Your environment - are we on the right track?

How can we protect and improve our region's ecosystems so that all the biodiversity within them - plants, birds, fish, lizards, and insects - can survive and prosper? 

Please view the biodiversity issues and goals poster.

We want to know:

• Do you agree with how we’ve described the natural resource issues?
• Will our response (the goals) address the issues?
• What rules and support (i.e. information, education, funding) are needed in the regional plan to ensure the goals can be met.

How can we allocate water efficiently and effectively so people can use it for their social and economic benefit without compromising our waterways?

Please view the sustainable water allocation issues and goals poster.

We want to know:

• Do you agree with how we’ve described the natural resource issues?
• Will our response (the goals) address the issues?
• What rules and support (i.e. information, education, funding) are needed in the regional plan to ensure the goals can be met.

How should we maintain and enhance the region's air quality?

Please view the air quality issues and goals poster.

We want to know:

• Do you agree with how we’ve described the natural resource issues?
• Will our response (the goals) address the issues?
• What rules and support (i.e. information, education, funding) are needed in the regional plan to ensure the goals can be met.

Additional questions:

• How should we deal with wood fires in the home?
  - Ban open fires?
  - Restrict the use of older wood burnder in towns and areas with air problems?
• Should we do more to lobby the government to reduce motor vehicle pollution?
• Are our current controls on industry adequate? Could we do more? 

How can we preserve the natural character of our coastal areas, the mauri of its ecosystems and habitats, and our opportunities for enjoyment and recreaction?

Please view the enjoying our coastal areas issues and goals poster.

We want to know:

• Do you agree with how we’ve described the natural resource issues?
• Will our response (the goals) address the issues?
• What rules and support (i.e. information, education, funding) are needed in the regional plan to ensure the goals can be met.

How can we minimise pollution of our waterways from intensive rural land uses, and reduce the adverse effects of stock access on those waterways?

Please view the rural land use issues and goals poster.

We want to know:

• Do you agree with how we’ve described the natural resource issues?
• Will our response (the goals) address the issues?
• What rules and support (i.e. information, education, funding) are needed in the regional plan to ensure the goals can be met.

The Wellington region is vulnerable to a wide range of natural hazards particularly flooding, earthquakes, landslips, coastal erosion and drought.

Please view the natural hazards issues and goals poster.

We want to know:

• Do you agree with how we’ve described the natural resource issues?
• Will our response (the goals) address the issues?
• What rules and support (i.e. information, education, funding) are needed in the regional plan to ensure the goals can be met.

How can we minimise contaminants from urban activities entering our stormwater network, rivers and streams and ulitmately our coast?

Please view the urban development issues and goals poster.

We want to know:

• Do you agree with how we’ve described the natural resource issues?
• Will our response (the goals) address the issues?
• What rules and support (i.e. information, education, funding) are needed in the regional plan to ensure the goals can be met.

Additional questions:

• Should the Regional Council regulate stormwater discharges?
• What can we do to raise public awareness about the effects of storwater discharges?
• Should the regional plan focus on land use management practices?

How should we maintain and enhance the region's soils?

Please view the protecting soils issues and goals poster.

We want to know:

• Do you agree with how we’ve described the natural resource issues?
• Will our response (the goals) address the issues?
• What rules and support (i.e. information, education, funding) are needed in the regional plan to ensure the goals can be met.

Additional questions:

• So far the soil conservation planting programme has been voluntary - should it remain so?
• Should land use activities that cause erosion be restricted on very steep land?
• Who should manage impacted soils in the region - the regional council or industry groups?
• What else can we do to improve soil management in the region?