3.1 Air quality
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region18
The National Environmental Standards for Air Quality were introduced in 2004. Thestandardsarebreachedwhenthethresholdconcentrationforfineparticulatematter(PM10) is exceededmore than once in an airshed, in a 12 month period. The eight airsheds intheWellington region areKāpiti, Porirua,UpperHutt,LowerHutt,Wainuiomata, centralWellington, Karori and Wairarapa.
Outdoorairqualitymonitoringhasshownthatduringperiodsofcoldcalmweather,levelsoffineparticulatemattermaybuildup,particularlyintheWairarapa(specificallyMasterton),WainuiomataandUpperHuttairsheds.Onoccasions, the levelsoffineparticulatematterhaveexceededthenationalenvironmentalstandardforairquality.
TheregionallysignificantissuesandtheissuesofsignificancetotheWellingtonregion’siwiauthoritiesforairqualityare:
1. Impacts on amenity and wellbeing from odour, smoke and dustOdour, smoke and dust affect amenity values and people’s wellbeing. These effects aregenerally localised and result from the following activities or land uses:
(a) odourfromactivities–suchas,rendering,spraypaintingandsolventuse,landfills,sewagetreatmentplants,silagefeedingandeffluentspreading
(b) smokefromdomesticfiresandbackyardburning(c) dustfromlandusesoractivities–suchas,earthworks,quarries,andlandclearance.
2. Health effects from discharges of fine particulate matterFineparticulatematterpredominantlydischargedfromdomesticfires,occasionallyreachesconcentrations that can harm people’s health. This can happen in valleys and areas where levelsoffineparticulatemattermaybuildupduringperiodsofcoldcalmweather.
Table 1: Air quality Objective 2
Table 1: Air quality Objective 1
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 19
Tab
le 1
: A
ir q
ual
ity
ob
ject
ives
an
d t
itle
s o
f p
olic
ies
and
met
ho
ds
to a
chie
ve t
he
ob
ject
ives
Ob
ject
ives
Polic
y ti
tles
Pa
ge
Met
ho
d t
itle
sIm
ple
men
tati
on
(*l
ead
au
tho
rity
)Pa
ge
Ob
ject
ive
1
Dis
char
ges
of o
dour
, sm
oke
and
dust
to
air
do n
ot
adve
rsel
y af
fect
am
enity
val
ues
and
peop
le’s
wel
lbei
ng.
Polic
y 1:
Odo
ur, s
mok
e an
d du
st –
dis
tric
t pl
ans
90M
etho
d 1:
Dis
tric
t pl
an im
plem
enta
tion
City
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls15
3
Met
hod
6: In
form
atio
n ab
out
redu
cing
air
pollu
tion
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
154
Met
hod
31: P
roto
cols
for
man
agem
ent
of
eart
hwor
ks a
nd a
ir qu
ality
bet
wee
n lo
cal
auth
oriti
es
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
158
Als
o s
ee –
Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icie
s 7
& 8
; Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9)
polic
ies
30, 3
1 &
32
and
co
nsi
der
– E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
y 39
; Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
y 54
; Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9; S
oils
and
m
iner
als
(Tab
le 1
1) p
olic
y 60
Polic
y 2:
Red
ucin
g ad
vers
e ef
fect
s of
the
dis
char
ge o
f od
our,
smok
e, d
ust
and
fine
part
icul
ate
mat
ter
– re
gion
al
plan
s
91M
etho
d 2:
Reg
iona
l pla
n im
plem
enta
tion
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il15
3
Met
hod
6: In
form
atio
n ab
out
redu
cing
air
pollu
tion
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
154
Met
hod
26: P
repa
re a
irshe
d ac
tion
plan
sW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
157
Met
hod
31: P
roto
cols
for
man
agem
ent
of
eart
hwor
ks a
nd a
ir qu
ality
bet
wee
n lo
cal
auth
oriti
es
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
158
Als
o s
ee –
Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icie
s 7
& 8
an
d c
on
sid
er –
Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(T
able
3) p
olic
y 39
; Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
y 54
; Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49;
Soi
ls a
nd m
iner
als
(Tab
le 1
1) p
olic
y 60
Ob
ject
ive
2H
uman
hea
lth is
pro
tect
ed
from
una
ccep
tabl
e le
vels
of
fine
part
icul
ate
mat
ter.
Polic
y 2:
Red
ucin
g ad
vers
e ef
fect
s of
the
dis
char
ge o
f od
our,
smok
e, d
ust
and
fine
part
icul
ate
mat
ter
– re
gion
al
plan
s
91M
etho
d 2:
Reg
iona
l pla
n im
plem
enta
tion
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il 15
3
Met
hod
6: In
form
atio
n ab
out
redu
cing
air
pollu
tion
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
154
Met
hod
26: P
repa
re a
irshe
d ac
tion
plan
sW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
157
Met
hod
31: P
roto
cols
for
man
agem
ent
of
eart
hwor
ks a
nd a
ir qu
ality
bet
wee
n lo
cal
auth
oriti
es
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
158
Als
o s
ee –
Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icie
s 7
& 8
; an
d c
on
sid
er –
Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
y 39
; Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
y 54
; Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith
tang
ata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49;
Soi
ls a
nd m
iner
als
(Tab
le 1
1) p
olic
y 60
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 21
FromŌtakiaroundtotheWairarapa,theregion’scoastalenvironmentcontainssignificanthabitats for a wide variety of plants and animals, and also provides for a diverse range of activities. The character ranges from the largely rural Wairarapa coast to the highly developed urbanareasaroundWellingtonandPoriruaHarbours.TheKāpiticoasthassandybeaches,andisexperiencingrapidpopulationgrowth.Thesouthcoastisrugged,yetbecauseofitsproximitytotheHuttValleyandWellingtoncity,isapopularplacetovisit.
Tangata whenua have strong links with the coastal environment, value its mauri, its mana andallitoffers.Theregion’sidentityandsignificancetoMāoriarecloselyintertwinedwiththecoastalenvironment.Manysiteswithinthecoastalenvironmentareassociatedwithiwihistories,traditionsandtikanga.Forexample,mahingamātaitai(placestogatherseafood)andtaurangawaka(canoelandingplaces).Someofthesesitesembodyspiritualandsacredvalues,suchasurupa(burialplaces).Ofparticularconcerntotangatawhenuaisthedischargeof human and other wastes into the coastal environment, which causes a loss of mauri of the water body.
Aswell as its cultural importance, the coastal environment is important to the regionalcommunityforrecreationandgeneralenjoyment. It isalsothe locationofmanyactivitiesandstructuresthatrequireacoastallocation.Significantinfrastructure–suchasCentreport,theCookStraitcableandothertransmissioninfrastructure,andseveralstatehighwayandrail corridors – is located in the coastal environment. This infrastructure is essential to the community’s economic and social wellbeing. This region’s coastal environment also has significantwindandmarineenergy resources.Therearealsoother commercial activitiesthatmaybeappropriateinhighlymodifiedcoastalareas.
TheRegionalPolicyStatementmustgiveeffecttotheNewZealandCoastalPolicyStatement,which provides a policy framework for both the wet and dry parts of the coastal environment. This framework recognises the ecological, geographical, cultural, social, and economic linkages between land and sea, and the complementary responsibilities that differentauthorities have for coastal management. Other national policy statements are also relevant.
The preservation of natural character in the coastal environment is amatter of nationalimportanceintheResourceManagementAct.Mattersthatcontributetothenaturalcharacterof the coastal environment include: the dynamic coastal processes and ecosystems of escarpments,sanddunes,estuariesandsaltmarshes,significantlandscapesandseascapes,geological features and landforms, sand dunes and beach systems, sites of historic or cultural significance,anarea’samenityandopenness,andinsomeplacesitsremoteness.
3.2 Coastal environment (including public access)
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region22
Much of the region’s coastal environment is in private ownership and is being activelyfarmed.Thisrurallandusehashadasignificantimpactonthecoastalenvironmentresultinginlandscapeswhichare‘modifiedbutnatural’inthecontinuumofnaturalcharacter.Thesepastorallandscapesarevaluedbypeoplenotonlyfortheirnaturalcharacter(aestheticappeal)but also by landowners for the economic benefits theyderive from them.While farmingactivitieshavemodified the coastal environment, thesepastoral “working landscapes”, insome cases, have helped to prevent further more intensive development. Reasonable use of thecoastalenvironment,includingexistinguse,shouldbeprovidedfor,whileprotectingthecoast from inappropriate activities and development.
Natural character of the coast is being degraded through incremental loss and damageto coastal ecosystems including estuaries and salt-marshes, e.g. the Waikanae estuary,PauatahanuiInlet,andMotuwairekaStreamestuaryatRiversdale.Ithaslargelybeenlostinthebuilt-upareaofWellingtonHarbourextendingfromKaiwharawharatotheairport,inthereclaimedandhighlydevelopedWellingtoncityarea,andaroundtheOnepotoArmofPoriruaHarbour.Areasthatstillhavehighnaturalcharacterareunderincreasingpressurefordevelopment,particularlyalongtheKāpitiandWairarapacoasts,andPauatahanuiInlet.
The maintenance and enhancement of public access to and along the coastal marine area isanothermatterofnational importanceintheResourceManagementAct.Wherelandispublicly owned, public access can be enhanced by providing walking tracks and recreational areas. Where land is privately owned, city and district councils can take esplanade reserves or strips as part of subdivisions. On private land that is not proposed to be subdivided, however, public access is at the discretion and with the permission of the landowner. To date,therehasbeennoregion-widestrategicplanningintheregionthathasidentifiedwherepublic access should be enhanced. Where esplanade reserves and strips have been taken for publicaccess,cityanddistrictcouncilssometimesstruggletomaintainthem.Evenwherethere is legal access, it is not always aligned with access that is physically possible. There are circumstances where public access to the coastal marine area, lakes and rivers may not be desirable – such as to provide security for regional infrastructure, allow for farming activities and prevent harm to the public.
The coastal marine area is the final receiving environment for contaminants carried instreamsandstormwaterfromruralandurbanlanduses.Inaddition,therearefourdischargesof treatedsewageeffluent fromtheregion’s fourmaincities,numeroussewage ‘overflow’dischargesandotherminordischarges.Sedimentfromearthworksisaffectingcoastalwaterqualityandshellfishbeds,andstormwatersedimentscontaminatedwithheavymetalsandothertoxicsubstancesarebuildingupontheseabedofWellingtonandPoriruaharbourstolevelsthatcouldadverselyaffectaquaticlife.Highlevelsofmicrobialcontaminationinsewage and stormwater discharges can make coastal water unsuitable for swimming and could transmit diseases to marine mammals.
Seawalls,vehicleuseinthecoastalenvironmentandearthworksareexamplesofactivitiesthatmodifydunes, foreshoresand the seabed.Theycauseadverseeffectson thenatural,physical and ecological processes that underpin the proper functioning of the coastal environment,includingthecoastalmarinearea.Insomecircumstances,someinterferencemaybeappropriate,forexampleextractionofsandorgraveltoreducefloodrisk,orplantingof coastal vegetation as part of dune building programmes.
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 23
Theimplicationsofsea-levelriseonthecoastalenvironmentalsoneedtobeconsideredwhenlookingatthepotentialeffectsofnewsubdivisions,useanddevelopment.
TheregionallysignificantissuesandtheissuesofsignificancetotheWellingtonregion’siwiauthorities for the coastal environment are:
1. Adverse effects on the natural character of the coastal environmentThe natural character of the region’s coastal environment has been, and continues to be, adverselyaffectedbyactivitiessuchaslarge-scaleearthworksforhousingdevelopmentsandroads, changes in land use and the placement of structures.
2. Coastal water quality and ecosystemsDischarges of stormwater, sewage, sediment and other contaminants to the coast are adversely affectingthehealthofcoastalecosystems,thesuitabilityofcoastalwaterforrecreationandshellfishgathering,mauriandamenity.
3. Human activities interfere with natural coastal processesHumanactivitieshavemodifiedandcontinuetointerferewithnaturalphysicalandecologicalcoastalprocesses.Forexample:
(a) Seawallsaltersedimentmovementalongbeachesandestuariesandcancauseerosionproblems in some areas and deposition problems in others.
(b) Sanddunesanddunevegetationcanbesignificantlyaffectedbyinappropriatedevelopment, vehicles, and trampling by people and animals.
(c) Somelandusesandearthworkscancauseincreasedratesofsedimentationinlowenergyreceivingenvironments,smotheringaquaticlife,forexampleinPoriruaHarbour.
4. Public access to and along the coastal marine area, lakes and rivers (shared with Issue 4 in section 3.4)
There have been inconsistent approaches to the taking of access strips or esplanade reserves as part of subdivisions. This has meant that public access to and along the coastal marine area, lakes and rivers is not always provided, or has been provided in places where people cannottakeadvantageofit.Evenwherephysicalaccessisavailable,itisnotalwayspossibleif access ways are not well maintained.
Table 2: Coastal environment Objectives 3, 4 & 5
Table 2: Coastal environment Objective 6
Table 6(a): Indigenous ecosystems Objective 16
Table 2: Coastal environment Objective 7
Table 8(a): Natural hazards Objectives 19 & 20
Table 2: Coastal environment Objective 8
Table 4: Fresh water Objective 8
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region24
Tab
le 2
: C
oas
tal e
nvi
ron
men
t o
bje
ctiv
es a
nd
tit
les
of
po
licie
s an
d m
eth
od
s to
ach
ieve
th
e o
bje
ctiv
es
Ob
ject
ive
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Ob
ject
ive
3
Hab
itats
and
fea
ture
s in
the
co
asta
l env
ironm
ent
that
ha
ve s
igni
fican
t in
dige
nous
bi
odiv
ersi
ty v
alue
s ar
e pr
otec
ted;
and
Hab
itats
and
fea
ture
s in
the
co
asta
l env
ironm
ent
that
hav
e re
crea
tiona
l, cu
ltura
l, hi
stor
ical
or
land
scap
e va
lues
tha
t ar
e si
gnifi
cant
are
pro
tect
ed f
rom
in
appr
opria
te s
ubdi
visi
on, u
se
and
deve
lopm
ent.
Polic
y 4:
Iden
tifyi
ng t
he
land
war
d ex
tent
of
the
coas
tal
envi
ronm
ent
– di
stric
t pl
ans
93M
etho
d 1:
Dis
tric
t pl
an im
plem
enta
tion
City
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls15
3
Met
hod
30: P
repa
re a
har
bour
and
cat
chm
ent
man
agem
ent
stra
tegy
for
Por
irua
Har
bour
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il, P
oriru
a C
ity C
ounc
il an
d W
ellin
gton
City
Cou
ncil
158
Met
hod
32: E
ngag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a,
stak
ehol
ders
, lan
dow
ners
and
the
com
mun
ity in
th
e id
entifi
catio
n an
d pr
otec
tion
of s
igni
fican
t va
lues
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
158
Met
hod
50: P
repa
re a
reg
iona
l lan
dsca
pe c
hara
cter
de
scrip
tion
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
161
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icy
6; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
y 21
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le
6a) p
olic
y 23
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
ies
25 &
27;
an
d c
on
sid
er –
Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9
Polic
y 6:
Rec
ogni
sing
the
re
gion
al s
igni
fican
ce o
f Po
rirua
H
arbo
ur (i
nclu
ding
Pau
atah
anui
In
let
and
One
poto
Arm
) –
dist
rict
and
regi
onal
pla
ns
94M
etho
d 30
: Pre
pare
a h
arbo
ur a
nd c
atch
men
t m
anag
emen
t st
rate
gy f
or P
oriru
a H
arbo
urW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil,
Por
irua
City
Cou
ncil
and
Wel
lingt
on C
ity C
ounc
il15
8
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 3
& 5
; Fre
shw
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 12
, 14,
15,
18
& 1
9;H
isto
ric
herit
age
(Tab
le 5
) pol
icie
s 21
& 2
2; In
dige
nous
eco
syst
ems
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
ies
23 &
24;
Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
ies
27 &
28;
an
d c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36,
37
& 5
3; F
resh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
ies
40,
41, 4
2 &
43;
His
toric
her
itage
(Tab
le 5
) pol
icy
46; L
ands
cape
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icy
50; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icie
s 55
& 5
6; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49
Polic
y 22
: Pro
tect
ing
hist
oric
he
ritag
e va
lues
– d
istr
ict
and
regi
onal
pla
ns
104
Met
hod
1: D
istr
ict
plan
impl
emen
tatio
nC
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
2: R
egio
nal p
lan
impl
emen
tatio
nW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
153
Met
hod
32: E
ngag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a,
stak
ehol
ders
, lan
dow
ners
and
the
com
mun
ity in
th
e id
entifi
catio
n an
d pr
otec
tion
of s
igni
fican
t va
lues
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
158
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 3
& 6
; Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
8;
Indi
geno
us e
cosy
stem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icy
24; L
ands
cape
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icie
s 26
& 2
8; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icie
s 30
, 31
& 3
2 an
d c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36
& 5
3; E
nerg
y,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
39; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
y 46
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le
6a) p
olic
y 47
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
y 50
; Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
y 54
; Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 25
Ob
ject
ive
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Ob
ject
ive
3
(Con
tinue
d)
Polic
y 24
: Pro
tect
ing
indi
geno
us e
cosy
stem
s an
d ha
bita
ts w
ith s
igni
fican
t in
dige
nous
bio
dive
rsity
val
ues
– di
stric
t an
d re
gion
al p
lans
105
Met
hod
1: D
istr
ict
plan
impl
emen
tatio
nC
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
2: R
egio
nal p
lan
impl
emen
tatio
nW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
153
Met
hod
32: E
ngag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a,
stak
ehol
ders
, lan
dow
ners
and
the
com
mun
ity in
th
e id
entifi
catio
n an
d pr
otec
tion
of s
igni
fican
t va
lues
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
158
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 3
& 6
; Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
8; F
resh
w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 18
& 1
9; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
y 22
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le 6
b) p
olic
y 61
; La
ndsc
ape
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icie
s 26
& 2
8 an
d c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36
& 5
3; E
nerg
y,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
39; F
resh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
ies
43 &
53;
His
toric
her
itage
(Tab
le 5
) pol
icy
46; I
ndig
enou
s ec
osys
tem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icy
47; L
ands
cape
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icy
50; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icy
54; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49
Polic
y 26
: Pro
tect
ing
outs
tand
ing
natu
ral f
eatu
res
and
land
scap
e va
lues
– d
istr
ict
and
regi
onal
pla
ns
107
Met
hod
1: D
istr
ict
plan
impl
emen
tatio
nC
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
2: R
egio
nal p
lan
impl
emen
tatio
nW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
153
Met
hod
32: E
ngag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a,
stak
ehol
ders
, lan
dow
ners
and
the
com
mun
ity in
th
e id
entifi
catio
n an
d pr
otec
tion
of s
igni
fican
t va
lues
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
158
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 3
& 6
; Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
8; F
resh
w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 17
& 1
8; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
y 22
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 24
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
y 28
an
d c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36
& 5
3; E
nerg
y,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
39; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
y 46
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le 6
a)
polic
y 47
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
y 50
; Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
y 54
, 55
& 5
6; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49
Polic
y 28
: Man
agin
g sp
ecia
l am
enity
land
scap
e va
lues
–
dist
rict
and
regi
onal
pla
ns
108
Met
hod
1: D
istr
ict
plan
impl
emen
tatio
nC
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
2: R
egio
nal p
lan
impl
emen
tatio
nW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
153
Met
hod
32: E
ngag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a,
stak
ehol
ders
, lan
dow
ners
and
the
com
mun
ity in
th
e id
entifi
catio
n an
d pr
otec
tion
of s
igni
fican
t va
lues
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
158
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 3
& 6
; Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
8; F
resh
w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 17
& 1
8; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
y 22
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 24
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
y 26
an
d c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36
& 5
3; E
nerg
y,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
39; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
y 46
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le 6
a)
polic
y 47
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
y 50
; Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
y 54
, 55
& 5
6; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region26
Ob
ject
ives
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Ob
ject
ive
3
(Con
tinue
d)
Polic
y 35
: Pre
serv
ing
the
natu
ral c
hara
cter
of
the
coas
tal
envi
ronm
ent
– co
nsid
erat
ion
116
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
7: In
form
atio
n ab
out
high
nat
ural
ch
arac
ter
in t
he c
oast
al e
nviro
nmen
tW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
154
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
39; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
y 46
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 47
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
y 50
; Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
ies
54, 5
5 &
56;
Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9
Polic
y 38
: Ide
ntify
ing
the
land
war
d ex
tent
of
the
coas
tal
envi
ronm
ent
– co
nsid
erat
ion
119
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9
Polic
y 64
: Sup
port
ing
a w
hole
of
cat
chm
ent
appr
oach
– n
on-
regu
lato
ry
143
Met
hod
12: I
nfor
mat
ion
abou
t te
chni
ques
to
mai
ntai
n an
d en
hanc
e in
dige
nous
eco
syst
ems
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
155
Met
hod
29: T
ake
a w
hole
of
catc
hmen
t ap
proa
ch
to w
orks
, ope
ratio
ns a
nd s
ervi
ces
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
158
Met
hod
53: S
uppo
rt c
omm
unity
res
tora
tion
initi
ativ
es f
or t
he c
oast
al e
nviro
nmen
t, r
iver
s la
kes
and
wet
land
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
162
Met
hod
54: A
ssis
t la
ndow
ners
to
mai
ntai
n,
enha
nce
and
rest
ore
indi
geno
us e
cosy
stem
sW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
and
city
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls16
2
Ob
ject
ive
4
The
natu
ral c
hara
cter
of
the
coas
tal e
nviro
nmen
t is
pr
otec
ted
from
the
adv
erse
ef
fect
s of
inap
prop
riate
su
bdiv
isio
n, u
se a
nd
deve
lopm
ent.
