8 Dec 2025
At its meeting on Thursday, Council will consider seeking a Plan Stop exemption to progress a sustainable land use plan change proposal (Plan Change 7). The proposed plan change aims to strengthen how highly eroding and erosion-prone land is managed in Tairāwhiti.
Under recent Plan Stop legislation, councils cannot notify any changes to resource management plan rules until 31 December 2027, unless granted an exemption by the Minister for the Environment.
Director of Sustainable Futures, Jocelyne Allen says the scope of the exemption criteria limits the focus of potential rule changes under the Tairāwhiti Resource Management Plan to areas where the impact of erosion is the most severe and land failure risk is greatest.
“The exemption will allow us to move ahead with the plan change process and maintain momentum on those parts of the work that are most urgent for our region. This is just the first regulatory step to address the most severe erosion and land instability risks in Te Tairāwhiti.”
“The next step will be developing the broader sustainable land use technical evidence and
policy issues, under the new resource management planning system.”
Mrs. