Proposed Change 1 to the Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington Region

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Consultation has concluded

The Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington Region (Regional Policy Statement) provides an overview of the resource management issues of the Wellington Region and sets out the policies and methods to achieve integrated resource management of the natural and physical resources of the whole region.

We have prepared Proposed Change 1 to the Regional Policy Statement (RPS Change 1) to make changes to the Regional Policy Statement to account for new national direction and to address issues in the Wellington Region. The focus of Proposed RPS Change 1 is to implement and support the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020 (NPS-UD) and to start the implementation of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (NPS-FM). We are also addressing issues related to climate change, indigenous biodiversity and high natural character. 

The key topics being addressed in RPS Change 1 are:

  • Lack of urban development capacity and implementation of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development (NPS-UD) and Wellington Regional Growth Framework
  • Degradation of freshwater and partial implementation of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM)
  • Loss and degradation of indigenous biodiversity including regional policy to implement central government strategy and draft RMA national policy direction
  • The impacts of climate change including regional policy to complement central government policy direction.

RPS Change 1 also makes other minor amendments to align with recent updates to the Natural Resources Plan and national direction.

The Proposed RPS Change 1 documentation can be downloaded on the right, and can also be viewed in person at:

  • Greater Wellington Regional Council – Wellington Office, 100 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington
  • Greater Wellington Regional Council – Masterton Office, 34 Chapel Street, Masterton
  • Public libraries throughout the Region 

To make a submission

The local authority in its own area and any person can make a submission on any of the proposed changes to Proposed Change 1 to the Regional Policy Statement, either online or in written form. Making a submission ensures your views will be considered and allows you to participate in the Proposed Change 1 to the Regional Policy Statement process if you wish. 

 However, if you could gain an advantage in trade competition through your submission, then you may do so only if you are directly affected by an effect of Proposed Change 1 to the Regional Policy Statement that: 

  • Adversely affects the environment, and 
  • Does not relate to trade competition or the effects of trade competition. 

The closing date for submissions is 5.00pm 14 October 2022. The timeframe for making a submission has been doubled to enable more time for submissions, pursuant to Section 37 of the RMA. 

The best way to make a submission is to use our online submission portal (Spoken). Using this portal will ensure that we know which provision you’re providing feedback on and will make sure we know exactly what you’d like to change.

Alternatively, you may provide a written submission using our Submission Form. Please email your submission to regionalplan@gw.govt.nz or by post to Environmental Policy, PO Box 11646, Manners St, Wellington 6142, ATT: Hearings Adviser. Please provide a contact email address with your submission to enable effective communication.

The portal and submission form follow the format required under the Resource Management Act 1991.

Note that under the RMA all submissions and accompanying data must be made available for public inspection. In order to achieve that, Greater Wellington will upload all submissions and accompanying data onto its website above. For more information regarding this and your privacy please view our Privacy Statement.

Read more about the Proposed Change 1 to the Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington Region on our website.

Read the answers to some frequently asked questions about the Proposed Change 1 to the Regional Policy Statement.

The Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington Region (Regional Policy Statement) provides an overview of the resource management issues of the Wellington Region and sets out the policies and methods to achieve integrated resource management of the natural and physical resources of the whole region.

We have prepared Proposed Change 1 to the Regional Policy Statement (RPS Change 1) to make changes to the Regional Policy Statement to account for new national direction and to address issues in the Wellington Region. The focus of Proposed RPS Change 1 is to implement and support the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020 (NPS-UD) and to start the implementation of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (NPS-FM). We are also addressing issues related to climate change, indigenous biodiversity and high natural character. 

The key topics being addressed in RPS Change 1 are:

  • Lack of urban development capacity and implementation of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development (NPS-UD) and Wellington Regional Growth Framework
  • Degradation of freshwater and partial implementation of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM)
  • Loss and degradation of indigenous biodiversity including regional policy to implement central government strategy and draft RMA national policy direction
  • The impacts of climate change including regional policy to complement central government policy direction.

RPS Change 1 also makes other minor amendments to align with recent updates to the Natural Resources Plan and national direction.

The Proposed RPS Change 1 documentation can be downloaded on the right, and can also be viewed in person at:

  • Greater Wellington Regional Council – Wellington Office, 100 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington
  • Greater Wellington Regional Council – Masterton Office, 34 Chapel Street, Masterton
  • Public libraries throughout the Region 

To make a submission

The local authority in its own area and any person can make a submission on any of the proposed changes to Proposed Change 1 to the Regional Policy Statement, either online or in written form. Making a submission ensures your views will be considered and allows you to participate in the Proposed Change 1 to the Regional Policy Statement process if you wish. 

 However, if you could gain an advantage in trade competition through your submission, then you may do so only if you are directly affected by an effect of Proposed Change 1 to the Regional Policy Statement that: 

  • Adversely affects the environment, and 
  • Does not relate to trade competition or the effects of trade competition. 

The closing date for submissions is 5.00pm 14 October 2022. The timeframe for making a submission has been doubled to enable more time for submissions, pursuant to Section 37 of the RMA. 

The best way to make a submission is to use our online submission portal (Spoken). Using this portal will ensure that we know which provision you’re providing feedback on and will make sure we know exactly what you’d like to change.

Alternatively, you may provide a written submission using our Submission Form. Please email your submission to regionalplan@gw.govt.nz or by post to Environmental Policy, PO Box 11646, Manners St, Wellington 6142, ATT: Hearings Adviser. Please provide a contact email address with your submission to enable effective communication.

The portal and submission form follow the format required under the Resource Management Act 1991.

Note that under the RMA all submissions and accompanying data must be made available for public inspection. In order to achieve that, Greater Wellington will upload all submissions and accompanying data onto its website above. For more information regarding this and your privacy please view our Privacy Statement.

Read more about the Proposed Change 1 to the Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington Region on our website.

Read the answers to some frequently asked questions about the Proposed Change 1 to the Regional Policy Statement.