Polic
y 3:
Pro
tect
ing
high
na
tura
l cha
ract
er in
the
coa
stal
en
viro
nmen
t –
dist
rict
and
regi
onal
pla
ns
91M
etho
d 1:
Dis
tric
t pl
an im
plem
enta
tion
City
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls15
3
Met
hod
7: In
form
atio
n ab
out
high
nat
ural
ch
arac
ter
in t
he c
oast
al e
nviro
nmen
tW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
154
Met
hod
32: E
ngag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a,
stak
ehol
ders
, lan
dow
ners
and
the
com
mun
ity in
th
e id
entifi
catio
n an
d pr
otec
tion
of s
igni
fican
t va
lues
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
158
Met
hod
50: P
repa
re a
reg
iona
l lan
dsca
pe c
hara
cter
de
scrip
tion
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
161
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 5
& 6
; Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icie
s 7
& 8
; Fr
esh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
ies
17 &
18;
His
toric
her
itage
(Tab
le 5
) pol
icy
22; I
ndig
enou
s ec
osys
tem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icy
24; L
ands
cape
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icy
26 a
nd
co
nsi
der
– E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
y 39
; His
toric
he
ritag
e (T
able
5) p
olic
y 46
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 47
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
y 50
; Reg
iona
l fo
rm, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
y 54
; Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s
48 &
49
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 27
Ob
ject
ive
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Ob
ject
ive
4
(Con
tinue
d)
Polic
y 4:
Iden
tifyi
ng t
he
land
war
d ex
tent
of
the
coas
tal
envi
ronm
ent
– di
stric
t pl
ans
93M
etho
d 1:
Dis
tric
t pl
an im
plem
enta
tion
City
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls15
3
Met
hod
32: E
ngag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a,
stak
ehol
ders
, lan
dow
ners
and
the
com
mun
ity in
th
e id
entifi
catio
n an
d pr
otec
tion
of s
igni
fican
t va
lues
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
158
Met
hod
50: P
repa
re a
reg
iona
l lan
dsca
pe c
hara
cter
de
scrip
tion
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
161
Als
o s
ee –
His
toric
her
itage
(Tab
le 5
) pol
icy
21; I
ndig
enou
s ec
osys
tem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icy
23; L
ands
cape
(Tab
le 7
) po
licie
s 25
& 2
7 an
d c
on
sid
er –
Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9
Polic
y 22
: Pro
tect
ing
hist
oric
he
ritag
e va
lues
– d
istr
ict
and
regi
onal
pla
ns
104
Met
hod
1: D
istr
ict
plan
impl
emen
tatio
nC
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
2: R
egio
nal p
lan
impl
emen
tatio
nW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
153
Met
hod
32: E
ngag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a,
stak
ehol
ders
, lan
dow
ners
and
the
com
mun
ity in
th
e id
entifi
catio
n an
d pr
otec
tion
of s
igni
fican
t va
lues
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
158
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 3
& 6
; Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
8;
Indi
geno
us e
cosy
stem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icy
24; L
ands
cape
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icie
s 26
& 2
8; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icie
s 30
, 31
& 3
2 an
d c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36
& 5
3; E
nerg
y,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
39; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
y 46
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le
6a) p
olic
y 47
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
y 50
; Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
y 54
; Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9
Polic
y 24
: Pro
tect
ing
indi
geno
us e
cosy
stem
s an
d ha
bita
ts w
ith s
igni
fican
t in
dige
nous
bio
dive
rsity
val
ues
– di
stric
t an
d re
gion
al p
lans
105
Met
hod
1: D
istr
ict
plan
impl
emen
tatio
nC
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
2: R
egio
nal p
lan
impl
emen
tatio
nW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
153
Met
hod
32: E
ngag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a,
stak
ehol
ders
, lan
dow
ners
and
the
com
mun
ity in
th
e id
entifi
catio
n an
d pr
otec
tion
of s
igni
fican
t va
lues
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
158
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 3
& 6
; Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
8; F
resh
w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 17
& 1
8; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
y 22
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le 6
b) p
olic
y 62
; La
ndsc
ape
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icie
s 26
& 2
8 an
d c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36
& 5
3; E
nerg
y,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
39; F
resh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
ies
43 &
53;
His
toric
her
itage
(Tab
le 5
) pol
icy
46; I
ndig
enou
s ec
osys
tem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icy
47; L
ands
cape
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icy
50; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icy
54; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region28
Ob
ject
ive
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Ob
ject
ive
4
(Con
tinue
d)
Polic
y 26
: Pro
tect
ing
outs
tand
ing
natu
ral f
eatu
res
and
land
scap
e va
lues
– d
istr
ict
and
regi
onal
pla
ns
107
Met
hod
1: D
istr
ict
plan
impl
emen
tatio
nC
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
2: R
egio
nal p
lan
impl
emen
tatio
nW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
153
Met
hod
32: E
ngag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a,
stak
ehol
ders
, lan
dow
ners
and
the
com
mun
ity in
th
e id
entifi
catio
n an
d pr
otec
tion
of s
igni
fican
t va
lues
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
158
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 3
& 6
; Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
8;
Fres
h w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 17
& 1
8; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
y 22
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 24
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
y 28
an
d c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36
& 5
3; E
nerg
y,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
39; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
y 46
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le 6
a)
polic
y 47
Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
y 50
; Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
y 54
, 55
& 5
6; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49
Polic
y 28
: Man
agin
g sp
ecia
l am
enity
land
scap
e va
lues
–
dist
rict
and
regi
onal
pla
ns
108
Met
hod
1: D
istr
ict
plan
impl
emen
tatio
nC
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
2: R
egio
nal p
lan
impl
emen
tatio
nW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
153
Met
hod
32: E
ngag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a,
stak
ehol
ders
, lan
dow
ners
and
the
com
mun
ity in
th
e id
entifi
catio
n an
d pr
otec
tion
of s
igni
fican
t va
lues
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
158
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 3
& 6
; Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
8;
Fres
h w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 17
& 1
8; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
y 22
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 24
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
y 26
an
d c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36
& 5
3; E
nerg
y,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
39; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
y 46
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le 6
a)
polic
y 47
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
y 50
; Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
y 54
, 55
& 5
6; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49
Polic
y 35
: Pre
serv
ing
the
natu
ral c
hara
cter
of
the
coas
tal
envi
ronm
ent
– co
nsid
erat
ion
116
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
7: In
form
atio
n ab
out
high
nat
ural
ch
arac
ter
in t
he c
oast
al e
nviro
nmen
tW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
154
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icy
6; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
y 39
; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
y 46
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 47
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
y 50
; Re
gion
al f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icie
s 54
, 55
& 5
6; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 29
Ob
ject
ives
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Ob
ject
ive
4
(Con
tinue
d)
Polic
y 36
: Man
agin
g ef
fect
s on
na
tura
l cha
ract
er in
the
coa
stal
en
viro
nmen
t –
cons
ider
atio
n
117
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
7: In
form
atio
n ab
out
high
nat
ural
ch
arac
ter
in t
he c
oast
al e
nviro
nmen
tW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
154
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icy
6; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
y 39
; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
y 46
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 47
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
y 50
; Re
gion
al f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icy
54; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0)
polic
ies
48 &
49
Polic
y 38
: Ide
ntify
ing
the
land
war
d ex
tent
of
the
coas
tal
envi
ronm
ent
– co
nsid
erat
ion
119
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
153
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9
Ob
ject
ive
5
Are
as o
f th
e co
asta
l en
viro
nmen
t w
here
nat
ural
ch
arac
ter
has
been
deg
rade
d ar
e re
stor
ed a
nd r
ehab
ilita
ted.
Polic
y 6:
Rec
ogni
sing
the
re
gion
al s
igni
fican
ce o
f Po
rirua
H
arbo
ur (i
nclu
ding
Pau
atah
anui
In
let
and
One
poto
Arm
) –
dist
rict
and
regi
onal
pla
ns
94M
etho
d 30
: Pre
pare
a h
arbo
ur a
nd c
atch
men
t m
anag
emen
t st
rate
gy f
or P
oriru
a H
arbo
urW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil,
Por
irua
City
Cou
ncil
and
Wel
lingt
on C
ity C
ounc
il15
8
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 3
& 5
; Fre
shw
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 12
, 14,
15,
17
& 1
8;H
isto
ric
herit
age
(Tab
le 5
) pol
icie
s 21
& 2
2; In
dige
nous
eco
syst
ems
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
ies
23 &
24;
Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
ies
27
& 2
8; a
nd
co
nsi
der
– C
oast
al e
nviro
nmen
t (T
able
2) p
olic
ies
35, 3
6, 3
7, 3
8 &
53;
Fre
shw
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 40
, 41
, 42
& 4
3; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
y 46
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
y 50
; Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
ies
55 &
56;
Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9
Polic
y 64
: Sup
port
ing
a w
hole
of
cat
chm
ent
appr
oach
– n
on-
regu
lato
ry
143
Met
hod
8: In
form
atio
n ab
out
rest
orat
ion
and
enha
ncem
ent
of d
egra
ded
wat
er b
odie
s an
d th
e na
tura
l cha
ract
er o
f th
e co
asta
l env
ironm
ent
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
155
Met
hod
27: I
nteg
rate
man
agem
ent
acro
ss m
ean
high
wat
er s
prin
gsW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
and
city
and
di
stric
t co
unci
ls15
7
Met
hod
28: P
repa
re a
coa
stal
and
mar
ine
ecos
yste
ms
actio
n pl
anW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
158
Met
hod
29: T
ake
a w
hole
of
catc
hmen
t ap
proa
ch
to w
orks
, ope
ratio
ns a
nd s
ervi
ces
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
158
Met
hod
53: S
uppo
rt c
omm
unity
res
tora
tion
initi
ativ
es f
or t
he c
oast
al e
nviro
nmen
t, r
iver
s la
kes
and
wet
land
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
162
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region30
Ob
ject
ive
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Ob
ject
ive
6
The
qual
ity o
f co
asta
l wat
ers
is m
aint
aine
d or
enh
ance
d to
a
leve
l tha
t is
sui
tabl
e fo
r th
e he
alth
and
vita
lity
of c
oast
al
and
mar
ine
ecos
yste
ms.
Polic
y 5:
Mai
ntai
ning
and
en
hanc
ing
coas
tal w
ater
qu
ality
for
aqu
atic
eco
syst
em
heal
th –
reg
iona
l pla
ns
94M
etho
d 2:
Reg
iona
l pla
n im
plem
enta
tion
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il 15
3
Met
hod
35: P
repa
re a
reg
iona
l sto
rmw
ater
ac
tion
plan
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
159
Met
hod
36: S
uppo
rt In
dust
ry-le
d en
viro
nmen
tal
acco
rds
and
code
s of
pra
ctic
eW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
and
city
and
di
stric
t co
unci
ls15
9
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icy
6; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
ies
7 &
8; F
resh
w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 12
, 14,
15,
16,
17
& 1
8; In
dige
nous
eco
syst
ems
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 24
; Soi
ls a
nd m
iner
als
(Tab
le
11) p
olic
y 15
an
d c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
& 3
7; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3)
pol
icy
39; F
resh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
ies
40, 4
1 &
43;
Indi
geno
us e
cosy
stem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icy
47; R
egio
nal f
orm
, de
sign
and
fun
ctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
y 54
; Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9
Polic
y 6:
Rec
ogni
sing
the
re
gion
al s
igni
fican
ce o
f Po
rirua
H
arbo
ur (i
nclu
ding
Pau
atah
anui
In
let
and
One
poto
Arm
) –
dist
rict
and
regi
onal
pla
ns
94M
etho
d 30
: Pre
pare
a h
arbo
ur a
nd c
atch
men
t m
anag
emen
t st
rate
gy f
or P
oriru
a H
arbo
urW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil,
Por
irua
City
Cou
ncil
and
Wel
lingt
on C
ity C
ounc
il15
8
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 3
& 5
; Fre
shw
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 12
, 14,
15,
17
& 1
8;H
isto
ric
herit
age
(Tab
le 5
) pol
icie
s 21
& 2
2; In
dige
nous
eco
syst
ems
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
ies
23 &
24;
Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
ies
27 &
28;
an
d c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36,
37,
38
& 5
3; F
resh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
ies
40, 4
1, 4
2 &
43;
His
toric
her
itage
(Tab
le 5
) pol
icy
46; L
ands
cape
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icy
50; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icie
s 55
& 5
6; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49
Polic
y 40
: Saf
egua
rdin
g aq
uatic
ec
osys
tem
hea
lth in
wat
er
bodi
es –
con
side
ratio
n
120
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
City
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls15
3
Met
hod
35: P
repa
re a
reg
iona
l sto
rmw
ater
ac
tion
plan
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
159
Met
hod
36: S
uppo
rt In
dust
ry-le
d en
viro
nmen
tal
acco
rds
and
code
s of
pra
ctic
eW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
and
city
and
di
stric
t co
unci
ls15
9
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 37
& 3
8; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
y 39
; Fre
sh w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 41
, 42
& 4
3; In
dige
nous
eco
syst
ems
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 47
; Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
ies
54, 5
5 &
56;
Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 31
Ob
ject
ives
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Ob
ject
ive
7
The
inte
grity
, fun
ctio
ning
an
d re
silie
nce
of p
hysi
cal
and
ecol
ogic
al p
roce
sses
in
the
coas
tal e
nviro
nmen
t ar
e pr
otec
ted
from
the
adv
erse
ef
fect
s of
inap
prop
riate
su
bdiv
isio
n, u
se a
nd
deve
lopm
ent.
Polic
y 6:
Rec
ogni
sing
the
re
gion
al s
igni
fican
ce o
f Po
rirua
H
arbo
ur (i
nclu
ding
Pau
atah
anui
In
let
and
One
poto
Arm
) –
dist
rict
and
regi
onal
pla
ns
94M
etho
d 30
: Pre
pare
a h
arbo
ur a
nd c
atch
men
t m
anag
emen
t st
rate
gy f
or P
oriru
a H
arbo
urW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil,
Por
irua
City
Cou
ncil
and
Wel
lingt
on C
ity C
ounc
il15
8
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 3
& 5
; Fre
shw
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 12
, 14,
15,
17
& 1
8; H
isto
ric
herit
age
(Tab
le 5
) pol
icie
s 21
& 2
2; In
dige
nous
eco
syst
ems
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
ies
23 &
24
Land
scap
e (T
able
7) p
olic
ies
27
& 2
8; a
nd
co
nsi
der
– C
oast
al e
nviro
nmen
t (T
able
2) p
olic
ies
35, 3
6, 3
7, 3
8 &
53;
Fre
shw
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 40
, 41
, 42
& 4
3; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
y 46
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
y 50
; Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
ies
55 &
56;
Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9
Polic
y 37
: Saf
egua
rdin
g lif
e-su
ppor
ting
capa
city
of
coas
tal
ecos
yste
ms
– co
nsid
erat
ion
118
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
153
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 6,
34,
37
& 3
9; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3)
polic
y 39
; Fre
sh w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 40
, 41,
42
& 4
3; In
dige
nous
eco
syst
ems
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 47
; Nat
ural
haz
ards
(T
able
8a)
pol
icy
52; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icie
s 54
, 55
& 5
6; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
ta
ngat
a w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9
Ob
ject
ive
8
Publ
ic a
cces
s to
and
alo
ng t
he
coas
tal m
arin
e ar
ea, l
akes
and
riv
ers
is e
nhan
ced
(obj
ectiv
e 8
is s
hare
d fo
r th
e co
asta
l en
viro
nmen
t an
d fr
esh
wat
er).
Polic
y 53
: Pub
lic a
cces
s to
and
al
ong
the
coas
tal m
arin
e ar
ea,
lake
s an
d riv
ers
– co
nsid
erat
ion
132
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
51: I
dent
ify a
reas
for
impr
oved
pub
lic
acce
ssW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil*
and
city
and
di
stric
t co
unci
ls16
1
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 6,
35
& 3
6; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
y 39
; Fre
sh w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icy
43; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
y 46
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 47
; La
ndsc
ape
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icy
50; N
atur
al h
azar
ds (T
able
8a)
pol
icy
51; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 33
(a) Energy
NewZealand’senergyneedshavelargelybeenmetfromcoal,oil,gas,hydroandgeothermalresources.NewZealandreliesonimportedoilforaroundhalfofitsenergyneeds.Electricitysupply has been dominated by hydro generation, with fossil fuels used as a backup to meet peak demand and in dry years.
EnergygenerationoperationsintheWellingtonregionincludewind,hydroandlandfillgas.ResourceconsenthasbeengrantedforatrialmarineenergydevelopmentinCookStrait.
Energyisdistributedtoandutilisedbyfivemainsectorsintheregion:transport,agriculture,industrial, commercial and residential. Demand for energy from all sectors continues to grow,withthemostsignificantgrowthcomingfromtransport.
Traditional energy sources will not be able to meet increasing energy demand. The region is vulnerable to oil supply disruptions (as a result of international circumstances) andfluctuationstohydrogenerationduringdryyears.
Inthelongterm,energypricesarelikelytoriseasglobaloildemandapproaches,andthenexceeds,theabilitytosupply.Manyaspectsofsociety–suchastransport,agriculture,trade,tourism, and manufacturing – are heavily dependent on oil, and continuing oil price rises and other risks to supply may lead to severe impacts on the Wellington region’s economy. Appropriateuseandmanagementofsuchresourceswillbecriticalinmeetingtheregion’squalityoflifeinthefuture.
There is also the challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels to meet international climate change obligations.
TheWellingtonregionfacesseveralmajorlong-termenergychallenges,includingrespondingto climate change and tackling carbon emissions, especially from transportation and energy generation.Otherchallengesaresecuringclean,renewableenergyataffordablepricesandusing it efficiently, aswell as responding to impacts on the region fromoil depletion antherisingcostsofoil.Thismeanslookingtomakebetteruseofexistingenergyresourcesthroughenergyconservationandefficiency,betterutilisingtheregion’srenewableenergyresources, and looking at ways that the impacts from oil price increases and oil depletion can be mitigated.
3.3 Energy, infrastructure and waste
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region34
The New Zealand Energy Strategy (2007), the New Zealand Energy Efficiency andConservationStrategy(2007)andtheNewZealandTransportStrategy(2008)outlineNewZealand’sactionsonenergyandclimatechange.Theobjectives,policiesandmethodsonenergy in this Regional Policy Statement will assist with making progress towards national targets.Thereare,however,anumberoftargets–suchasreducingcarbondioxide-equivalentemissionsfromtransport–wheretheRegionalPolicyStatementhaslimitedinfluence.
The region contains significantly greater renewable energy resources than are currentlyused.Wind, biofuels and solar (for hot water systems), have been identified as possiblerenewableenergygenerationsourcesfortheregion.Thereisalsothepotentialfordomestic-scaleandsmall-scaledistributedrenewableenergygenerationincludingsmall-scalehydrointheregion.TidalcurrentsinCookStraitand,toalesserextent,waveactioninCookStraitand off theWairarapa coast are also potentially significant renewable energy resources,buttechnologicaladvancesarerequiredtorealisethispotential.NewZealandhaslimitedlocationsappropriateformarineenergydevelopmentandtheCookStraithasoneofthebesttidal/ocean current resources in the country.
(b) Infrastructure
The roading network, airports, the port, telecommunication facilities, the rail network and other utilities and infrastructure, including energy generation, transmission and distribution networks, are significantphysical resources.This infrastructure formspartofnationalorregional networks and enables communities to provide for their social, economic, and cultural wellbeingandtheirhealthandsafety.Theefficientuseanddevelopmentofsuchinfrastructurecanbeadverselyaffectedbydevelopment.Forexample,landdevelopmentcanencroachoninfrastructureorinterferewithitsefficientuse.Infrastructurecanalsohaveanadverseeffecton thesurroundingenvironment.Forexample, theoperationoruseof infrastructurecancreatenoisewhichmayadverselyimpactsurroundingcommunities.Theseeffectsneedtobebalanced to determine what is appropriate for the individual circumstances.
TheNational Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission (2008) sets out objectives andpoliciestoenablethemanagementofeffectsonandoftheelectricitytransmissionnetworkunder theResourceManagementAct. The Statement recognises that efficient and secureelectricity transmissionplaysavital role in thewell-beingofNewZealandandmakes itexplicitthatelectricitytransmissionistobeconsideredamatterofnationalsignificance.
(c) Waste
Dealing with waste is a mounting problem because some of the resources discarded still have value,landfillsuselandthatcouldbeotherwiseproductiveandlandfilldisposalhasadverseeffectsontheenvironment.Thesecanincludereversesensitivityeffects,wherebyanewlyestablishedactivitymaybeadverselyaffectedbyanexistinglandfillandmayneedtoprotectitselffromtheseeffects.
Landfills should be the last resort for unwantedmaterials. This is because they produceleachateandmethanegasfromthedegradationofmaterialsandorganicmatter,andbecauselandfillspaceisfinite.In2004therewere10municipallandfillsintheWellingtonregion,in2007therewerefive,andtwomorewillcloseoverthenexttenyears.
