Our district plan provisions are being updated as part of the Tairāwhiti Resource Management Plan review. These provisions give us a rule book for managing development activities and the environment with the aim of meeting the needs of current and future generations.
We now have a draft Urban Plan Change ready for public notification, however the timeline for notification has been affected by the recent changes from central government.
Plan Stop legislation now in effect
The government’s Plan Stop legislation came into effect on 21 August 2025. This means that until 31 December 2027 councils can’t notify new plan changes or reviews unless they have an exemption.
Council recognises the urgent need to address issues that reflect our realities here in Tairāwhiti.
We are applying for two exemptions so that some of our critical plan changes can continue – the draft Urban Plan Change 6 and our work on transitioning land use.
The Urban Plan Change 6 updates district plan rules for Gisborne City that are more than 20 years old and have a focus on enabling housing growth in safe, well-serviced areas.
Changes in district plan provisions
We've completed our Future Development Strategy 2024 -2054. This is a planning tool that outlines potential for future housing growth over the next 30 years.
To put this strategy in action we need to make changes to the district plan provisions of the Tairāwhiti Resource Management Plan. The new plan content must comply with National Planning Standards.
We're offering a comprehensive framework focusing on the sustainable management of our resources while supporting our communities to live and grow.
The first phase is an urban focussed plan change followed by a separate update for the remainder of the district provisions which includes rural areas.
Urban Plan Change 6
This plan change supports housing choice and supply by introducing a number of changes, including:
- A new Medium Density Residential zone in Gisborne City that specifically enables duplexes and terraced housing
- A new Mixed Use zone enabling dwellings in combination with commercial uses
- A new City Centre zone to help revitalisation
- A new Future Urban zone in the Back Ormond Road area, to signal the future expansion of the urban area.
Timeline
- March 2024 - Future Development Strategy adopted
- February 2025 - Tairāwhiti Resource Management Plan engagement including masterplans and draft zoning options
- March 2025 - Urban Plan Change 6 engagement with treaty partners
- August 2025 - Councillors support an exemption for the plan change
- September 2025 - Exemption letters sent to ministers
How to stay involved
If you're interested in the district plan provisions, or anything related to the Tairāwhiti Resource Management Plan review, you can:
- Get updates via Council News | He Pānui Sign up here
- Follow our | Participate consultation platform.
- Email the team at trmp@gdc.govt.nz