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 35
The amount of waste needs to be reduced to ensure potentially valuable resources are used efficiently,reducetheneedtodevelopnewlandfillsandextendthelifeofexistinglandfills.Cleanfillsareonewaytoextendthelifeoflandfillsbydivertingcleaninertwastefromthelandfillwastestream.In2007nearly400,000tonnesofmaterialwassenttolandfillsintheWellingtonregion.Atleast20percentandinsomeareasasmuchas60to70percentcouldhavebeenrecycledorcomposted.ThisoccursbecausethereisnomarketforthefinalproductortherearenofacilitiesinNewZealandtoprocessthematerials.Whilesomematerialsaresentoverseasforrecyclingorresourcerecovery,thisoptionmaynotbeviableinthelong-term,sofindinglocalsolutionswillbecomemoreimportant.
TheLocalGovernmentActrequirescityanddistrictcouncilstopreparewastemanagementplans that make provision for the collection and reduction, reuse, recycling, recovery, treatment, ordisposalofwasteinthedistrict,andprovideforitseffectiveandefficientimplementation.The Regional Policy Statement has no role in the development or implementation of waste management plans.
TheregionallysignificantissuesandtheissuesofsignificancetotheWellingtonregion’siwiauthorities for energy, infrastructure and waste are:
1. Energy TheWellingtonregionisdependentonexternallygeneratedelectricityandoverseas-sourcedfossil fuels and is therefore vulnerable to supply disruptions and energy shortages. Inaddition,demandforenergyisincreasing.However,significantrenewableenergyresourcesexistwithintheregion.
2. InfrastructureInfrastructure enables communities to provide for their social, economic and culturalwellbeing.Themanagement,useandoperationofinfrastructurecanbeadverselyaffectedwhen incompatible land uses occur under, over, or adjacent.
3. WasteWe cannot continue to generate the current waste volumes because of the costs of disposal, limited space in existing landfills and because it is inefficient to dispose of potentiallyvaluableresources.Developingnewlandfillsalsoposessignificantchallengeseconomically,environmentally and socially.
Table 3: Energy, infrastructure and waste Objectives 9 & 10
Table 9: Regional form Objective 22
Table 3: Energy, infrastructure and waste Objective 11
Table 3: Energy, infrastructure and waste Objective 10
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region36
Tab
le 3
: En
erg
y, in
fras
tru
ctu
re a
nd
was
te o
bje
ctiv
es a
nd
tit
les
of
po
licie
s an
d m
eth
od
s to
ach
ieve
th
e o
bje
ctiv
es
Ob
ject
ive
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Ob
ject
ive
9
The
regi
on’s
ener
gy n
eeds
are
m
et in
way
s th
at:
(a) i
mpr
ove
ener
gy e
ffici
ency
an
d co
nser
vatio
n;
(b) d
iver
sify
the
typ
e an
d sc
ale
of r
enew
able
ene
rgy
deve
lopm
ent;
(c) m
axim
ise
the
use
of
rene
wab
le e
nerg
y re
sour
ces;
(d) r
educ
e de
pend
ency
on
foss
il fu
els;
and
(e) r
educ
e gr
eenh
ouse
gas
em
issi
ons
from
tra
nspo
rtat
ion.
Polic
y 7:
Rec
ogni
sing
the
be
nefit
s fr
om r
enew
able
en
ergy
and
reg
iona
lly
sign
ifica
nt in
fras
truc
ture
–
regi
onal
and
dis
tric
t pl
ans
95M
etho
d 1:
Dis
tric
t pl
an im
plem
enta
tion
City
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls15
3
Met
hod
2: R
egio
nal p
lan
impl
emen
tatio
nW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
153
Als
o s
ee –
Air
qual
ity (T
able
1) p
olic
ies
1 &
2; C
oast
al e
nviro
nmen
t (T
able
2) p
olic
ies
3 &
5; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
an
d w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icie
s 8
& 1
1; F
resh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
ies
12, 1
3, 1
4, 1
7, 1
8 &
19;
His
toric
her
itage
(Tab
le
5) p
olic
y 22
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 24
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
ies
26 &
28;
Nat
ural
haz
ards
(T
able
8a)
pol
icy
29 a
nd
co
nsi
der
– C
oast
al e
nviro
nmen
t (T
able
2) p
olic
ies
35, 3
6 &
37;
Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
y 39
; Fre
sh w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 40
, 41,
42,
43
& 4
4; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
y 46
; In
dige
nous
eco
syst
ems
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 47
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
y 50
; Nat
ural
haz
ards
(Tab
le 8
a) p
olic
y 51
; Re
gion
al f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icie
s 54
, 55,
56,
57
& 5
8; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9
Polic
y 9:
Red
ucin
g th
e us
e an
d co
nsum
ptio
n of
non
-re
new
able
tra
nspo
rt f
uels
and
ca
rbon
dio
xide
em
issi
ons
from
tr
ansp
orta
tion
– Re
gion
al L
and
Tran
spor
t St
rate
gy
96M
etho
d 3:
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal L
and
Tran
spor
t St
rate
gy im
plem
enta
tion
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il 15
3
Als
o s
ee –
Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
10; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) po
licy
33
Polic
y 10
: Pro
mot
ing
trav
el
dem
and
man
agem
ent
– di
stric
t pl
ans
and
Regi
onal
Lan
d Tr
ansp
ort
Stra
tegy
97M
etho
d 1:
Dis
tric
t pl
an im
plem
enta
tion
City
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls15
3
Met
hod
3: W
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Lan
d Tr
ansp
ort
Stra
tegy
impl
emen
tatio
nW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
153
Met
hod
9: In
form
atio
n ab
out
trav
el d
eman
d m
anag
emen
tW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil*
and
city
and
di
stric
t co
unci
ls15
5
Als
o s
ee –
Air
qual
ity (T
able
1) p
olic
y 2;
Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icie
s 7,
8 &
11;
Reg
iona
l for
m,
desi
gn a
nd f
unct
ion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icie
s 31
& 3
2 an
d c
on
sid
er –
Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
39;
Regi
onal
for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
ies
55, 5
6, 5
7 &
58;
Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9
Polic
y 11
: Pro
mot
ing
ener
gy
effic
ient
des
ign
and
smal
l sca
le
rene
wab
le e
nerg
y ge
nera
tion
– di
stric
t pl
ans
97M
etho
d 1:
Dis
tric
t pl
an im
plem
enta
tion
City
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls15
3
Met
hod
10: I
nfor
mat
ion
abou
t en
ergy
effi
cien
t su
bdiv
isio
n, d
esig
n an
d bu
ildin
g de
velo
pmen
tW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil*
and
city
and
di
stric
t co
unci
ls15
5
Als
o s
ee –
Air
qual
ity (T
able
1) p
olic
y 2;
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icy
3; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icie
s 7,
8 &
10;
Fre
shw
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 12
, 13,
17,
18,
19
& 2
0; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
y 22
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 24
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
ies
26 &
28
and
co
nsi
der
– C
oast
al
envi
ronm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36
& 3
7; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
y 39
; Fre
sh w
ater
(Tab
le
4) p
olic
ies
40 &
43;
His
toric
her
itage
(Tab
le 5
) pol
icy
46; I
ndig
enou
s ec
osys
tem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icy
47; L
ands
cape
(T
able
7) p
olic
ies
50; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icie
s 54
, 56
& 5
7; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
ta
ngat
a w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 37
Ob
ject
ives
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Ob
ject
ive
9
(Con
tinue
d)
Polic
y 39
: Rec
ogni
sing
the
be
nefit
s fr
om r
enew
able
en
ergy
and
reg
iona
lly
sign
ifica
nt in
fras
truc
ture
–
cons
ider
atio
n
119
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
153
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36,
37
& 3
8; F
resh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
ies
40, 4
1, 4
2 &
43;
His
toric
her
itage
(Tab
le 5
) pol
icy
46; I
ndig
enou
s ec
osys
tem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icy
47; L
ands
cape
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icy
50; N
atur
al h
azar
ds (T
able
8a)
pol
icy
51; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icie
s 54
, 55,
56,
57
& 5
8;
Reso
urce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49
Polic
y 57
: Int
egra
ting
land
us
e an
d tr
ansp
orta
tion-
co
nsid
erat
ion
135
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
City
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls15
3
Met
hod
25: I
nfor
mat
ion
abou
t th
e pr
ovis
ion
of w
alki
ng, c
yclin
g an
d pu
blic
tra
nspo
rt f
or
deve
lopm
ent
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il15
7
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
39; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) po
licie
s 54
, 55,
56
& 5
8; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49;
Soi
ls a
nd m
iner
als
(Tab
le 1
1) p
olic
y 60
Polic
y 65
: Pro
mot
ing
effic
ient
us
e an
d co
nser
vatio
n of
re
sour
ces
– no
n-re
gula
tory
144
Met
hod
10: I
nfor
mat
ion
abou
t en
ergy
effi
cien
t su
bdiv
isio
n, d
esig
n an
d bu
ildin
g de
velo
pmen
tW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil*
and
city
and
di
stric
t co
unci
ls15
5
Met
hod
33: I
dent
ify s
usta
inab
le e
nerg
y pr
ogra
mm
esW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
and
city
and
di
stric
t co
unci
ls15
8
Met
hod
56: A
ssis
t th
e co
mm
unity
to
redu
ce w
aste
, an
d us
e w
ater
and
ene
rgy
effic
ient
lyW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
and
city
and
di
stric
t co
unci
ls16
2
Ob
ject
ive
10
The
soci
al, e
cono
mic
, cul
tura
l an
d en
viro
nmen
tal,
bene
fits
of r
egio
nally
sig
nific
ant
infr
astr
uctu
re a
re r
ecog
nise
d an
d pr
otec
ted.
Polic
y 7:
Rec
ogni
sing
the
be
nefit
s fr
om r
enew
able
en
ergy
and
reg
iona
lly
sign
ifica
nt in
fras
truc
ture
–
regi
onal
and
dis
tric
t pl
ans
95M
etho
d 1:
Dis
tric
t pl
an im
plem
enta
tion
City
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls15
3
Met
hod
2: R
egio
nal p
lan
impl
emen
tatio
nW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
153
Als
o s
ee –
Air
qual
ity (T
able
1) p
olic
ies
1 &
2; C
oast
al e
nviro
nmen
t (T
able
2) p
olic
ies
3 &
5; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
an
d w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icie
s 8
& 1
1; F
resh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
ies
12, 1
3, 1
4, 1
7, 1
8 &
19;
His
toric
her
itage
(Tab
le
5) p
olic
y 22
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 24
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
ies
26 &
28;
Nat
ural
haz
ards
(T
able
8a)
pol
icy
29 a
nd
co
nsi
der
– C
oast
al e
nviro
nmen
t (T
able
2) p
olic
ies
35, 3
6 &
37;
Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
y 39
; Fre
sh w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 40
, 41,
42,
43
& 4
4; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
y 46
; In
dige
nous
eco
syst
ems
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 47
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
y 50
; Nat
ural
haz
ards
(Tab
le 8
a) p
olic
y 51
; Re
gion
al f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icie
s 54
, 55,
56,
57
& 5
8; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region38
Ob
ject
ive
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Ob
ject
ive
10
(Con
tinue
d)
Polic
y 8:
Pro
tect
ing
regi
onal
ly
sign
ifica
nt in
fras
truc
ture
–
regi
onal
and
dis
tric
t pl
ans
96M
etho
d 1:
Dis
tric
t pl
an im
plem
enta
tion
City
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls15
3
Met
hod
2: R
egio
nal p
lan
impl
emen
tatio
nW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
153
Als
o s
ee –
Air
qual
ity (T
able
1) p
olic
ies
1 &
2; C
oast
al e
nviro
nmen
t (T
able
2) p
olic
ies
3 &
5; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
an
d w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icie
s 7,
9, 1
0 &
11;
Fre
sh w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 12
, 13,
14,
18
& 1
9; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5)
pol
icy
22; I
ndig
enou
s ec
osys
tem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icy
24; L
ands
cape
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icie
s 26
& 2
8; N
atur
al h
azar
ds
(Tab
le 8
a) p
olic
y 29
an
d c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36,
37
& 3
8; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
an
d w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
39; F
resh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
ies
40, 4
1, 4
2 &
43;
His
toric
her
itage
(Tab
le 5
) pol
icy
46;
Indi
geno
us e
cosy
stem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icy
47; L
ands
cape
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icy
50; N
atur
al h
azar
ds (T
able
8a)
pol
icy
51;
Regi
onal
for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
ies
54, 5
5, 5
6, 5
7 &
58;
Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49
Polic
y 39
: Rec
ogni
sing
the
be
nefit
s fr
om r
enew
able
en
ergy
and
reg
iona
lly
sign
ifica
nt in
fras
truc
ture
–
cons
ider
atio
n
119
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
153
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36,
37
& 3
8; F
resh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
ies
40, 4
1, 4
2 &
43;
His
toric
her
itage
(Tab
le 5
) pol
icy
46; I
ndig
enou
s ec
osys
tem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icy
47; L
ands
cape
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icy
50; N
atur
al h
azar
ds (T
able
8a)
pol
icy
51; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icie
s 54
, 55,
56,
57
& 5
8;
Reso
urce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49
Ob
ject
ive
11
The
quan
tity
of w
aste
dis
pose
d of
is r
educ
ed.
Polic
y 65
: Pro
mot
ing
effic
ient
us
e an
d co
nser
vatio
n of
re
sour
ces
– no
n-re
gula
tory
144
Met
hod
17: I
nfor
mat
ion
abou
t w
aste
man
agem
ent
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
156
Met
hod
56: A
ssis
t th
e co
mm
unity
to
redu
ce w
aste
, an
d us
e w
ater
and
ene
rgy
effic
ient
lyW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
and
city
and
di
stric
t co
unci
ls16
2
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 39
3.4 Fresh water (including public access)
Freshwaterisintegraltoourhealth,wellbeing,livelihoodandculture.Freshwaterisessentialfor our economy anddefines our landscape and sustains ecosystems. People value cleanfresh water for many reasons – economic, recreational, aesthetic, ecological and cultural. It is amatter of national importance to protectwetlands, lakes, rivers and streams frominappropriate use and development.
The region’s fresh water has to meet a range of uses valued by the community. There is a range ofdifferingusesandvaluesassociatedwithfreshwater.Theresourceneedstobeavailableto meet the needs of both current and future generations. This range of uses and values leads tomultiplepressuresonthequantityandqualityofthefreshwaterwhichcancumulativelyimpact on the availability andvalueof the resource foruse.This is a complex issue thatinvolvesmultiple resourceuserswithdifferingvalues.Awholeof catchmentapproach isparticularlyusefulforunderstandingandmanagingthesecomplexities.Itisalsoimportantthattheflowofwaterismanagedappropriately.
Māoriconsiderfreshwatertobeasignificanttaonga(valuedresource)thatplaysacentralroleinbothspiritualandsecularrealms.IntheMāoriworldview,waterrepresentsthelifebloodoftheland.Theconditionofwaterisareflectionofthestateoftheland,andthisinturnisareflectionofthehealthofthepeople.
In their natural state, river catchments andwetlands cleanse and purifywater, rechargegroundwaterandreducetheextremesofflooding.Rivers,lakesandwetlandsprovidehabitatforaquaticlife,butwhentheyandtheircatchmentsaredegradedthewaterbodies’abilitytosupporthealthyfunctioningaquaticecosystemsisreduced.
Monitoring of the region’s rivers shows that many urban and lowland pastoral streamsregularlyfailwaterqualityguidelines.Themostcommonreasonsforfailingarehighlevelsofnutrientsorbacteria,orpoorclarity.Biologicalmonitoringshowsthataquatichealth isalsopoorestinthesestreams.Theadverseeffectsoferosionandsedimentrun-offonfreshwaterarediscussedinsection3.11SoilandMinerals.
Urban streams are affected by stormwater discharges, especially when there are highproportions of impervious cover – such as roofs and roads – in the catchment. Stormwater, which generally has little or no treatment, contains sediments and bacteria, as well aspersistent contaminants – like heavy metals – which accumulate in stream sediments and eventually in the coastal environments where the streams discharge. These contaminants affectfreshwaterfishandinvertebratesandcanhavechronic long-termadverseeffectsonriverandcoastalecosystems.Urbanlandusesalsoaffectwaterqualityinriversandstreamsandcancauseotherpressuresonfreshwaterhabitatbycreatingthedemandtopipeorfillinsmall streams.
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region40
There are eight major discharges of treated sewage to fresh water in the region – one from thetreatmentplantatParaparaumu,onefromRathkealeCollegeinMasterton,withtherestfromtheWairarapatownsofMasterton,Castlepoint,Carterton,Greytown,FeatherstonandMartinborough.Treatedsewageoftencontainshighlevelsofdisease-causingorganismsthatcan make the rivers unsafe for recreational use, as well as nutrients, which can promote nuisance aquatic weed and algal growth. Discharges of wastes into water bodies are ofparticular concern to tangata whenua because waste, particularly sewage waste, degrades themauri(lifeforce)ofthewaterbody.
Landuses affect the state of rivers and streams and, consequently, the coast.Nearlyhalfthe land in the region is used for agriculture. Rivers and streams in these catchments have poorbiologicalhealthandwaterquality, andaremore likely to suffer fromalgalgrowthin late summer,when conditions are driest andwarmest and river flows at their lowest.GroundwateraroundTeHoro,Ōtakiand in theWairarapavalley isalsoaffectedby landuses, and in some areas has elevated levels of nitrate. This could be from farming or from septic tanks.
Accommodatingpeople’sneedsforwaterisbecomingmoreandmoredifficultbecausesomewater resources in the region are already fully allocated and others are close to full allocation. Non-consumptiveusesofwater canoftenbeundertakenwithnegligible effectsonwaterbodies. In theWairarapa, theamountofwater takenfor farmpasture irrigationhasmorethandoubledoverthelast10yearsandincreasingpopulationsintheregion’surbanareasmeansdemandforwatersupplyfromrivers,lakesandgroundwaterisexpectedtoincrease.The pressure on water resources is also likely to increase as a result of climate change. Some predictedeffectsarethatthecentralandeasternWairarapawillbecomedrier,anddroughtswilloccurmorefrequentlyandpersistforlongerperiods.
Groundwater levels in some Wairarapa aquifers are declining year by year. Loweredgroundwaterlevelscanaffecttheflowofspringsandriversandstreams,andwaterlevelsinwetlands,whichcaneventuallydryup.Ifcontinuedabstractionskeepthegroundwaterlevellow,thedependentecosystemscanbepermanentlyaffected.
Prolongedlowflowsinriversmeanthereislesshabitatavailableforaquaticlifeandtheadverseeffectsofcontaminationareworsebecauseofreduceddilution.Lowflowsinsummermeanwater temperatures and algal growths increase, especially if there is no riparian vegetation. Because people’s need to take water is greatest at times of low rainfall, abstractions generally lowerriverflowswhenaquaticlifeisalreadystressed.
Existingusersoftenhaveinvestedininfrastructureinrelianceuponconsentsforthetakeand/or use of water.
Allthesemattersshouldberecognisedintheefficientmanagementofwater.
Theintroductionandspreadofaquaticpestsareathreattothehealthofaquaticecosystems.Inwetlands,exoticplantssuchaswillowsandblackberrycandisplacewetlandplantsanddonotprovidesuitablehabitatforwetlandspecies.Pests–suchasdidymoandpestfish–alsohavepotentialforsignificantadverseeffects.
It is amatterofnational importance tomaintainandenhancepublic access toandalongriversandlakes.Thereislittleinformationaboutthestateofpublicaccesstoriversandlakesin the region. Where land is publicly owned, public access has generally been enhanced withtheprovisionofwalkingtracksandrecreationalareas.Forexample,majorriverssuchas theHutt,Waikanae andRuamāhanga,which aremanaged forfloodprotectionor soilconservation purposes, have good access for recreational use.
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 41
Where land is privately owned, city and district councils can take esplanade reserves or strips as part of subdivisions. On private land that is not proposed to be subdivided, however, public access is at the discretion and with the permission of the landowner. To date, there has beennoregion-widestrategicplanningintheregionthathasidentifiedwherepublicaccessshould be enhanced. Where esplanade reserves and strips have been taken for public access, cityanddistrictcouncilssometimesstruggle tomaintain them.Evenwhere there is legalaccess, it is not always aligned with access that is physically possible. There are circumstances where public access to the coastal marine area, lakes and rivers may not be desirable – such as to provide security for regional infrastructure, allow for farming activities and prevent harm to the public.
TheregionallysignificantissuesandtheissuesofsignificancetotheWellingtonregion’siwiauthorities for fresh water are:
1. Pollution is affecting water quality in water bodiesThewaterqualityofriversandstreams,lakes,wetlandsandgroundwaterintheregionisbeing polluted by discharges and contaminants arising from urban and rural land uses.
2. Poor ecosystem function in rivers, lakes and wetlands The ecosystem function of some rivers, lakes and wetlands has been impaired, with some wetland and lowland stream ecosystems coming under particular pressure. Some activities that can impair ecosystem function are:
(a) fillingingulliesandephemeralstreamsandstraighteningorpipingsmallstreams(b) liningstreambanksandbedswithrockorconcrete(c) removingstreamsidevegetation(d) worksinrivers,particularlyduringlowflows(e) theintroductionandspreadofaquaticpests,includingdidymoandpestfish,and
weeds in wetlands which displace wetland plants(f) stockaccesstoriverandstreambeds,lakebedsandwetlands,andtheirmargins(g) creatingimpermeablelandwithinacatchmentthroughasphalting,concretingand
building structures(h) takingwaterfromriversandgroundwaterconnectedtorivers,wetlandsandsprings.
3. There is increasing demand on limited water resources There is a limited amount of water in water bodies available for human use and demand is increasing.Theefficientmanagementofwaterintheregion’swaterbodiesisamatterofvitalimportance for sustaining the wellbeing of people, communities and the regional economy.
Anadditionalissuesharedwiththecoastalenvironmentis:
4. Public access to and along the coastal marine area, lakes and rivers (shared with Issue 4 in section 3.2)
There have been inconsistent approaches to the taking of access strips or esplanade reserves as part of subdivisions. This has meant that public access to and along the coastal marine area, lakes and rivers is not always provided, or has been provided in places where people cannottakeadvantageofit.Evenwherephysicalaccessisavailable,itisnotalwayspossibleif access ways are not well maintained.
Table 4: Fresh water Objective 12
Table 4: Fresh water Objectives 12 & 13
Table 6(a): Indigenous ecosystems Objective 16
Table 2: Coastal environment
Table 4: Fresh water Objective 8
Table 4: Fresh water Objective 14
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region42
Tab
le 4
: Fre
sh w
ater
ob
ject
ives
an
d t
itle
s o
f p
olic
ies
and
met
ho
ds
to a
chie
ve t
he
ob
ject
ives
Ob
ject
ive
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Ob
ject
ive
12
The
quan
tity
and
qual
ity o
f fr
esh
wat
er:
(a)
mee
t th
e ra
nge
of u
ses
and
valu
es f
or w
hich
wat
er is
re
quire
d;
(b)
safe
guar
d th
e lif
e su
ppor
ting
capa
city
of
wat
er
bodi
es; a
nd
(c)
mee
t th
e re
ason
ably
fo
rese
eabl
e ne
eds
of f
utur
e ge
nera
tions
.
Polic
y 12
: Man
agem
ent
purp
oses
for
sur
face
wat
er
bodi
es –
reg
iona
l pla
ns
98M
etho
d 2:
Reg
iona
l pla
n im
plem
enta
tion
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il15
3
Met
hod
34: P
repa
re a
reg
iona
l wat
er s
trat
egy
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
159
Met
hod
35: P
repa
re a
reg
iona
l sto
rmw
ater
ac
tion
plan
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
159
Met
hod
36: S
uppo
rt In
dust
ry-le
d en
viro
nmen
tal
acco
rds
and
code
s of
pra
ctic
eW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
and
city
and
di
stric
t co
unci
ls15
9
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 5
& 6
; Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icie
s 7&
8;
Fres
h w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 14
, 15,
16,
17
& 1
8; In
dige
nous
eco
syst
ems
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 24
; Soi
ls a
nd m
iner
als
(Tab
le 1
1) p
olic
y 15
an
d c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36,
37,
38
& 4
0; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
an
d w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
39; F
resh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
ies
40, 4
1 &
43;
Indi
geno
us e
cosy
stem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icy
47;
Nat
ural
haz
ards
(Tab
le 8
a) p
olic
y 52
; Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
y 54
; Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9
Polic
y 13
: Allo
catin
g w
ater
–
regi
onal
pla
ns98
Met
hod
2: R
egio
nal p
lan
impl
emen
tatio
nW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
153
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icy
5; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
ies
7& 8
Fre
sh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
ies
12, 1
6, 1
7, 1
8 &
19;
Indi
geno
us e
cosy
stem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icy
24 a
nd
co
nsi
der
– C
oast
al
envi
ronm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36,
37,
38
& 4
0; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
y 39
; Fre
sh w
ater
(T
able
4) p
olic
ies
40, 4
3, 4
4 &
45;
Indi
geno
us e
cosy
stem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icy
47; N
atur
al h
azar
ds (T
able
8a)
pol
icy
51;
Regi
onal
for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
y 54
; Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
po
licie
s 48
& 4
9; S
oils
and
min
eral
s (T
able
11)
pol
icy
59
Polic
y 14
: Min
imis
ing
cont
amin
atio
n in
sto
rmw
ater
fr
om n
ew d
evel
opm
ent
– re
gion
al p
lans
99M
etho
d 2:
Reg
iona
l pla
n im
plem
enta
tion
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il15
3
Met
hod
34: P
repa
re a
reg
iona
l wat
er s
trat
egy
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
159
Met
hod
35: P
repa
re a
reg
iona
l sto
rmw
ater
ac
tion
plan
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
159
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 5
and
6; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
ies
7 &
8;
Fres
h w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 12
, 15,
17
& 1
8; In
dige
nous
eco
syst
ems
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 24
; Soi
ls a
nd m
iner
als
(Tab
le
11) p
olic
y 15
an
d c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36,
37,
38
& 4
0; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
39; F
resh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
ies
40, 4
1 &
43;
Indi
geno
us e
cosy
stem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icy
47;
Nat
ural
haz
ards
(Tab
le 8
a) p
olic
y 52
; Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
y 54
; Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 43
Ob
ject
ive
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Ob
ject
ive
12
(Con
tinue
d)
Polic
y 15
: Min
imis
ing
the
effe
cts
of e
arth
wor
ks a
nd
vege
tatio
n cl
eara
nce
– di
stric
t an
d re
gion
al p
lans
99M
etho
d 1:
Dis
tric
t pl
an im
plem
enta
tion
City
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls15
3
Met
hod
2: R
egio
nal p
lan
impl
emen
tatio
nW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
153
Met
hod
31: P
roto
cols
for
man
agem
ent
of
eart
hwor
ks a
nd a
ir qu
ality
bet
wee
n lo
cal
auth
oriti
es
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
158
Met
hod
35: P
repa
re a
reg
iona
l sto
rmw
ater
act
ion
plan
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
159
Met
hod
36: S
uppo
rt In
dust
ry-le
d en
viro
nmen
tal
acco
rds
and
code
s of
pra
ctic
eW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
and
city
and
di
stric
t co
unci
ls15
9
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 5
& 6
; Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
7; F
resh
w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 12
, 14,
17
& 1
8; In
dige
nous
eco
syst
ems
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
ies
24; L
ands
cape
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icie
s 26
& 2
7; N
atur
al h
azar
ds (T
able
8a)
pol
icy
29 a
nd
co
nsi
der
– C
oast
al e
nviro
nmen
t (T
able
2) p
olic
ies
35, 3
6, 3
7, 3
8 &
40;
Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
39; F
resh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
ies
40, 4
2, 4
3; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge
(Tab
le 5
) pol
icy
46; I
ndig
enou
s ec
osys
tem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icy
47; L
ands
cape
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icy
50; N
atur
al h
azar
ds
(Tab
le 8
a) p
olic
y 52
; Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
ies
54, 5
5 &
56;
Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith
tang
ata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49;
Soi
ls a
nd m
iner
als
(Tab
le 1
1) p
olic
y 60
Polic
y 16
: Pro
mot
ing
disc
harg
es
to la
nd –
reg
iona
l pla
ns10
0M
etho
d 2:
Reg
iona
l pla
n im
plem
enta
tion
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il15
3
Met
hod
36: S
uppo
rt In
dust
ry-le
d en
viro
nmen
tal
acco
rds
and
code
s of
pra
ctic
eW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
and
city
and
di
stric
t co
unci
ls15
9
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icy
5; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
ies
7 &
8; F
resh
w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 12
, 14,
15,
17
& 1
8; In
dige
nous
eco
syst
ems
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 24
; Soi
ls a
nd m
iner
als
(Tab
le
11) p
olic
y 15
an
d c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36,
37,
38
& 4
0; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
39; F
resh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
ies
40, 4
1 &
43;
Indi
geno
us e
cosy
stem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icy
47;
Nat
ural
haz
ards
(Tab
le 8
a) p
olic
y 52
; Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9
Polic
y 17
: Wat
er a
lloca
tion
and
use
for
the
heal
th n
eeds
of
peop
le –
reg
iona
l pla
ns
101
Met
hod
2: R
egio
nal p
lan
impl
emen
tatio
nW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
153
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icy
5, E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
ies
8 &
9; F
resh
w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 12
, 13
& 1
8 an
d c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 37
& 4
0; E
nerg
y,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
39; F
resh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
y 40
, 43
& 4
4; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icie
s 54
, 55,
56
& 5
8; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49;
So
ils a
nd m
iner
als
(Tab
le 1
1) p
olic
y 59
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region44
Ob
ject
ive
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Ob
ject
ive
12
(Con
tinue
d)
Polic
y 40
: Saf
egua
rdin
g aq
uatic
ec
osys
tem
hea
lth in
wat
er
bodi
es –
con
side
ratio
n
120
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
City
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls15
3
Met
hod
35: P
repa
re a
reg
iona
l sto
rmw
ater
act
ion
plan
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
159
Met
hod
36: S
uppo
rt In
dust
ry-le
d en
viro
nmen
tal
acco
rds
and
code
s of
pra
ctic
eW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
and
city
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls15
9
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 6,
35
& 3
7; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
y 39
; Fre
sh w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 41
, 42
& 4
3; In
dige
nous
eco
syst
ems
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 47
; Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
ies
54, 5
5 &
56;
Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9
Polic
y 41
: Min
imis
ing
the
effe
cts
of e
arth
wor
ks a
nd
vege
tatio
n di
stur
banc
e –
cons
ider
atio
n
121
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d C
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
31: P
roto
cols
for
man
agem
ent
of
eart
hwor
ks a
nd a
ir qu
ality
bet
wee
n lo
cal
auth
oriti
es
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
158
Met
hod
36: S
uppo
rt In
dust
ry-le
d en
viro
nmen
tal
acco
rds
and
code
s of
pra
ctic
eW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
and
city
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls15
9
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 6,
35,
36,
37
& 4
0; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3)
polic
y 39
; Fre
sh w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 40
, 42,
43;
His
toric
her
itage
(Tab
le 5
) pol
icy
46; I
ndig
enou
s ec
osys
tem
s (T
able
6a
) pol
icy
47; L
ands
cape
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icy
50; N
atur
al h
azar
ds (T
able
8a)
pol
icy
52; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icie
s 54
, 55
& 5
6; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49;
Soi
ls a
nd
min
eral
s (T
able
11)
pol
icy
60
Polic
y 42
: Min
imis
ing
cont
amin
atio
n in
sto
rmw
ater
fr
om d
evel
opm
ent
– co
nsid
erat
ion
122
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d C
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
35: P
repa
re a
reg
iona
l sto
rmw
ater
ac
tion
plan
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
159
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 6,
35,
36,
37,
38
& 4
0; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
39; F
resh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
ies
40, 4
1 &
43;
Indi
geno
us e
cosy
stem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icy
47;
Nat
ural
haz
ards
(Tab
le 8
a) p
olic
y 52
; Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
ies
54, 5
5 &
56;
Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 45
Ob
ject
ive
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Ob
ject
ive
13
The
regi
on’s
river
s, la
kes
and
wet
land
s su
ppor
t he
alth
y fu
nctio
ning
eco
syst
ems.
Polic
y 18
: Pro
tect
ing
aqua
tic
ecol
ogic
al f
unct
ion
of w
ater
bo
dies
– r
egio
nal p
lans
101
Met
hod
2: R
egio
nal p
lan
impl
emen
tatio
nW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
153
Met
hod
29: T
ake
a w
hole
of
catc
hmen
t ap
proa
ch
to w
orks
, ope
ratio
ns a
nd s
ervi
ces
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
158
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 5
& 6
; Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icie
s 8
& 9
; Fr
esh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
ies
12, 1
4, 1
5 &
19;
Indi
geno
us e
cosy
stem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icy
24; S
oils
and
min
eral
s (T
able
11
) pol
icy
15 a
nd
co
nsi
der
– C
oast
al e
nviro
nmen
t (T
able
2) p
olic
ies
35, 3
6, 3
7, 3
8 &
40;
Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
y 39
; Fre
sh w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 40
, 41
& 4
3; In
dige
nous
eco
syst
ems
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 47
; N
atur
al h
azar
ds (T
able
8a)
pol
icy
52; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icy
54; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49
Polic
y 19
: Man
agin
g am
enity
, re
crea
tiona
l and
indi
geno
us
biod
iver
sity
val
ues
of r
iver
s an
d la
kes
– re
gion
al p
lans
102
Met
hod
2: R
egio
nal p
lan
impl
emen
tatio
nW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
153
Met
hod
32: E
ngag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a,
stak
ehol
ders
, lan
dow
ners
and
the
com
mun
ity in
th
e id
entifi
catio
n an
d pr
otec
tion
of s
igni
fican
t va
lues
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d C
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
158
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 5
& 6
; Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icie
s 7&
8;
Fres
h w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 12
, 14,
15
& 1
8; In
dige
nous
eco
syst
ems
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 24
; Soi
ls a
nd m
iner
als
(Tab
le
11) p
olic
y 15
an
d c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36,
37,
38
& 4
0; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
39; F
resh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
ies
40, 4
1, 4
2 &
43;
Indi
geno
us e
cosy
stem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icy
47;
Nat
ural
haz
ards
(Tab
le 8
a) p
olic
y 52
; Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
y 54
; Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9
Polic
y 43
: Pro
tect
ing
aqua
tic
ecol
ogic
al f
unct
ion
of w
ater
bo
dies
– c
onsi
dera
tion
122
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d C
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
29: T
ake
a w
hole
of
catc
hmen
t ap
proa
ch
to w
orks
, ope
ratio
ns a
nd s
ervi
ces
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
158
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 6,
35,
36,
37,
38
& 4
0; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
39; F
resh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
ies
40, 4
1 &
42;
Indi
geno
us e
cosy
stem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icy
47;
Nat
ural
haz
ards
(Tab
le 8
a) p
olic
y 52
; Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
ies
54, 5
5 &
56;
Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9
Polic
y 64
: Sup
port
ing
a w
hole
of
cat
chm
ent
appr
oach
– n
on-
regu
lato
ry
143
Met
hod
8: In
form
atio
n ab
out
rest
orat
ion
and
enha
ncem
ent
of d
egra
ded
wat
er b
odie
s an
d th
e na
tura
l cha
ract
er o
f th
e co
asta
l env
ironm
ent
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il15
5
Met
hod
11: I
nfor
mat
ion
abou
t w
ater
con
serv
atio
n an
d ef
ficie
nt u
seW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
and
city
and
di
stric
t co
unci
ls15
5
Met
hod
29: T
ake
a w
hole
of
catc
hmen
t ap
proa
ch
to w
orks
, ope
ratio
ns a
nd s
ervi
ces
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
158
Met
hod
53: S
uppo
rt c
omm
unity
res
tora
tion
initi
ativ
es f
or t
he c
oast
al e
nviro
nmen
t, r
iver
s la
kes
and
wet
land
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d C
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
162
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region46
Ob
ject
ive
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Ob
ject
ive
14
Fres
h w
ater
ava
ilabl
e fo
r us
e an
d de
velo
pmen
t is
allo
cate
d an
d us
ed e
ffici
ently
.
Polic
y 19
: Usi
ng w
ater
ef
ficie
ntly
– r
egio
nal p
lans
102
Met
hod
2: R
egio
nal p
lan
impl
emen
tatio
nW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
153
Met
hod
34: P
repa
re a
reg
iona
l wat
er s
trat
egy
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
159
Met
hod
36: S
uppo
rt in
dust
ry-le
d en
viro
nmen
tal
acco
rds
and
code
s of
pra
ctic
eW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
and
city
and
di
stric
t co
unci
ls15
9
Met
hod
47: I
nves
tigat
e th
e us
e of
tra
nsfe
rabl
e w
ater
per
mits
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il 16
1
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icy
5, E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
ies
7& 8
; Fre
sh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
ies
12, 1
3 &
18
and
co
nsi
der
– C
oast
al e
nviro
nmen
t (T
able
2) p
olic
ies
37 &
40;
Ene
rgy,
in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
y 39
; Fre
sh w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icy
40, 4
3 &
44;
Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
y 54
; Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9; S
oils
and
m
iner
als
(Tab
le 1
1) p
olic
y 60
Polic
y 44
: Man
agin
g w
ater
ta
kes
to e
nsur
e ef
ficie
nt u
se –
co
nsid
erat
ion
123
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il 15
3
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icy
40; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
y 39
; Fre
sh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
y 40
, 43
& 4
5; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49;
Soi
ls
and
min
eral
s (T
able
11)
pol
icy
60
Polic
y 45
: Usi
ng w
ater
ef
ficie
ntly
– c
onsi
dera
tion
124
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
City
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls15
3
Met
hod
36: S
uppo
rt in
dust
ry-le
d en
viro
nmen
tal
acco
rds
and
code
s of
pra
ctic
eW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
and
city
and
di
stric
t co
unci
ls15
9
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icy
40; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
y 39
; Fre
sh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
y 40
, 43
& 4
4; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icy
54; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49;
Soi
ls a
nd m
iner
als
(Tab
le 1
1) p
olic
y 59
Polic
y 65
: Pro
mot
ing
effic
ient
us
e an
d co
nser
vatio
n of
re
sour
ces
– no
n-re
gula
tory
144
Met
hod
11: I
nfor
mat
ion
abou
t w
ater
con
serv
atio
n an
d ef
ficie
nt u
seW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
and
City
and
di
stric
t co
unci
ls15
5
Met
hod
34: P
repa
re a
reg
iona
l wat
er s
trat
egy
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
159
Met
hod
48: I
nves
tigat
e th
e us
e of
tra
nsfe
rabl
e w
ater
per
mits
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il16
1
Met
hod
56: A
ssis
t th
e co
mm
unity
to
redu
ce w
aste
, an
d us
e w
ater
and
ene
rgy
effic
ient
lyW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
and
City
and
di
stric
t co
unci
ls16
2
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 47
Ob
ject
ive
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Ob
ject
ive
8
Publ
ic a
cces
s to
and
alo
ng t
he
coas
tal m
arin
e ar
ea, l
akes
and
riv
ers
is e
nhan
ced
(obj
ectiv
e 8
is s
hare
d fo
r th
e co
asta
l en
viro
nmen
t an
d fr
esh
wat
er).
Polic
y 53
: Pub
lic a
cces
s to
and
al
ong
the
coas
tal m
arin
e ar
ea,
lake
s an
d riv
ers
– co
nsid
erat
ion
132
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
City
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls15
3
Met
hod
51: I
dent
ify a
reas
for
impr
oved
pub
lic
acce
ssW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil*
and
city
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls16
1
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
& 3
6; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
y 39
; Fre
sh w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icy
43; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
y 46
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 47
; La
ndsc
ape
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icy
50; N
atur
al h
azar
ds (T
able
8a)
pol
icy
51; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 49
Historicheritageprovidesaconnectiontothosewholivedbeforeus.Ithelpsusdefinewhowe are and contributes to our sense of place. Once destroyed, it cannot be replaced.
Our history is found in both the tangible physical remains and in the intangible values associatedwithourancestors.Historicheritage isnot justabouthistory,butalsoculture,archaeology,architecture,scienceandtechnology.ForMāori,placesofculturalandhistoricheritageareintegraltowellbeing.Historicheritageresourcesprovidecontinuitybetweenthepast and the present that, properly maintained, will continue into the future.
IntheWellingtonregion,thereisawiderangeofhistoricheritageresources.Theregion’sbuiltheritagedocumentsimportantaspectsofourpast.Archaeologicalsitescontainevidenceofhowpeoplehavelivedinthepast,perhapsforcenturies.Fortangatawhenua,therearemanysitesofculturalsignificancethatprovideimportantconnectionswithancestors.
In the Wellington region, many heritage places still retain high integrity and are ingood condition. However, some have suffered from inappropriate subdivision, use anddevelopment. Incremental development is resulting in a loss of historic heritage in someof some of the region’s towns, particularly in higher density inner centres where heritage buildingsarebeinginappropriatelymodifiedorreplacedbynewbuildings.Archaeologicalsites have been destroyed, sometimes without being properly recorded, and the evidence they contained about life in the past can never be recovered.
Since2003,WellingtonRegionalCouncilandtheregion’sdistrictandcitycouncilshavehadanobligationundertheResourceManagementActtoidentifyandprovidefortheprotectionoftheregion’shistoricheritage.Untilthencouncilswereonlyrequiredtohave“particularregard”totheprotectionofheritagevalues.Councilshaveimproveddistrictplanprotectionfor historic heritage since this change. All district and city councils in the Wellingtonregionrequireresourceconsentforthedemolition,relocationorforsubstantialalterationsofheritagebuildingslistedinplans.However,moreworkisstillrequired,particularlyforarchaeological sites.
TheregionallysignificantissueandtheissueofsignificancetotheWellingtonregion’siwiauthorities for historic heritage is:
1. Inappropriate modification and destruction of historic heritage.Loss of heritage values as a result of inappropriatemodification, use and destruction ofhistoric heritage.
3.5 Historic heritage
Table 5: Historic heritage Objective 15
Table 10: Resource management with tangata whenua Objective 28
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region50
Tab
le 5
: His
tori
c h
erit
age
ob
ject
ive
and
tit
les
of
po
licie
s an
d m
eth
od
s to
ach
ieve
th
e o
bje
ctiv
e
Ob
ject
ive
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Ob
ject
ive
15
His
toric
her
itage
is id
entifi
ed
and
prot
ecte
d fr
om
inap
prop
riate
mod
ifica
tion,
use
an
d de
velo
pmen
t.
Polic
y 21
: Ide
ntify
ing
plac
es,
site
s an
d ar
eas
with
sig
nific
ant
hist
oric
her
itage
val
ues–
dis
tric
t an
d re
gion
al p
lans
102
Met
hod
1: D
istr
ict
plan
impl
emen
tatio
nC
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
2: R
egio
nal p
lan
impl
emen
tatio
nW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
153
Met
hod
20: I
nfor
mat
ion
to a
ssis
t w
ith t
he
iden
tifica
tion
of p
lace
s, s
ites
and
area
s w
ith
sign
ifica
nt h
isto
ric h
erita
ge v
alue
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
156
Met
hod
32: E
ngag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a,
stak
ehol
ders
, lan
dow
ners
and
the
com
mun
ity in
th
e id
entifi
catio
n an
d pr
otec
tion
of s
igni
fican
t va
lues
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
158
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 4
& 6
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 23
; Lan
dsca
pe
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icie
s 25
& 2
7; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icie
s 30
& 3
1 an
d c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
en
viro
nmen
t (T
able
2) p
olic
y 36
& 5
3; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49
Polic
y 22
: Pro
tect
ing
hist
oric
he
ritag
e va
lues
– d
istr
ict
and
regi
onal
pla
ns
104
Met
hod
1: D
istr
ict
plan
impl
emen
tatio
nC
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
2: R
egio
nal p
lan
impl
emen
tatio
nW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
153
Met
hod
32: E
ngag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a,
stak
ehol
ders
, lan
dow
ners
and
the
com
mun
ity in
th
e id
entifi
catio
n an
d pr
otec
tion
of s
igni
fican
t va
lues
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
158
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 3
& 6
; Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
8;
Indi
geno
us e
cosy
stem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icy
24; L
ands
cape
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icie
s 26
& 2
8; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icie
s 30
, 31
& 3
2 an
d c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36
& 5
3; E
nerg
y,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
39; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
y 46
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le
6a) p
olic
y 47
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
y 50
; Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
y 54
; Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9
Polic
y 46
: Man
agin
g ef
fect
s on
his
toric
her
itage
val
ues
– co
nsid
erat
ion
124
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 6,
35,
36
& 5
3; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3)
polic
y 39
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 47
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
y 50
; Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
y 54
; Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 51
Anecosystemmaybedescribedasacommunityofplants,animalsandmicro-organismsinteracting with each other and their surrounding environment.
Aswell as contributing to the region’s natural character and having their own intrinsicvalues, healthy ecosystems provide us with life’s essentials – such as plants and animals for food,fibreforclothing,timberforconstruction.Thisistrueeveninanindustrialisedage,althoughtheconnectionsarelessimmediatelyobvious.Healthyecosystemssupplyuswith‘services’ that support life on this planet – such as:
• Processestopurifyairandwater• Decompositionanddetoxificationofwastes• Creationandmaintenanceofproductivesoils• Reductionoftheimpactofclimateextremes• Captureofcarbonandmaintenanceofafunctioningatmosphere
Ecosystemsaredynamic(constantlychanging)andthemanydiversenaturalprocessesthatdriveecosystemsareas importantas thebiodiversityvalueswithinthem.Inaddition,allparts of an ecosystem are interconnected. The species that make up an ecosystem, including humans,cannotexistinisolationfromtheotherspeciesandnon-livingpartsoftheecosystem.TheprimacyofhealthyecosystemsiscentraltoMāoriculturalvalues,wherebyharmtomauridirectly affects thewellbeing of the people.More specifically, degradation of ecosystemsthreatensmahingakai(placeswherefoodisgathered)andothernaturalresourcesusedforcustomary purposes.
The Wellington region has a distinctive range of ecosystems – such as forests, mountains, wetlands, lakes, rivers and coastal and marine ecosystems. Some ecosystems have a high degreeofindigenousness–suchastheTararua,RimutakaandAorangiranges,whileothersaredominatedbyexoticspecies–suchaspastoralfarmlands.
The area of indigenous ecosystems has been in decline since humans first settled in ourregion.ThislossgreatlyacceleratedfromthetimeofEuropeansettlement.Around70percentoftheindigenousforestandmorethan90percentofthewetlandsthatexistedin1840,havebeenclearedforagricultureandurbandevelopment.Mostoftheremainingforestandwetlandsanddunesystemshavebeendegradedormodifiedinsomeway.Inaddition,manyof the processes that ensure ecosystems remain healthy and viable into the future have been compromised, including reproduction, recruitment, dispersal and migration.
3.6 Indigenous ecosystems
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region52
Humanactionsthatcontinuetoimpactontheremainingindigenousecosystemsinclude:
• Modificationand,insomecases,destructionofecosystemsbypestplantsandanimals,grazinganimalsandclearanceofindigenousvegetation
• Contaminationofaquaticecosystemsbysediment,pollutantsandnutrients• Destructionofecosystemsasaresultofdevelopment• Drainingwetlandsandchannellingorpipingofnaturalwaterways• Contaminationofcoastalecosystemsbystormwaterandsewagedischarges
The restoration of ecosystems relies upon the good will and actions of landowners. There are a number of individuals and organisations throughout the region that are working to restore indigenous ecosystems. The restoration of indigenous ecosystems on private land provides bothpublicandprivatebenefit.
Ecosystemhealthcanbemeasuredinanumberofways,includinglossofindividualspecies,loss of overall diversity of species, loss of an ecosystem’s ability to function on an ongoing basis, and loss of complete ecosystems and types of ecosystems. While the dramatic collapse of species orwhole ecosystems can capture attention, the gradual erosion of ecosystems’sustainabilityisalsoasignificantissue.
TheregionallysignificantissuesandtheissuesofsignificancetotheWellingtonregion’siwiauthorities for indigenous ecosystems are:
1. The region’s indigenous ecosystems are reduced in extentTheregion’sindigenousecosystemshavebeensignificantlyreducedinextent,specifically:
(a) wetlands(b) lowlandforests(c) lowlandstreams(d) coastaldunesandescarpments(e) estuaries(f) eastern‘dryland’forests.
2. The region’s remaining indigenous ecosystems are under threatThe region’s remaining indigenous ecosystems continue to be degraded or lost.
Table 6a: Indigenous ecosystems Objective 16
Table 6a: Indigenous ecosystems Objective 16
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 53
Tab
le 6
(a)
: In
dig
eno
us
eco
syst
ems
ob
ject
ive
and
tit
les
of
po
licie
s an
d m
eth
od
s to
ach
ieve
th
e o
bje
ctiv
e
Ob
ject
ive
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Ob
ject
ive
16
Indi
geno
us e
cosy
stem
s an
d ha
bita
ts w
ith s
igni
fican
t bi
odiv
ersi
ty v
alue
s ar
e m
aint
aine
d an
d re
stor
ed t
o a
heal
thy
func
tioni
ng s
tate
.
Polic
y 23
: Ide
ntify
ing
indi
geno
us e
cosy
stem
s an
d ha
bita
ts w
ith s
igni
fican
t in
dige
nous
bio
dive
rsity
val
ues
– di
stric
t an
d re
gion
al p
lans
104
Met
hod
1: D
istr
ict
plan
impl
emen
tatio
nC
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
2: R
egio
nal p
lan
impl
emen
tatio
nW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
153
Met
hod
21: I
nfor
mat
ion
to a
ssis
t w
ith t
he
iden
tifica
tion
of in
dige
nous
eco
syst
ems
and
habi
tats
with
sig
nific
ant
biod
iver
sity
val
ues
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
156
Met
hod
32: E
ngag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a,
stak
ehol
ders
, lan
dow
ners
and
the
com
mun
ity in
th
e id
entifi
catio
n an
d pr
otec
tion
of s
igni
fican
t va
lues
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
158
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 4
& 6
; His
toric
her
itage
(Tab
le 5
) pol
icy
21; I
ndig
enou
s ec
osys
tem
s (T
able
6b)
pol
icy
61; L
ands
cape
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icie
s 25
& 2
7 an
d c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36
& 3
7; F
resh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
ies
43 &
53;
Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
y 54
; Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9
Polic
y 24
: Pro
tect
ing
indi
geno
us e
cosy
stem
s an
d ha
bita
ts w
ith s
igni
fican
t in
dige
nous
bio
dive
rsity
val
ues
– di
stric
t an
d re
gion
al p
lans
105
Met
hod
1: D
istr
ict
plan
impl
emen
tatio
nC
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
2: R
egio
nal p
lan
impl
emen
tatio
nW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
153
Met
hod
32: E
ngag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a,
stak
ehol
ders
, lan
dow
ners
and
the
com
mun
ity in
th
e id
entifi
catio
n an
d pr
otec
tion
of s
igni
fican
t va
lues
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
158
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 3
& 6
; Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
8; F
resh
w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 18
& 1
9; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
y 22
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le 6
b) p
olic
y 61
; La
ndsc
ape
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icie
s 26
& 2
8 an
d c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36
& 5
3; E
nerg
y,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
39; F
resh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
ies
43 &
53;
His
toric
her
itage
(Tab
le 5
) pol
icy
46; I
ndig
enou
s ec
osys
tem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icy
47; L
ands
cape
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icy
50; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icy
54; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49
Polic
y 47
: Man
agin
g ef
fect
s on
indi
geno
us e
cosy
stem
s an
d ha
bita
ts w
ith s
igni
fican
t in
dige
nous
bio
dive
rsity
val
ues
– co
nsid
erat
ion
125
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36
& 5
3; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3)
polic
y 39
; Fre
sh w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 43
& 5
3; In
dige
nous
eco
syst
ems
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 47
& (T
able
6b)
pol
icy
61;
Land
scap
e (T
able
7) p
olic
y 50
; Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
y 54
; Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith
tang
ata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region54
Ob
ject
ive
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Ob
ject
ive
16
(Con
tinue
d)
Polic
y 64
: Sup
port
ing
a w
hole
of
cat
chm
ent
appr
oach
– n
on-
regu
lato
ry
143
Met
hod
12: I
nfor
mat
ion
abou
t te
chni
ques
to
mai
ntai
n an
d en
hanc
e in
dige
nous
eco
syst
ems
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
155
Met
hod
29: T
ake
a w
hole
of
catc
hmen
t ap
proa
ch
to w
orks
, ope
ratio
ns a
nd s
ervi
ces
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
15
8
Met
hod
53: S
uppo
rt c
omm
unity
res
tora
tion
initi
ativ
es f
or t
he c
oast
al e
nviro
nmen
t, r
iver
s la
kes
and
wet
land
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
162
Met
hod
54: A
ssis
t la
ndow
ners
to
mai
ntai
n,
enha
nce
and
rest
ore
indi
geno
us e
cosy
stem
sW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
and
city
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls16
2
Tab
le 6
(b
): A
lloca
tio
n o
f fu
nct
ion
s fo
r in
dig
eno
us
bio
div
ersi
ty in
acc
ord
ance
wit
h t
he
Res
ou
rce
Man
agem
ent
Act
Ob
ject
ive
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Sect
ion
62(1
)(i)(i
ii) “
Con
tent
of
regi
onal
pol
icy
stat
emen
ts”.
Polic
y 61
: Allo
catio
n of
re
spon
sibi
litie
s fo
r la
nd u
se
cont
rols
for
indi
geno
us
biod
iver
sity
139
Met
hod
5: A
lloca
tion
of r
espo
nsib
ilitie
sW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
and
city
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls15
4
Als
o s
ee –
coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icy
5; F
resh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
ies
12, 1
8 &
19;
Indi
geno
us e
cosy
stem
s (T
able
6) p
olic
ies
23, 2
4, 4
7, 4
8 &
64
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 55
Landscape is shaped by a combination of natural processes and human actions. Thebiophysicalprocessesovertime–suchasplatetectonics,weathering,landslides,waterflow,climateandtheinfluenceofplantsandanimals–areoverlaidbytheeffectsofawiderangeofhumanactivities.Landscapeisthecumulativeexpressionofnaturalandculturalelements,patternsandprocessesinageographicalarea.
Landscapesinfluenceoursenseofidentityandourexperiencesoftheplacesinwhichwelive.Landscapesalsoinfluencehowvisitorsandotherpeoplefromothercountriesperceiveusandourcountry.NewZealandhasaninternationalreputationforhavingadiversityofnaturallandscapes and Wellington’s landscapes are as diverse as those of any region. Wellington’s distinctive landscapes range from forested mountain ranges, rolling pastures, crowded urban hills and valleys, river plains and coastal dunelands, to sheltered harbours, estuaries, wildcoastsandislands.Weattributedifferentvaluestotheselandscapes,dependingontheircharacteristics and our own culture, personal history, relationship with the land and notions aboutwhatissignificant.
While all landscapes have value, the significance of those values differs. It is importantthat this is recognised in the way the values of landscapes are assessed and managed. Landscapesaredynamicandlandscapechangeisinevitable,evenwithouthumanactivityorintervention. Some land use activities such as farming have played a pivotal role in shaping certain landscapes that are highly valued by many people. Other land uses such as poorly planned and designed urban subdivision have eroded or compromised some landscapes.
In theWellington region there is an increasingawarenessabout thevalueof the region’slandscapes and theway they aremanaged. The ResourceManagementAct requires theidentificationandprotectionofoutstandingnaturalfeaturesandlandscapes.Themanagementof landscape more generally is inherent in the concept of sustainable management and maintainingandenhancingamenityandthequalityoftheenvironment.Withintheregionthere are landscapes which are not outstanding natural landscapes but are distinctive, widelyrecognizedandhighlyvaluedbythecommunityfortheircontributiontoamenityandthequalityoftheenvironment.Theselandscapestendtobemodifiedurbanandruralenvironments, such as areas of the coast and prominent hilltops and ridgelines. The general amenity provisions of district and regional plans may not be suitably focused to manage the values of these landscapes, and nor would it be appropriate to strain the interpretation of outstanding natural landscapes in order to allow more careful management of these landscapes.
3.7 Landscape
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region56
To be able to manage the region sustainably, an understanding of the landscape resource is required. This is an important first step,which describes the intrinsic values of theselandscapes and identifies the typeandnatureof landuses andother changes that couldpotentiallyaffectthesevaluesineitherapositiveornegativemanner.
Landscapesdonotstartandfinishatdistrictandregionalboundariesandareoftenviewedandappreciatedfromadistance,sometimesacrossboundaries.Usingaconsistentprocessto assess all of the region’s landscapes against the same set of factors or criteria enables landscapestobeclassifiedintooneoftheabovecategories,andensuresregionalconsistencyin landscape assessment. Consistency is particularly important where landscapes crossterritorial authority boundaries and/or are visible from multiple districts.
Landscapescanbebroadlycategorisedintothreegroupings:
1. Thefirstgroupcovers‘outstanding’naturalfeaturesandlandscapes.Theseareconsideredtobeexceptionalandiconic,andwhilenotnecessarilypristine, theyare landscapes inwhichnaturalelementsandprocessesdominate.TheResourceManagementActrequiresthe protection of outstanding natural features and landscapes from inappropriate subdivision, use and development.
2. Thesecondgroupcoversspecialamenitylandscapes.Thesearehighlyvaluedfortheirvisualandphysicalattributeswhichcontributetolandscapeamenityandthequalityoftheenvironment.Whilethesespecial‘amenitylandscapes’maybemoremodifiedthanthe outstanding natural landscapes and features, they are none the less distinctive, widely recognised and highly valued by the community. Community recognition and valuecan manifest itself in various ways and an important part of the evaluation process is to describe and articulate the recognition and value of such landscapes. The values of special amenity landscapes should be managed to maintain or enhance these values.
3. The third group covers all other landscapes. These landscapes contribute to the amenity and character of the region and are managed through the general amenity provisions in localauthorityplans.Impactsontheselandscapesarenotconsideredtobearegionallysignificantissue.
Aswithmanyplaces,distinctiveaspectsofsomeoftheregion’slandscapesareatriskofbeingalteredordegradedduetoongoingpressuretoutiliseanddevelopthelandresource.Forexample,earthworksandotherlandformmodifications,plantationforestry,poorlyplannedand designed subdivisions and poorly sited and designed buildings or other structures can impact adversely on landscape values. Current pressures include large-scale earthworksand rural residential developments. Consequently, there is a need to manage landscapechange. The management of landscape values may be more problematic where the area is a workingenvironment,asismuchofruralWairarapa,and/orwheretheareaisrequiredforthe economic and social wellbeing of the area. There is a need therefore to manage change in a way that allows for ongoing use or development.
The potential pressure on the landscape values of outstanding natural landscapes, special amenity landscapesorother landscapesdonotdiffer innature.However, thecapacityofeach landscape grouping to absorb different activities without affecting the landscapevaluesdoesdiffer,soeachrequiresdifferentthresholdsformanagementofthoseactivities.Forexample,thescopeforchangewithinspecialamenitylandscapeswithoutlosingtheirlandscape values will be greater than for outstanding features and landscapes.
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 57
The regionally significant issues and issues of significance to theWellington region’s iwiauthorities for landscape are:
1. Theinappropriatemodificationofthecharacteristicsofoutstandingnaturalfeaturesand landscapes that make them outstanding and natural.
2. Theinappropriatemodificationofthecharacteristicsofspecialamenitylandscapesthatmakes them distinctive, widely recognised, and highly valued by the community.
3. InconsistencyintheidentificationoflandscapesacrosstheWellingtonregionmayresult in discrepancies in the management of landscapes and landscape values, including those which cross local authority boundaries.
Table 7: Landscape Objectives 17 & 18
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region58
Tab
le 7
: Lan
dsc
ape
ob
ject
ive
and
tit
les
of
po
licie
s an
d m
eth
od
s to
ach
ieve
th
e o
bje
ctiv
e
Ob
ject
ive
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Ob
ject
ive
17
The
regi
on’s
outs
tand
ing
natu
ral f
eatu
res
and
land
scap
es
are
iden
tified
and
the
ir la
ndsc
ape
valu
es p
rote
cted
fr
om in
appr
opria
te s
ubdi
visi
on,
use
and
deve
lopm
ent.
Polic
y 25
: Ide
ntify
ing
outs
tand
ing
natu
ral f
eatu
res
and
land
scap
es –
dis
tric
t an
d re
gion
al p
lans
106
Met
hod
1: D
istr
ict
plan
impl
emen
tatio
nC
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
2: R
egio
nal p
lan
impl
emen
tatio
nW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
153
Met
hod
32: E
ngag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a,
stak
ehol
ders
, lan
dow
ners
and
the
com
mun
ity in
th
e id
entifi
catio
n an
d pr
otec
tion
of s
igni
fican
t va
lues
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
158
Met
hod
50: P
repa
re a
reg
iona
l lan
dsca
pe c
hara
cter
de
scrip
tion
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
161
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icy
4; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
y 21
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 23
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
y 27
an
d c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 36
& 5
3;
Reso
urce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49
Polic
y 26
: Pro
tect
ing
outs
tand
ing
natu
ral f
eatu
res
and
land
scap
e va
lues
– d
istr
ict
and
regi
onal
pla
ns
107
Met
hod
1: D
istr
ict
plan
impl
emen
tatio
nC
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
2: R
egio
nal p
lan
impl
emen
tatio
nW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
153
Met
hod
32: E
ngag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a,
stak
ehol
ders
, lan
dow
ners
and
the
com
mun
ity in
th
e id
entifi
catio
n an
d pr
otec
tion
of s
igni
fican
t va
lues
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
158
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icy
3; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
y 8;
Fre
sh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
ies
18 &
19;
His
toric
her
itage
(Tab
le 5
) pol
icy
22; I
ndig
enou
s ec
osys
tem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icy
24; L
ands
cape
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icy
28 a
nd
co
nsi
der
– C
oast
al e
nviro
nmen
t (T
able
2) p
olic
ies
35, 3
6 &
53;
Ene
rgy,
in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
y 39
; His
toric
her
itage
(Tab
le 5
) pol
icy
46; I
ndig
enou
s ec
osys
tem
s (T
able
6a)
po
licy
47; L
ands
cape
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icy
50; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icy
54, 5
5 &
56;
Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9; S
oils
and
min
eral
s (T
able
11)
pol
icy
60
Polic
y 50
: Man
agin
g ef
fect
s on
ou
tsta
ndin
g na
tura
l fea
ture
s an
d la
ndsc
apes
– c
onsi
dera
tion
129
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
153
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 6,
35,
36
& 5
3; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3)
polic
y 39
; His
toric
her
itage
(Tab
le 5
) pol
icy
46; I
ndig
enou
s ec
osys
tem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icy
47; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icy
54, 5
5 &
56;
Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9;
Soils
and
min
eral
s (T
able
11)
pol
icy
60
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 59
Ob
ject
ive
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Ob
ject
ive
18
The
regi
on’s
spec
ial a
men
ity
land
scap
es a
re id
entifi
ed a
nd
thos
e la
ndsc
ape
valu
es t
hat
cont
ribut
e to
am
enity
and
the
qu
ality
of
the
envi
ronm
ent
are
mai
ntai
ned
or e
nhan
ced.
Polic
y 27
: Ide
ntify
ing
spec
ial
amen
ity la
ndsc
apes
– d
istr
ict
and
regi
onal
pla
ns
107
Met
hod
1: D
istr
ict
plan
impl
emen
tatio
nC
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
2: R
egio
nal p
lan
impl
emen
tatio
nW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
153
Met
hod
32: E
ngag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a,
stak
ehol
ders
, lan
dow
ners
and
the
com
mun
ity in
th
e id
entifi
catio
n an
d pr
otec
tion
of s
igni
fican
t va
lues
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
158
Met
hod
50: P
repa
re a
reg
iona
l lan
dsca
pe c
hara
cter
de
scrip
tion
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
161
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 4
& 6
; His
toric
her
itage
(Tab
le 5
) pol
icy
21; I
ndig
enou
s ec
osys
tem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icy
23; L
ands
cape
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icy
25 a
nd
co
nsi
der
– C
oast
al e
nviro
nmen
t (T
able
2) p
olic
y 36
& 5
3;
Reso
urce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49
Polic
y 28
: Man
agin
g sp
ecia
l am
enity
land
scap
e va
lues
–
dist
rict
and
regi
onal
pla
ns
108
Met
hod
1: D
istr
ict
plan
impl
emen
tatio
nC
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
2: R
egio
nal p
lan
impl
emen
tatio
nW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
153
Met
hod
32: E
ngag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a,
stak
ehol
ders
, lan
dow
ners
and
the
com
mun
ity in
th
e id
entifi
catio
n an
d pr
otec
tion
of s
igni
fican
t va
lues
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
158
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 3
& 6
; Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
8; F
resh
w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 18
& 1
9; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
y 22
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 24
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
y 26
an
d c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36
& 5
3; E
nerg
y,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
39; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
y 46
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le 6
a)
polic
y 47
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
y 50
; Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
y 54
, 55
& 5
6; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49;
Soi
ls a
nd m
iner
als
(Tab
le 1
1) p
olic
y 60
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 61
AnaturalhazardisdefinedintheResourceManagementActasanyatmospheric,earthorwaterrelatedoccurrence(includingearthquake,tsunami,erosion,volcanic,andgeothermalactivity, landslip, subsidence, sedimentation,wind, drought, fire, or flooding)whichmayadverselyaffecthuman life,property,orotheraspectsof theenvironment.On theirown,naturalprocessesdonotconstituteahazard.Naturaleventsbecomehazardouswhentheymayadverselyaffecthumanlives.
TheWellingtonregionhasoneofthemostphysicallydiverseenvironmentsinNewZealand.Itisalsooneofthemostpopulousregionsand,consequently,ourcommunitiesareaffectedbyawiderangeofnaturalhazards.With theexceptionofgeothermalactivity, theregionissubjecttoalltypesofnaturalhazardevents.Commonly,therearetwoormorehazardsassociatedwithagivenevent.Forexample,arainstormmaycausefloodingandlandslips.
Thethreemostpotentiallydamagingandcostlynaturalhazardseventsthatcanoccurintheregion are:
• Earthquake:Highmagnitudeearthquake(7.0+)fromtheruptureofalocalfault(especiallytheWellingtonFault)affectingWellingtoncity,Huttvalley,Porirua,KāpitiCoastandtownsinWairarapaDistrict
• Flooding:MajorriverfloodingintheHuttvalley,KāpitiCoastandthecentralWairarapaplains.Floodingisthemostfrequentlyoccurringhazardeventintheregion
• Tsunami:Largetsunami(particularlyonethatislocallygenerated)affectinglow-lyingareasaroundWellingtonHarbourandthesouthernbays,settlementsalongthesouthernandeasternWairarapacoast,PoriruaHarbourandtheKāpitiCoast
Othernaturalhazardshavemorelocalisedimpactsbutoccurmorefrequently.Theseinclude:• Localisedfloodingandinundationfromstreamsandstormwateroverflow.Thiscan
occurthroughouttheregioninlow-lyingareas–suchasPorirua–aroundtributarystreamsofthelargerrivers–suchastheHuttRiver–andinareasthathaveshortsteepcatchments–suchasPaekākāriki
• Coastalerosionandinundation,oftenassociatedwithstormsurge,affectssomeseafront and low lying coastal developments in the region. Some sections of the coastlineareinlongtermretreat–suchasPaekākārikiandTeKopi.Otherareashave episodes of erosion that form part of a cycle of erosion and deposition – such as Paraparaumu or Riversdale
• LandslipsinthehillsuburbsofWellingtoncity,theHuttvalley,Eastbourne,Wainuiomata,PaekākārikiandintheWairarapahillcountry
3.8 Natural hazards
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region62
• Drought,especiallyincentralWairarapaandthecoastalhillsbetweenFlatPointandCastlepoint
• Wildfire,particularlyinhillsuburbsonurbanfringesnearheavilyvegetatedslopes,includingwesternandsouthernWellingtonsuburbs,Eastbourne,Wainuiomata,Huttvalley and Porirua, and farmland in the eastern Wairarapa hill country
• Highwindsthatcanoccurthroughouttheregionandcausewidespreaddamagetobuildings, infrastructure and forestry
• Sedimentationanderosionofriversandstreams,rivermouthsandtidalinlets,thatcanexacerbatethefloodriskbyraisingbedlevelsandunderminingbanks
People’s actions, including mitigation measures and ongoing development in areas at high risk fromnaturalhazards,cancauseor increase therisk fromnaturalhazards.Examplesinclude seawalls or groynes that can cause localised erosion of the adjacent shoreline, and building on landslip prone slopes. Stopbanks and seawalls can also create a sense of security andencouragefurtherdevelopment,increasingtheextentandvalueoftheassetsatrisk.
Inthemediumtolongterm,climatechangeeffectshavethepotentialtoincreaseboththefrequencyandmagnitudeofnaturalhazardeventsthatalreadyoccurintheregion.
Amajor consequenceof climate change is sea level rise.The sea level is expected to riseoverhalfametreby21001.Themainnaturalhazardsassociatedwithariseinsealevelsarecoastal erosion and inundation. Sea level rise will also put increasing pressure on the coastal margin.Astheshorelineadjusts,sedimentwillberedistributedaroundthecoastandmaycause shorelines to form new orientations. Beaches that are currently stable may begin to erode as the shoreline adjusts to a higher water level, while those that are currently eroding mayexperienceanincreasedrateofretreat.
Climate change is expected to increase the intensity and duration of westerly weathersystems and reduce easterly conditions. This will exacerbate differences in the regionalclimate,bybringinghigherrainfalltothewestandreducingcoastalrainsintheeast.Itwillalso bring longer periods of northerly gales to the entire region, particularly in the spring months. Western and southern areas of the region may also have higher rainfall in the winter, increasingthelandslideriskduringwetwinters,particularlyinextremerainfallevents.Thiswillputpressureonstormwatersystemsandfloodprotectionworks.Higherrainfallmayalso result in higher rates of sedimentation at river mouths and in estuaries, increasing the floodriskinthoseareasbyraisingthebaseleveloftheriverbed.
ItisalsoexpectedthatcentralandeasternWairarapawillbecomedrieroverthenext100years.Droughtswilloccurmorefrequentlyandpersistforlongerperiods.Researchsuggeststhatwinter rainfall will decline in the long term, which may lead to a reduction in groundwater recharge rates and pressure on water resources. Dry conditions also result in a heightened riskofwildfire.
1 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (2007), Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Summary for Policymakers.ContributionofworkinggroupItothefourthassessmentreportoftheIPCC,18pp.
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 63
TheregionallysignificantissuesandtheissuesofsignificancetotheWellingtonregion’siwiauthoritiesfornaturalhazardsare:
1. Effects of natural hazardsNatural hazard events in theWellington region have an adverse impact on people andcommunities, businesses, property and infrastructure.
2. Human actions can increase risk and consequences from natural hazardsPeople’s actions including mitigation measures and ongoing development in areas at risk fromnaturalhazardscancause,orincrease,theriskandconsequencesfromnaturalhazards.
3. Climate change will increase both the magnitude and frequency of natural hazard events
Climatechangewillincreasetherisksfromnaturalhazardeventsthatalreadyoccurwithinthe region, particularly:
(a) sealevelrise,exacerbatingtheeffectsofcoastalerosionandinundationandriverfloodinginlowlyingareas,especiallyduringstormsurge
(b) increasedfrequencyandintensityofstormevents,addingtotheriskfromfloods,landslides, severe wind, storm surge, coastal erosion and inundation
(c) increasedfrequencyofdrought,placingpressureonwaterresourcesandincreasingthewildfirerisk
Table 8a: Natural hazards Objectives 19, 20 & 21
Table 8a: Natural hazards Objective 21
Table 8a: Natural hazards Objectives 19, 20 & 21
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region64
Tab
le 8
(a):
Nat
ura
l haz
ard
s o
bje
ctiv
es a
nd
tit
les
of
po
licie
s an
d m
eth
od
s to
ach
ieve
th
e o
bje
ctiv
es
Ob
ject
ives
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Ob
ject
ive
19
The
risks
and
con
sequ
ence
s to
peo
ple,
com
mun
ities
, the
ir bu
sine
sses
, pro
pert
y an
d in
fras
truc
ture
fro
m n
atur
al
haza
rds
and
clim
ate
chan
ge
effe
cts
are
redu
ced.
Polic
y 29
: Avo
idin
g in
appr
opria
te s
ubdi
visi
on a
nd
deve
lopm
ent
in a
reas
at
high
ris
k fr
om n
atur
al h
azar
ds –
di
stric
t an
d re
gion
al p
lans
109
Met
hod
1: D
istr
ict
plan
impl
emen
tatio
nC
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
2: R
egio
nal p
lan
impl
emen
tatio
nW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
153
Met
hod
14: I
nfor
mat
ion
abou
t na
tura
l haz
ard
and
clim
ate
chan
ge e
ffec
tsW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil*
, city
and
di
stric
t co
unci
ls a
nd C
ivil
Def
ence
Em
erge
ncy
Man
agem
ent
Gro
up
155
Met
hod
22: I
nfor
mat
ion
abou
t ar
eas
at h
igh
risk
from
nat
ural
haz
ards
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
157
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icy
3; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
ies
7 &
8; F
resh
w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 14
& 1
7; N
atur
al h
azar
ds (T
able
8b)
pol
icy
62; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) po
licie
s 30
, 31
& 3
2 an
d c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36
& 3
7; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
39; F
resh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
y 43
; Nat
ural
haz
ards
(Tab
le 8
a) p
olic
ies
51 &
52;
Reg
iona
l for
m,
desi
gn a
nd f
unct
ion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icie
s 54
, 55
& 5
6; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49
Polic
y 51
: Min
imis
ing
the
risks
an
d co
nseq
uenc
es o
f na
tura
l ha
zard
s –
cons
ider
atio
n
130
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
14: I
nfor
mat
ion
abou
t na
tura
l haz
ard
and
clim
ate
chan
ge e
ffec
tsW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil*
, city
and
di
stric
t co
unci
ls a
nd C
ivil
Def
ence
Em
erge
ncy
Man
agem
ent
Gro
up
155
Met
hod
22: I
nfor
mat
ion
abou
t ar
eas
at h
igh
risk
from
nat
ural
haz
ards
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
157
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36
& 3
7; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
y 39
; Fre
sh w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icy
43; N
atur
al h
azar
ds (T
able
8a)
pol
icy
52; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) po
licie
s 54
, 55
& 5
6; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49
Ob
ject
ive
20
Haz
ard
miti
gatio
n m
easu
res,
st
ruct
ural
wor
ks a
nd o
ther
ac
tiviti
es d
o no
t in
crea
se t
he
risk
and
cons
eque
nces
of
natu
ral h
azar
d ev
ents
.
Polic
y 52
: Min
imis
ing
adve
rse
effe
cts
of h
azar
d m
itiga
tion
mea
sure
s –
cons
ider
atio
n
131
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
14: I
nfor
mat
ion
abou
t na
tura
l haz
ard
and
clim
ate
chan
ge e
ffec
tsW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil*
, city
and
di
stric
t co
unci
ls a
nd C
ivil
Def
ence
Em
erge
ncy
Man
agem
ent
Gro
up
155
Met
hod
23: I
nfor
mat
ion
abou
t na
tura
l fea
ture
s to
pr
otec
t pr
oper
ty f
rom
nat
ural
haz
ards
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
157
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36
& 3
7; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
y 39
; Fre
sh w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icy
43; N
atur
al h
azar
ds (T
able
8a)
pol
icy
51; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) po
licie
s 54
, 55
& 5
6; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 65
Ob
ject
ive
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Ob
ject
ive
21
Com
mun
ities
are
mor
e re
silie
nt
to n
atur
al h
azar
ds, i
nclu
ding
th
e im
pact
s of
clim
ate
chan
ge,
and
peop
le a
re b
ette
r pr
epar
ed
for
the
cons
eque
nces
of
natu
ral h
azar
d ev
ents
.
Polic
y 29
: Avo
idin
g in
appr
opria
te s
ubdi
visi
on a
nd
deve
lopm
ent
in a
reas
at
high
ris
k fr
om n
atur
al h
azar
ds –
di
stric
t an
d re
gion
al p
lans
109
Met
hod
1: D
istr
ict
plan
impl
emen
tatio
nC
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
2: R
egio
nal p
lan
impl
emen
tatio
nW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
153
Met
hod
14: I
nfor
mat
ion
abou
t na
tura
l haz
ard
and
clim
ate
chan
ge e
ffec
tsW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil*
, city
and
di
stric
t co
unci
ls a
nd C
ivil
Def
ence
Em
erge
ncy
Man
agem
ent
Gro
up
155
Met
hod
22: I
nfor
mat
ion
abou
t ar
eas
at h
igh
risk
from
nat
ural
haz
ards
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
157
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icy
3; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
ies
7 &
8; F
resh
w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 15
& 1
7; N
atur
al h
azar
ds (T
able
8b)
pol
icy
62; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) po
licie
s 30
, 31
& 3
2 an
d c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36
& 3
7; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
39; F
resh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
y 43
; Nat
ural
haz
ards
(Tab
le 8
a) p
olic
ies
51 &
52;
Reg
iona
l for
m,
desi
gn a
nd f
unct
ion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icie
s 54
, 55
& 5
6; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49
Polic
y 51
: Min
imis
ing
the
risks
an
d co
nseq
uenc
es o
f na
tura
l ha
zard
s –
cons
ider
atio
n
130
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
14: I
nfor
mat
ion
abou
t na
tura
l haz
ard
and
clim
ate
chan
ge e
ffec
tsW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil*
, city
and
di
stric
t co
unci
ls a
nd C
ivil
Def
ence
Em
erge
ncy
Man
agem
ent
Gro
up
155
Met
hod
22: I
nfor
mat
ion
abou
t ar
eas
at h
igh
risk
from
nat
ural
haz
ards
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
157
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36
& 3
7; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
y 39
; Fre
sh w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icy
43; N
atur
al h
azar
ds (T
able
8a)
pol
icy
52; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) po
licie
s 54
, 55
& 5
6; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49
Polic
y 52
: Min
imis
ing
adve
rse
effe
cts
of h
azar
d m
itiga
tion
mea
sure
s –
cons
ider
atio
n
131
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
14: I
nfor
mat
ion
abou
t na
tura
l haz
ard
and
clim
ate
chan
ge e
ffec
tsW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil*
, city
and
di
stric
t co
unci
ls a
nd C
ivil
Def
ence
Em
erge
ncy
Man
agem
ent
Gro
up
155
Met
hod
23: I
nfor
mat
ion
abou
t na
tura
l fea
ture
s to
pr
otec
t pr
oper
ty f
rom
nat
ural
haz
ards
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
157
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36
& 3
7; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
y 39
; Fre
sh w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icy
43; N
atur
al h
azar
ds (T
able
8a)
pol
icy
51; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) po
licie
s 54
, 55
& 5
6; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region66
Tab
le 8
(b):
Allo
cati
on
of
fun
ctio
ns
for
nat
ura
l haz
ard
s in
acc
ord
ance
wit
h t
he
Res
ou
rce
Man
agem
ent
Act
Ob
ject
ive
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Sect
ion
62(1
)(i)(i
) “C
onte
nt o
f re
gion
al p
olic
y st
atem
ents
”.Po
licy
62: A
lloca
tion
of
resp
onsi
bilit
ies
for
land
use
co
ntro
ls f
or n
atur
al h
azar
ds
140
Met
hod
5: A
lloca
tion
of r
espo
nsib
ilitie
sW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
and
city
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls15
4
Als
o s
ee –
Nat
ural
haz
ards
(Tab
le 8
a) p
olic
ies
29, 5
1 &
52
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 67
Regional form is about the physical arrangement within and between urban and rural communities.Goodurbandesignseekstoensurethatthedesignofbuildings,places,spacesandnetworksworkwellforcommunitiesandareenvironmentallyresponsive.Acompactandwelldesignedregionalformenhancesthequalityoflifeforresidentsasitiseasiertoget around, allows for a greater choice of housing, close to where people work or to public transport, town centres are vibrant, safe and cohesive, and business activity is enhanced. Energyconsumptionandcarbonemissionsarealsoreduced.Communitiesandbusinessesaremore resilient to oil shortages or crisis, and there is reduced pressure for new infrastructure andmoreefficientuseofexistinginfrastructure.
CentralWellingtoncitycontains thecentralbusinessdistrict for theregion. Itscontinuedviability, vibrancy and accessibility are important to the whole region. There are also a numberofotherregionallysignificantcentresthatareanimportantpartoftheregion’sform.Theseare the sub-regional city centresofUpperHuttcity centre,LowerHuttcity centre,Porirua city centre,Masterton town centre, Paraparaumu town centre, and the suburbancentresinPetone,JohnsonvilleandKilbirnie.Thesecentresaresignificantareasoftransportmovement and civic and community investment. They also have the potential to support newdevelopmentandincreasetherangeanddiversityofactivities.Goodqualitymediumdensity housing in these centres could increase housing choice and the use of services and publictransport.Encouraginguseanddevelopmentofexistingcentresofbusinessactivitycanalso lead to social andeconomicbenefits.Additional local employment around thesecentres could also provide people with greater choice about where they work. The physical arrangement of urban and rural communities/smaller centres, the region’s industrial business areas, the port, the airport, the road and public transport network, and the region’s open space network are fundamental to a compact and well designed regional form.
Theregionhasastrongcorridorpattern,yet isgenerallycompact.The transportcorridorpatternincludesStateHighway1andtheNorthIslandMainTrunkraillinewhichenterstheregionnearŌtakiandextendssouthwardsthroughKāpitiCoast,PukeruaBay,PoriruaandnorthernWellingtonandthroughtoWellingtoncitycentralbusinessdistrict.StateHighway1continuesthroughtoWellingtonInternationalAirport.StateHighway2andtheWairaraparailwaylineentertheregionnorthofMastertonandextendsouthwestthroughWairarapa,theHuttvalleyandontomergewithStateHighway1andtheNorthIslandMainTrunkraillineatNgauranga.StateHighway58providesavitaleast–westlinkbetweenStateHighways1and2.
Thiscorridorpatternisastrengthfortheregion.Itreinforceslocalcentres,supportspassengertransport, reduces energy use and makes services more accessible.
3.9 Regional form, design and function
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region68
Thereare,however,partsoftheregionwheregrowthpressuresexistandwheretheregion’scurrentcompactformisbeginningtofrayattheedges,reducingtransportefficiencyandtheability of some centres to grow as community service and employment areas. The region also haslimitedeast-westtransportlinkages,whichmeansfreightandcommutermovementsarefocusedalongthenorth-southcorridors,increasingcongestiononsomemajorroutes.
Incertainlocations,theregion’surbandesignhasalsobeenweakenedbypoorlydesigneddevelopmentswhichnegativelyaffectthelook,feel,health,safety,vitalityandvibrancyofthose areas.
The region’s form, design and function have been examined by the region’s nine localauthorities, in conjunction with the region’s iwi authorities, central government and business, education, research and voluntary sector interests, as part of the development of theWellington Regional Strategy (2007), a sustainable economic growth strategy for theWellington region. The Wellington Regional Strategy focuses on leadership and partnership, growingtheregion’seconomyandgoodregionalform.Itisrecognisedthattheregion’sformis a key component to making the Wellington region ‘internationally competitive’.
TheregionallysignificantissuesandtheissuesofsignificancetotheWellingtonregion’siwiauthorities for regional form, design and function are:
1. Poor quality urban designPoorqualityurbandesigncanadverselyaffectpublichealth,socialequity,landvalues,thevibrancy of local centres and economies, and the provision of, and access to, civic services. Itcanalsoincreasetheuseofnon-renewableresourcesandvehicleemissionsintheregion.
2. Sporadic, uncontrolled and/or uncoordinated developmentSporadic,uncontrolledand/oruncoordinated,development(includingofinfrastructure)canadverselyaffecttheregion’scompactform.Thiscan,amongotherthings,resultin:
(a) newdevelopmentthatispoorlylocatedinrelationtoexistinginfrastructure(suchasroads,sewageandstormwatersystems)andiscostlyorotherwisedifficulttoservice
(b) developmentinlocationsthatrestrictaccesstothesignificantphysicalresourceintheregion – such as aggregate
(c) thelossofruraloropenspacelandvaluedforitsproductive,ecological,aestheticandrecreationalqualities
(d) insufficientpopulationdensitiestosupportpublictransportandotherpublicservices(e) developmentinlocationsthatundermineexistingcentresandindustrialemployment
areas(f) lossofvitalityand/orviabilityintheregion’scentralbusinessdistrictandothercentres
ofregionalsignificance(g) displacementofindustrialemploymentactivitiesfromestablishedindustrialareas(h) adverseeffectsonthemanagement,useandoperationofinfrastructurefrom
incompatible land uses under, over, on or adjacent.
Table 9: Regional form, design and function Objective 22
Table 9: Regional form, design and function Objective 22
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 69
Table 3: Energy, infrastructure and waste Objective 10
Table 9: Regional form, design and function Objective 22
3. Integration of land use and transportationAlackofintegrationbetweenlanduseandtheregion’stransportationnetworkcancreatepatternsofdevelopmentthatincreasetheneedfortravel,thelengthofjourneysandrelianceon private motor vehicles, resulting in:
(a) increasedemissionstoairfromavarietyofpollutants,includinggreenhousegases(b) increaseduseofenergyandrelianceonnon-renewableresources(c) reducedopportunitiesforalternatemeansoftravel(suchaswalkingandcycling),
increased community severance, and increased costs associated with upgrading roads(d) increasedroadcongestionleadingtorestrictedmovementofgoodsandservicesto,
fromandwithintheregion,andcompromisingtheefficientandsafeoperationofthetransport network
(e) inefficientuseofexistinginfrastructure(includingtransportorientatedinfrastructure).
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region70
Tab
le 9
: Reg
ion
al f
orm
, des
ign
an
d f
un
ctio
n o
bje
ctiv
e an
d t
itle
s o
f p
olic
ies
and
met
ho
ds
to a
chie
ve t
he
ob
ject
ive
Ob
ject
ive
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Ob
ject
ive
22A
com
pact
wel
l des
igne
d an
d su
stai
nabl
e re
gion
al f
orm
tha
t ha
s an
inte
grat
ed, s
afe
and
resp
onsi
ve t
rans
port
net
wor
k an
d:
(a) a
via
ble
and
vibr
ant
regi
onal
ce
ntra
l bus
ines
s di
stric
t in
W
ellin
gton
city
;(b
) an
incr
ease
d ra
nge
and
dive
rsity
of
activ
ities
in
and
arou
nd t
he r
egio
nally
si
gnifi
cant
cen
tres
to
mai
ntai
n vi
bran
cy a
nd
vita
lity2 ;
(c
) suf
ficie
nt in
dust
rial-b
ased
em
ploy
men
t lo
catio
ns o
r ca
paci
ty t
o m
eet
the
regi
on’s
need
s;(d
) dev
elop
men
t an
d/or
m
anag
emen
t of
the
Reg
iona
l Fo
cus
Are
as id
entifi
ed in
th
e W
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l St
rate
gy3 ;
(e) u
rban
dev
elop
men
t in
ex
istin
g ur
ban
area
s, o
r w
hen
beyo
nd u
rban
are
as,
deve
lopm
ent
that
rei
nfor
ces
the
regi
on’s
exis
ting
urba
n fo
rm;
(f)
stra
tegi
cally
pla
nned
rur
al
deve
lopm
ent;
(g) a
ran
ge o
f ho
usin
g (in
clud
ing
affo
rdab
le h
ousi
ng);
(h) i
nteg
rate
d pu
blic
ope
n sp
aces
;(i)
in
tegr
ated
land
use
and
tr
ansp
orta
tion;
(j)
impr
oved
eas
t-w
est
tran
spor
t lin
kage
s;
(k) e
ffici
ently
use
exi
stin
g in
fras
truc
ture
(inc
ludi
ng
tran
spor
t ne
twor
k in
fras
truc
ture
); an
d(l)
es
sent
ial s
ocia
l ser
vice
s to
m
eet
the
regi
on’s
need
s.
Polic
y 30
: Mai
ntai
ning
and
en
hanc
ing
the
viab
ility
and
vi
bran
cy o
f re
gion
ally
sig
nific
ant
cent
res
– di
stric
t pl
ans
111
Met
hod
1: D
istr
ict
plan
impl
emen
tatio
nC
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
42: D
evel
op v
isio
ns f
or t
he r
egio
nally
si
gnifi
cant
cen
tres
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal S
trat
egy
160
Met
hod
43: D
evel
op p
rinci
ples
for
ret
ail a
ctiv
ities
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal S
trat
egy
160
Als
o s
ee –
Air
qual
ity (T
able
1) p
olic
y 1;
Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icie
s 7
& 8
; Fre
sh w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) po
licy
15; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
y 22
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 24
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
ies
26 &
28;
Nat
ural
haz
ards
(Tab
le 8
a) p
olic
y 29
; Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
ies
31 &
32;
Soi
ls
and
min
eral
s (T
able
11)
pol
icy
34 a
nd
co
nsi
der
– C
oast
al e
nviro
nmen
t (T
able
2) p
olic
ies
35, 3
6, 3
7 &
38;
Ene
rgy,
in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
y 39
; Fre
sh w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 40
, 41,
42
& 4
3; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5)
pol
icy
46; I
ndig
enou
s ec
osys
tem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icy
47; L
ands
cape
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icy
50; N
atur
al h
azar
ds (T
able
8a)
po
licie
s 51
& 5
2; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icie
s 54
, 55,
56,
57
& 5
8; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49
Polic
y 31
: Ide
ntify
ing
and
prom
otin
g hi
gher
den
sity
and
m
ixed
use
dev
elop
men
t –
dist
rict
plan
s
111
Met
hod
1: D
istr
ict
plan
impl
emen
tatio
nC
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
16: I
nfor
mat
ion
abou
t ke
y lo
catio
ns
with
goo
d ac
cess
to
the
stra
tegi
c pu
blic
tra
nspo
rt
netw
ork
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il*, c
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
156
Als
o s
ee –
Air
qual
ity (T
able
1) p
olic
y 1;
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 3
& 5
; Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(T
able
3) p
olic
ies
8 &
10;
Fre
sh w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icy
15; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
y 22
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 24
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
ies
26 &
28;
Nat
ural
haz
ards
(Tab
le 8
a) p
olic
y 29
; Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
ies
30 &
32;
Soi
ls a
nd m
iner
als
(Tab
le 1
1) p
olic
y 34
an
d c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36,
37
& 3
8; F
resh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
ies
40, 4
1, 4
2 , 4
3 &
45;
His
toric
her
itage
(Tab
le 5
) pol
icy
46; I
ndig
enou
s ec
osys
tem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icy
47; L
ands
cape
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icy
50; N
atur
al h
azar
ds (T
able
8a)
pol
icie
s 51
&
52;
Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
ies
54, 5
5, 5
6, 5
7 &
58;
Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49;
Soi
ls a
nd m
iner
als
(Tab
le 1
1) p
olic
y 60
Polic
y 32
: Ide
ntify
ing
and
prot
ectin
g ke
y in
dust
rial-b
ased
em
ploy
men
t lo
catio
ns –
dis
tric
t pl
ans
113
Met
hod
1: D
istr
ict
plan
impl
emen
tatio
nC
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
44: A
naly
sis
of in
dust
rial e
mpl
oym
ent
loca
tions
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal S
trat
egy
160
Als
o s
ee –
Air
qual
ity (T
able
1) p
olic
y 1;
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 3
& 5
; Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(T
able
3) p
olic
ies
7, 8
& 1
0; F
resh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
ies
12 &
15;
His
toric
her
itage
(Tab
le 5
) pol
icy
22; I
ndig
enou
s ec
osys
tem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icy
24; L
ands
cape
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icie
s 26
& 2
8; N
atur
al h
azar
ds (T
able
8a)
pol
icy
29; R
egio
nal
form
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icie
s 30
& 3
1; S
oils
and
min
eral
s (T
able
11)
pol
icy
34 a
nd
co
nsi
der
– C
oast
al
envi
ronm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36,
37,
38
& 3
9; F
resh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
ies
40, 4
1, 4
2 , 4
3 &
45;
His
toric
he
ritag
e (T
able
5) p
olic
y 46
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 47
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
y 50
; Nat
ural
haz
ards
(T
able
8a)
pol
icie
s 51
& 5
2; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icie
s 54
, 55,
56,
57
& 5
8 ; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49;
Soi
ls a
nd m
iner
als
(Tab
le 1
1) p
olic
ies
60
Polic
y 33
: Sup
port
ing
a co
mpa
ct,
wel
l des
igne
d an
d su
stai
nabl
e re
gion
al f
orm
– R
egio
nal L
and
Tran
spor
t St
rate
gy
113
Met
hod
3: W
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Lan
d Tr
ansp
ort
Stra
tegy
impl
emen
tatio
nW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
153
Als
o s
ee –
Ene
rgy
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icie
s 9
& 1
0
2 Theregionalsignificantcentresarethesub-regionalcentresofUpperHuttcitycentre;LowerHuttcitycentre;Poriruacitycentre;Paraparaumutowncentre;MastertontowncentreandthesuburbancentresinPetone;
Kilb
irni
e an
d Jo
hnso
nvill
e.3 TheRegionalFocusAreasaredescribedonpages38to39oftheWellingtonRegionalStrategy(2007).Theyareareasofcriticalimportancetotheachievementoftheregion’scompactformandarepredictedtoeither
comeundersignificantdevelopmentpressureorprovidesignificantdevelopmentopportunityforarangeoflanduseactivities.
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 71
Ob
ject
ive
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Ob
ject
ive
22
(Con
tinue
d)
Polic
y 54
: Ach
ievi
ng t
he
regi
on’s
urba
n de
sign
prin
cipl
es
– co
nsid
erat
ion
133
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il, c
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
153
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36,
37
& 3
8; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3)
pol
icy
39; F
resh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
ies
40, 4
1, 4
2 , 4
3 &
45;
His
toric
her
itage
(Tab
le 5
) pol
icie
s 46
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
ies
47; L
ands
cape
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icie
s 50
; Nat
ural
haz
ards
(Tab
le 8
a) p
olic
ies
51 &
52;
Re
gion
al f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icie
s 55
, 56,
57
& 5
8; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49;
Soi
ls a
nd m
iner
als
(Tab
le 1
1) p
olic
ies
59 &
60
Polic
y 55
: Mai
ntai
ning
a
com
pact
, wel
l des
igne
d an
d su
stai
nabl
e re
gion
al f
orm
–
cons
ider
atio
n
133
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
City
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls15
3
Met
hod
18: R
egio
nal s
truc
ture
pla
nnin
g gu
ide
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il*, c
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
156
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 6,
35,
36
& 3
7; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3)
polic
y 39
; Fre
sh w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 40
, 41,
42
, 43
& 4
5; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
ies
46; I
ndig
enou
s ec
osys
tem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icie
s 47
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
ies
50; N
atur
al h
azar
ds (T
able
8a)
pol
icie
s 51
& 5
2;
Regi
onal
for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
ies
54, 5
6, 5
7 &
58;
Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9; S
oils
and
min
eral
s (T
able
11)
pol
icie
s 59
& 6
0
Polic
y 56
: Man
agin
g de
velo
pmen
t in
rur
al a
reas
–
cons
ider
atio
n
135
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
City
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls15
3
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 6,
35,
36
& 3
7; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3)
polic
y 39
; Fre
sh w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 40
, 41,
42
, 43
& 4
5; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
ies
46; I
ndig
enou
s ec
osys
tem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icie
s 47
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
ies
50; N
atur
al h
azar
ds (T
able
8a)
pol
icie
s 51
& 5
2;
Regi
onal
for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
ies
54, 5
5, 5
7 &
58;
Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9; S
oils
and
min
eral
s (T
able
11)
pol
icie
s 59
& 6
0
Polic
y 57
: Int
egra
ting
land
us
e an
d tr
ansp
orta
tion
– co
nsid
erat
ion
135
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
City
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls15
3
Met
hod
25: I
nfor
mat
ion
abou
t th
e pr
ovis
ion
of w
alki
ng, c
yclin
g an
d pu
blic
tra
nspo
rt f
or
deve
lopm
ent
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il15
7
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
39; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) po
licie
s 54
, 55,
56
& 5
8; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49;
Soi
ls a
nd m
iner
als
(Tab
le 1
1) p
olic
y 60
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region72
Ob
ject
ive
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Ob
ject
ive
22
(Con
tinue
d)
Polic
y 58
: Co-
ordi
natin
g la
nd
use
with
dev
elop
men
t an
d op
erat
ion
of in
fras
truc
ture
–
cons
ider
atio
n
136
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
City
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls15
3
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
39; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) po
licie
s 54
, 55,
56
& 5
7; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49;
Soi
ls a
nd m
iner
als
(Tab
le 1
1) p
olic
y 60
Polic
y 60
: Util
isin
g th
e re
gion
’s m
iner
al r
esou
rces
–
cons
ider
atio
n
137
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
15
3
Met
hod
52: I
dent
ify t
he r
egio
n’s
sign
ifica
nt m
iner
al
reso
urce
sW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil*
and
city
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls
161
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36
& 3
7; F
resh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
ies
43 &
44;
His
toric
he
ritag
e (T
able
5) p
olic
y 46
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 47
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
y 50
; Reg
iona
l fo
rm, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
y 56
; Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s
48 &
49
Polic
y 67
: Mai
ntai
ning
and
en
hanc
ing
a co
mpa
ct, w
ell
desi
gned
and
sus
tain
able
re
gion
al f
orm
– n
on-r
egul
ator
y
145
Met
hod
40: S
ign
the
New
Zea
land
Urb
an D
esig
n Pr
otoc
olW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
and
city
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls16
0
Met
hod
41: I
nteg
rate
pub
lic o
pen
spac
eW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Str
ateg
y16
0
Met
hod
45: D
evel
op p
rinci
ples
for
rur
al-r
esid
entia
l us
e an
d de
velo
pmen
tW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Str
ateg
y16
0
Met
hod
46: D
evel
op s
trat
egie
s or
dev
elop
men
t fr
amew
orks
for
eac
h Re
gion
al F
ocus
Are
aW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Str
ateg
y16
0
Met
hod
47: A
naly
sis
of t
he r
ange
and
aff
orda
bilit
y of
hou
sing
in t
he r
egio
nW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Str
ateg
y16
1
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36
& 3
7; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3)
polic
ies
39; F
resh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
ies
40, 4
1, 4
2, 4
3 &
45;
His
toric
her
itage
(Tab
le 5
) pol
icy
46; I
ndig
enou
s ec
osys
tem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icy
47; L
ands
cape
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icy
50; N
atur
al h
azar
ds (T
able
8a)
pol
icie
s 51
& 5
2; R
egio
nal
form
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icie
s 54
, 55,
56,
57
& 5
8; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le
10) p
olic
ies
48 &
49;
Soi
ls a
nd m
iner
als
(Tab
le 1
1) p
olic
ies
59 &
60
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 73
Tangata whenua have a special relationship with the land, air, water and natural resources. VarioustermsareusedtodescribetangatawhenuaoftheWellingtonregion,includingiwi,hapū,whānau,marae,andiwiauthorities.Iwiaretribes,groupsofMāorilinkedbycommonancestryandwithacommonhistory.Hapūaresub-tribes,socialandpoliticalunitsbasedondescentfromacommonancestor.Whānauareextendedfamilygroups.Maraeareimportantculturalinstitutions,facilitiesandcommunitymeetingplaceswheresignificanteventsareheldanddecisionsaremade.Usuallyahapūorwhānauisassociatedwithamarae.
The Treaty of Waitangi guarantees rangatiratanga, the right of tangata whenua to manage their lands and natural resources in accordance with cultural traditions. Tangata whenua today practise the environmental guardianship system, or kaitiakitanga, used by their ancestors. Kaitiakitanga is based on Māori views of the world and its origins, and theprinciplethateverythingisinterrelatedandinterconnected.Mauriisthelifeforcethatexistsin all things in the natural world. Tikanga, or customary practices, are followed in order to protectmauri.Observingtikangaiscentraltotheexerciseofkaitiakitanga.Kaitiakitangaisaparallelsystemofenvironmentalmanagementthatshouldbegivenequalconsiderationinresource management.
Tangata whenua of the region consider that the region’s natural and physical resources need tobemanagedinanintegratedandholisticwayinordertoachieveasustainablefuture.Assuch,alltheresourcemanagementissuesinthisRegionalPolicyStatementareofsignificanceto tangata whenua in the region. The following paragraphs describe additional issues of specificsignificancetoiwiauthoritiesintheWellingtonregion.
There are currently limited opportunities for ongoing involvement of tangata whenua in decision-making.Thisisanoverarchingissuethataffectswhetherandhowlocalauthoritiesand iwiareable towork together. Iwiauthoritieshave identified the followingparticularconcerns:
• TheprinciplesoftheTreatyofWaitangiarenottakenintoaccountinasystematicwayindecision-making
• EducationandawarenessofTreatyprinciplesneedstobeimprovedamonglocalauthoritystaffandelectedmembers
• Limitedavailabilityofresourcestoenableiwitoeffectivelyengageinresourcemanagement processes
• Lackofcommunicationwithiwionhowtheirconcernshavebeentakenintoaccountor acted on by local authorities
• Alackofconsistencyandcoordinationamonglocalauthoritieswithregardtoresourcemanagement planning
3.10 Resource management with tangata whenua
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region74
Mauri canbeharmedby insensitive resourceuse.Forexample, thehealthandvitalityofthe sea, streams and rivers and the plants and animals they support can be threatened by activities–suchasdischargesofpollutants;stormwaterandsewage;runoffofcontaminantsfrom land; excessivewater use; changing the course ofwater bodies, or divertingwaterbetweencatchmentsorrivers.Māoriconsiderthatriversarethelifebloodofthelandandthatthewellbeingofnaturalresourcesisreflectedinthewellbeingofpeople.Similarly,themauri of the land and air and the plants and animals they support can be harmed by practices such as clearance of vegetation, soil disturbance and disposal of wastes.
Insensitiveresourceusealsothreatensmahingakai(customaryfoodgathering)andnaturalresources used for customary purposes. Tangata whenua are also sometimes prevented fromaccessingsiteswherecustomaryresourcesarefound.Degradationorlossofngākai(traditional foods),mātaitai (areas of importance for food gathering) andflora and faunacompromisethemana(authority)oftangatawhenuabyimpairingtheirabilitytofulfiltheirroleandresponsibilitiesinrelationtokaitiakitangaandmanaakitanga(theirresponsibilitiesofcareforguests).Foodsoftraditionalimportanceinclude,butarenotlimitedto,forestkai,seafood, eels and whitebait.
Growthanddevelopmentpressureonandaroundsignificantculturalheritagesiteshasledto widespread destruction and degradation of places, sites and areas with spiritual, cultural orhistoricheritagevalueofsignificancetotangatawhenua.
TheadditionalresourcemanagementissuesofsignificancetoiwiauthoritiesintheWellingtonregionandissuesofregionalsignificanceare:
1. Lack of involvement in resource management decision-makingLackoftangatawhenuainvolvementinresourcemanagementdecision-making.
2. Loss of mauriLossofmauri,particularlyinrelationtofreshandcoastalwaters.
3. Quality, quantity and access to mahinga kai and natural resources used for customary purposes
Continuinglossofquality,quantity,andaccesstomahingakaiandnaturalresourcesusedfor customary purposes.
4. Degradation and destruction of spiritual and cultural historic heritage values
Degradation and destruction of places, sites and areas with spiritual, cultural or historic heritage value to tangata whenua.
Table 10: Resource management with tangata whenua Objectives 23, 24 & 25
Table 10: Resource management with tangata whenua Objective 26
Table 10: Resource management with tangata whenua Objective 27
Table 10: Resource management with tangata whenua Objective 28
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 75
Tab
le 1
0: R
eso
urc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith
tan
gat
a w
hen
ua
ob
ject
ives
an
d t
itle
s o
f p
olic
ies
and
met
ho
ds
to a
chie
ve t
he
ob
ject
ives
Ob
ject
ives
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Ob
ject
ive
23
The
regi
on’s
iwi a
utho
ritie
s an
d lo
cal a
utho
ritie
s w
ork
toge
ther
und
er T
reat
y pa
rtne
r pr
inci
ples
for
the
sus
tain
able
m
anag
emen
t of
the
reg
ion’
s en
viro
nmen
t fo
r th
e be
nefit
an
d w
ellb
eing
of
the
regi
onal
co
mm
unity
, bot
h no
w a
nd in
th
e fu
ture
.
Polic
y 66
: Enh
anci
ng
invo
lvem
ent
of t
anga
ta
whe
nua
in r
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
deci
sion
-mak
ing
– no
n-re
gula
tory
145
Met
hod
32: E
ngag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a,
stak
ehol
ders
, lan
dow
ners
and
the
com
mun
ity in
th
e id
entifi
catio
n an
d pr
otec
tion
of s
igni
fican
t va
lues
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
158
Met
hod
37: I
nvol
ve t
anga
ta w
henu
a in
res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t de
cisi
on m
akin
gW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
and
city
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls15
9
Met
hod
38: I
wi a
utho
ritie
s pr
epar
e pl
anni
ng
docu
men
tsIw
i aut
horit
ies*
, Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
159
Con
side
r al
ongs
ide
polic
ies
1 to
60
Ob
ject
ive
24
The
prin
cipl
es o
f th
e Tr
eaty
of
Wai
tang
i are
tak
en in
to
acco
unt
in a
sys
tem
atic
way
w
hen
reso
urce
man
agem
ent
deci
sion
s ar
e m
ade.
Polic
y 48
: Prin
cipl
es o
f th
e Tr
eaty
of
Wai
tang
i –
cons
ider
atio
n
125
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
19: I
nfor
mat
ion
to a
ssis
t w
ith t
he
appl
icat
ion
of t
he T
reat
y of
Wai
tang
i prin
cipl
es in
th
e re
gion
Iwi a
utho
ritie
s*, W
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
and
city
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls15
6
Con
side
r al
ongs
ide
polic
ies
1 to
60
Ob
ject
ive
25
The
conc
ept
of k
aitia
kita
nga
is
inte
grat
ed in
to t
he s
usta
inab
le
man
agem
ent
of t
he W
ellin
gton
re
gion
’s na
tura
l and
phy
sica
l re
sour
ces.
Polic
y 49
: Rec
ogni
sing
and
pr
ovid
ing
for
mat
ters
of
sign
ifica
nce
to t
anga
ta w
henu
a –
cons
ider
atio
n
127
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
38: I
wi a
utho
ritie
s pr
epar
e pl
anni
ng
docu
men
tsIw
i aut
horit
ies*
, Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
159
Con
side
r al
ongs
ide
polic
ies
1 to
60
Ob
ject
ive
26
Mau
ri is
sus
tain
ed, p
artic
ular
ly
in r
elat
ion
to c
oast
al a
nd f
resh
w
ater
s.
Polic
y 49
: Rec
ogni
sing
and
pr
ovid
ing
for
mat
ters
of
sign
ifica
nce
to t
anga
ta w
henu
a –
cons
ider
atio
n
127
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
38: I
wi a
utho
ritie
s pr
epar
e pl
anni
ng
docu
men
tsIw
i aut
horit
ies*
, Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
159
Oth
er t
opic
pol
icie
s th
at h
ave
an im
port
ant
role
in a
chie
ving
obj
ectiv
e 26
are
:
Polic
y 3:
Pro
tect
ing
high
nat
ural
cha
ract
er in
the
coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
– di
stric
t an
d re
gion
al p
lans
Polic
y 5:
Mai
ntai
ning
and
enh
anci
ng c
oast
al w
ater
qua
lity
for
aqua
tic e
cosy
stem
hea
lth –
reg
iona
l pla
ns
Polic
y 12
: Man
agem
ent
purp
oses
for
sur
face
wat
er b
odie
s –
regi
onal
pla
ns
Polic
y 16
: Pro
mot
ing
disc
harg
es t
o la
nd –
reg
iona
l pla
ns
Polic
y 18
: Pro
tect
ing
aqua
tic e
colo
gica
l fun
ctio
n of
wat
er b
odie
s –
regi
onal
pla
ns
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region76
Ob
ject
ives
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Ob
ject
ive
27
Mah
inga
kai
and
nat
ural
re
sour
ces
used
for
cus
tom
ary
purp
oses
, are
mai
ntai
ned
and
enha
nced
, and
the
se r
esou
rces
ar
e he
alth
y an
d ac
cess
ible
to
tang
ata
whe
nua.
Polic
y 49
: Rec
ogni
sing
and
pr
ovid
ing
for
mat
ters
of
sign
ifica
nce
to t
anga
ta w
henu
a –
cons
ider
atio
n
127
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
38: I
wi a
utho
ritie
s pr
epar
e pl
anni
ng
docu
men
tsIw
i aut
horit
ies*
, Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
159
Met
hod
39: P
repa
re p
roto
cols
for
tan
gata
whe
nua
acce
ss t
o m
ahin
ga k
ai a
nd n
atur
al r
esou
rces
use
d fo
r cu
stom
ary
purp
oses
on
publ
ic la
nd
Iwi a
utho
ritie
s, W
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
and
city
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls16
0
Oth
er t
opic
pol
icie
s th
at h
ave
an im
port
ant
role
in a
chie
ving
obj
ectiv
e 27
are
:
Polic
y 3:
Pro
tect
ing
high
nat
ural
cha
ract
er in
the
coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
– di
stric
t an
d re
gion
al p
lans
Polic
y 5:
Mai
ntai
ning
and
enh
anci
ng c
oast
al w
ater
qua
lity
for
aqua
tic e
cosy
stem
hea
lth –
reg
iona
l pla
ns
Polic
y 12
: Man
agem
ent
purp
oses
for
sur
face
wat
er b
odie
s –
regi
onal
pla
ns
Polic
y 18
: Pro
tect
ing
aqua
tic e
colo
gica
l fun
ctio
n of
wat
erbo
dies
– r
egio
nal p
lans
Polic
y 23
: Ide
ntify
ing
indi
geno
us e
cosy
stem
s an
d ha
bita
ts w
ith s
igni
fican
t bi
odiv
ersi
ty v
alue
s –
dist
rict
and
regi
onal
pla
ns
Polic
y 24
: Pro
tect
ing
indi
geno
us e
cosy
stem
s an
d ha
bita
ts w
ith s
igni
fican
t in
dige
nous
bio
dive
rsity
val
ues
– di
stric
t an
d re
gion
al p
lans
Ob
ject
ive
28
The
cultu
ral r
elat
ions
hip
of
Mäo
ri w
ith t
heir
ance
stra
l la
nds,
wat
er, s
ites,
wäh
i ta
pu a
nd o
ther
tao
nga
is
mai
ntai
ned.
Polic
y 49
: Rec
ogni
sing
and
pr
ovid
ing
for
mat
ters
of
sign
ifica
nce
to t
anga
ta w
henu
a –
cons
ider
atio
n
127
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
13: I
nfor
mat
ion
abou
t be
st p
ract
ice
for
eart
hwor
ks t
o pr
otec
t M
äori
arch
aeol
ogic
al s
ites,
ot
her
sign
ifica
nt s
ites
and
köiw
i
Iwi a
utho
ritie
s, W
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
and
city
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls15
5
Met
hod
38: I
wi a
utho
ritie
s pr
epar
e pl
anni
ng
docu
men
tsIw
i aut
horit
ies*
, Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
159
Met
hod
49: I
nves
tigat
e us
e of
Mäo
ri na
mes
for
riv
ers,
lake
s an
d pl
aces
of
cultu
ral s
igni
fican
ce in
th
e re
gion
Iwi a
utho
ritie
s, W
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
and
city
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls
161
Oth
er t
opic
pol
icie
s th
at h
ave
an im
port
ant
role
in a
chie
ving
obj
ectiv
e 28
are
:
Polic
y 21
: Ide
ntify
ing
plac
es, s
ites
and
area
s w
ith s
igni
fican
t hi
stor
ic h
erita
ge v
alue
s– d
istr
ict
and
regi
onal
pla
ns
Polic
y 22
: Pro
tect
ing
hist
oric
her
itage
val
ues
– di
stric
t an
d re
gion
al p
lans
Polic
y 23
: Ide
ntify
ing
indi
geno
us e
cosy
stem
s an
d ha
bita
ts w
ith s
igni
fican
t bi
odiv
ersi
ty v
alue
s –
dist
rict
and
regi
onal
pla
ns
Polic
y 24
: Pro
tect
ing
indi
geno
us e
cosy
stem
s an
d ha
bita
ts w
ith s
igni
fican
t in
dige
nous
bio
dive
rsity
val
ues
– di
stric
t an
d re
gion
al p
lans
Polic
y 25
: Ide
ntify
ing
outs
tand
ing
natu
ral f
eatu
res
and
land
scap
es –
dis
tric
t an
d re
gion
al p
lans
Polic
y 26
: Pro
tect
ing
outs
tand
ing
natu
ral f
eatu
res
and
land
scap
e va
lues
– d
istr
ict
and
regi
onal
pla
ns
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 77
(a) Soils
The soils of the Wellington region are an important source of its economic wealth, and overall wellbeing. They perform a range of important functions – such as absorbing, retaining and channellingwater; supporting and sustaining vegetation and crops; storing and treatingnatural,domestic,andindustrialwaste;providingsupportforbuildingsandotherstructures;and, soils are a source of valuable minerals and construction materials.
As the life-giving base element of the land, soils are a significant taonga toMāori. Theconditionofthesoilisadirectreadingofthestateofthelandandthis,inturn,reflectsthehealth of the people.
Fivemajormanagementchallengesexistforsoilsandmineralsintheregion:
• Preventingsoilerosion• Maintainingsoilhealth• Retainingproductivesoilsforagriculturaluse• Preventingunsafeuseofcontaminatedsites• Efficientmineralextraction
Soil erosion leads to land degradation and loss of soil productivity, capability and versatility. Soils are subject to the natural forces of erosion, including rain, high winds, and ice action, which can cause slumping, slips, and the formation of scree slopes.
NearlyhalfthelandintheWellingtonregionhaslittleornosignofsoilerosion.Thislanddoes not have a high risk of accelerated erosion in the long term, so long as good management practices prevail.
Aboutonethirdoftheregioniserosionproneland,whichismoresusceptibletoacceleratedsoil erosion frompoor landmanagementpractices.Accelerated soil erosionhas occurredwhere there is pastoral grazing on erosion-prone land (predominantly in the easternWairarapahills),winderosion(asaresultofthecultivationofarablesoilsintheWairarapaValley), largescaleearthworks (associatedwithsubdivisionsandroading),andwhere theremovalofnativevegetationortheharvestingofplantationforestryarepoorlyexecutedonerosion prone land.
Off-site effects of soil erosion include reduction in water clarity in rivers and streams,degradation of aquatic habitat from sediment deposition on stream beds, downstreamfloodingandaggradationofriverbeds.
3.11 Soil and minerals
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region78
Longtermpredictionsofchangingweatherpatternsfromclimatechangealsosuggestthattherecouldbemorefrequentandintenserainstormeventsintheregion,whichmaycausemore widespread damage to erosion prone land.
Soilhealthreferstothebiological,chemicalandphysicalqualitiesofthesoil thatsupportthesoil’secosystems.Unlikesoilerosionproblems,whicharegenerallyobvious,soilhealthproblems are less evident, but no less important. Soils contain the necessary minerals and nutrients to enable plants and animals to grow. Soil health can be compromised or degraded through contamination, compaction and the loss of minerals and nutrients. Soils are resilient and their health can improve over time through certain land management practices.
Some of the land in the region has elevated levels of available phosphate, particularly horticulturalland.Phosphateattachestosoilparticlesand,ifwashedofflandandintorivers,canpromotenuisanceaquaticweedoralgalgrowth.Someareasaremoreprone to theseproblems than others.
Onlandusedfordairying,andtoalesserextentforhorticulture,thereisevidenceofsoilcompaction and elevated nitrogen concentrations. Soil compaction reduces soil pore spaces, whichreduceswaterinfiltrationandincreasesrun-off.Soilmonitoringtodateshowsthatsoilorganicmatterisslowlydeclininginarablesoilsintheregion.
The region has a small amount of land that is suitable for multiple uses such as for growing awiderangeofcrops,pastureandforest,andforsupportinggrazinganimals.ThislandisdescribedasClassIandIIlandundertheLandUseCapabilityclassification.
ClassIandIIlandintheregionisfoundintherivervalleysoftheŌtakiandRuamāhangariversandaroundthetownshipsofŌtaki,Featherston,Greytown,Carterton,andMasterton.There is growing pressure to develop some of this land, especially around Ōtaki andGreytown.ThetotalareaofClassIlandintheregionissmall,about0.6percentofthetotallandarea(4800hectares).ClassIIlandisabout1.7percent(13,800hectares).
Contaminatedlandariseswherehazardoussubstancesarefoundorarereasonablylikelytooccuratlevelsthatcouldhavesignificantadverseeffectsontheenvironment.Therearemorethan1,600sitesintheregionthathaveahistoryofusing,storingormanufacturinghazardoussubstances, including closed landfills. Contaminated land can make land unsuitable orunsafe for future land uses.
(b) Minerals
IntheWellingtonregion,sand,rock,gravelandlimestoneareextractedfromrivers,seabed,beaches,coastalcliffsandinlandquarries.OilandgasexplorationarealsoongoinginpartsoftheseabedofWairarapaandKāpiti.Astheregion’spopulationcontinuestoexpand,thedemand for mineral resources, particularly aggregate, will increase. A sustained supplyof aggregate will be needed to provide for building, construction and roading projects associated with this growth but also to maintain and redevelop existing infrastructure.Resourceavailabilityorinefficienciesinobtainingsuchresourceshasthepotentialtoimpactonthetimelyandefficientprovisionofregionallysignificantinfrastructure–inparticularnew roading projects.
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 79
Mineralresourcesarefixedinlocation,unevenlydistributedandfinite.Extractionprocesses,sitesandtransportationroutescancreateadverseenvironmentaleffects.Ifactivitiessensitiveto the effects of extraction,processing and transportation are establishednearby, the fullandefficientfutureextractionoftheseresourcescanbecompromised.Additionally,reversesensitivity effects can arise where a new sensitive activity must either accept or protectitselffromtheeffectsassociatedwiththeworkingsite.Theseeffectsaremostlikelytoarisewhereworkingsitesandtheiraccessroutesareadjacenttoresidentialandrural-residentialsubdivisions or adjacent to areas which can be subdivided. In such circumstances, thenewactivitieswouldneedtoincorporateprovisionsthatensureadequateprotectionfrompotentialeffectssuchasnoise,dustandvisualimpactsfromtheestablishedactivity.
Similarly, the transportation of mineral resources around, through and out of the region can giverise toadverseenvironmentaleffectsandcanhaveeconomic implications.Therearebenefitstoallowingextractionandprocessingbyextractiveindustriesascloseaspossibletothelocationofuseofthefinalproducttoavoiddistributingadverseeffectsacrossagreaterarea than necessary to meet the need for these resources.
TheregionallysignificantissuesandtheissuesofsignificancetotheWellingtonregion’siwiauthorities for soils and minerals are:
1. Accelerated soil erosionSomelandmanagementpracticesacceleratesoilerosionandreducesoilquality.Soillosscanleadtoincreasedsedimentationofwaterwaysandsubsequenteffectsonthecoastalmarinearea. Soil loss can also decrease farm production, soil biodiversity and ecosystem function.
2. Reduction of soil healthSome land use practices are reducing the health and productive capability of soils.
3. Highly productive agricultural land under threat from developmentHighlyproductiveagriculturalland(ClassIandIIland)isunderthreatfromdevelopment,including residential development and the construction of roads.
4. Contaminated landSomelandwherehazardoussubstanceshavebeenmanufactured,usedorstored–suchasgasworks,petrolstations,landfills,andsheepdips–havecontaminatedsoils.Developmentof that land for new uses may not be safe if soils are contaminated.
5. Limited mineral resources There are limitedmineral resources in the region anddemand for thesewill increase.Asustained supply of mineral resources is essential to provide for the well being of the regional and local communities and the people of Wellington, and for the regional economy. There are alsobenefitsfromextractingmineralresourceslocally.
Table 11: Soils and minerals Objectives 29 & 30
Table 11: Soils and minerals Objective 30
Table 11: Soils and minerals Objective 30
Table 11: Soils and minerals Objective 30
Table 11: Soils and minerals Objective 31
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region80
Tab
le 1
1: S
oils
an
d m
iner
als
ob
ject
ives
an
d t
itle
s o
f p
olic
ies
and
met
ho
ds
to a
chie
ve t
he
ob
ject
ives
Ob
ject
ives
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Ob
ject
ive
29
Land
man
agem
ent
prac
tices
do
not
acce
lera
te s
oil e
rosi
on.
Polic
y 15
: Min
imis
ing
the
effe
cts
of e
arth
wor
ks a
nd
vege
tatio
n cl
eara
nce
– di
stric
t an
d re
gion
al p
lans
99M
etho
d 1:
Dis
tric
t pl
an im
plem
enta
tion
City
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls15
3
Met
hod
2: R
egio
nal p
lan
impl
emen
tatio
nW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
153
Met
hod
31: P
roto
cols
for
man
agem
ent
of
eart
hwor
ks a
nd a
ir qu
ality
bet
wee
n lo
cal
auth
oriti
es
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
158
Met
hod
35: P
repa
re a
reg
iona
l sto
rmw
ater
ac
tion
plan
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
159
Met
hod
36: S
uppo
rt in
dust
ry-le
d en
viro
nmen
tal
acco
rds
and
code
s of
pra
ctic
eW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
and
city
and
di
stric
t co
unci
ls15
9
Als
o s
ee –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 5
& 6
; Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
7; F
resh
w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 12
, 14,
18
& 1
9; In
dige
nous
eco
syst
ems
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
ies
24; L
ands
cape
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icie
s 26
&
28;
Nat
ural
haz
ards
(Tab
le 8
a) p
olic
y 29
an
d c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36,
37,
38
&
40; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3) p
olic
y 39
; Fre
sh w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 40
, 42
& 4
3; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge
(Tab
le 5
) pol
icy
46; I
ndig
enou
s ec
osys
tem
s (T
able
6a)
pol
icy
47; L
ands
cape
(Tab
le 7
) pol
icy
50; N
atur
al h
azar
ds (T
able
8a
) pol
icy
52; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icie
s 54
, 55
& 5
6; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9; S
oils
and
min
eral
s (T
able
11)
pol
icy
60
Polic
y 41
: Min
imis
ing
the
effe
cts
of e
arth
wor
ks a
nd
vege
tatio
n di
stur
banc
e –
cons
ider
atio
n
121
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
31: P
roto
cols
for
man
agem
ent
of
eart
hwor
ks a
nd a
ir qu
ality
bet
wee
n lo
cal
auth
oriti
es
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
158
Met
hod
36: S
uppo
rt in
dust
ry-le
d en
viro
nmen
tal
acco
rds
and
code
s of
pra
ctic
eW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
and
city
and
di
stric
t co
unci
ls15
9
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36,
37
& 4
0; E
nerg
y, in
fras
truc
ture
and
was
te (T
able
3)
polic
y 39
; Fre
sh w
ater
(Tab
le 4
) pol
icie
s 40
, 42
& 4
3; H
isto
ric h
erita
ge (T
able
5) p
olic
y 46
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 47
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
y 50
; Nat
ural
haz
ards
(Tab
le 8
a) p
olic
y 52
; Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
ies
54, 5
5 &
56;
Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
& 4
9;
Soils
and
min
eral
s (T
able
11)
pol
icy
60
Polic
y 68
: Min
imis
ing
soil
eros
ion
– no
n-re
gula
tory
147
Met
hod
15: I
nfor
mat
ion
abou
t su
stai
nabl
e la
nd
man
agem
ent
prac
tices
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il 15
6
Met
hod
29: T
ake
a w
hole
of
catc
hmen
t ap
proa
ch
to w
orks
, ope
ratio
ns a
nd s
ervi
ces
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
158
Met
hod
36: S
uppo
rt in
dust
ry-le
d en
viro
nmen
tal
acco
rds
and
code
s of
pra
ctic
eW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
and
city
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls15
9
Met
hod
55: A
ssis
t la
ndow
ners
to
prot
ect
eros
ion
pron
e la
ndW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
162
Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region 81
Ob
ject
ives
Polic
y ti
tles
Pag
eM
eth
od
tit
les
Imp
lem
enta
tio
n
(* le
ad a
uth
ori
ty)
Pag
e
Ob
ject
ive
30
Soils
mai
ntai
n th
ose
desi
rabl
e ph
ysic
al, c
hem
ical
and
bi
olog
ical
cha
ract
eris
tics
that
en
able
the
m t
o re
tain
the
ir ec
osys
tem
fun
ctio
n an
d ra
nge
of u
ses.
Polic
y 34
: Con
trol
ling
activ
ities
on
con
tam
inat
ed la
nd –
dis
tric
t pl
ans
113
Met
hod
1: D
istr
ict
plan
impl
emen
tatio
nC
ity a
nd d
istr
ict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
24: D
atab
ase
of s
ites
at r
isk
of
cont
amin
atio
nW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
157
Met
hod
36: S
uppo
rt in
dust
ry-le
d en
viro
nmen
tal
acco
rds
and
code
s of
pra
ctic
eW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
and
city
and
di
stric
t co
unci
ls15
9
Als
o s
ee –
Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icie
s 8
& 9
; Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9)
polic
ies
30, 3
1 &
32
and
co
nsi
der
Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) pol
icy
39; R
egio
nal f
orm
, des
ign
and
func
tion
(Tab
le 9
) pol
icy
54; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49;
Polic
y 59
: Ret
aini
ng h
ighl
y pr
oduc
tive
agric
ultu
ral
land
(Cla
ss I
and
II la
nd) –
co
nsid
erat
ion
137
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
City
and
dis
tric
t co
unci
ls15
3
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Reg
iona
l for
m, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
y 56
; Ene
rgy,
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd w
aste
(Tab
le 3
) po
licy
39; R
esou
rce
man
agem
ent
with
tan
gata
whe
nua
(Tab
le 1
0) p
olic
ies
48 &
49
Polic
y 69
: Pre
vent
ing
long
-ter
m
soil
dete
riora
tion
– no
n-re
gula
tory
147
Met
hod
15: I
nfor
mat
ion
abou
t su
stai
nabl
e la
nd
man
agem
ent
prac
tices
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il 15
6
Met
hod
29: T
ake
a w
hole
of
catc
hmen
t ap
proa
ch
to w
orks
, ope
ratio
ns a
nd s
ervi
ces
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il* a
nd c
ity a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
15
8
Ob
ject
ive
31
The
dem
and
for
min
eral
re
sour
ces
is m
et f
rom
res
ourc
es
loca
ted
in c
lose
pro
xim
ity t
o th
e ar
eas
of d
eman
d.
Polic
y 60
: Util
isin
g th
e re
gion
’s m
iner
al r
esou
rces
–
cons
ider
atio
n
137
Met
hod
4: R
esou
rce
cons
ents
, not
ices
of
requ
irem
ent
and
whe
n ch
angi
ng, v
aryi
ng o
r re
view
ing
plan
s
Wel
lingt
on R
egio
nal C
ounc
il an
d ci
ty a
nd
dist
rict
coun
cils
153
Met
hod
5: A
lloca
tion
of r
espo
nsib
ilitie
sW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
and
city
and
di
stric
t co
unci
ls15
4
Met
hod
52: I
dent
ify t
he r
egio
n’s
sign
ifica
nt m
iner
al
reso
urce
sW
ellin
gton
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
161
Als
o c
on
sid
er –
Coa
stal
env
ironm
ent
(Tab
le 2
) pol
icie
s 35
, 36
& 3
7; F
resh
wat
er (T
able
4) p
olic
ies
43 &
44;
His
toric
he
ritag
e (T
able
5) p
olic
y 46
; Ind
igen
ous
ecos
yste
ms
(Tab
le 6
a) p
olic
y 47
; Lan
dsca
pe (T
able
7) p
olic
y 50
; Reg
iona
l fo
rm, d
esig
n an
d fu
nctio
n (T
able
9) p
olic
y 56
; Res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t w
ith t
anga
ta w
henu
a (T
able
10)
pol
icie
s 48
&
49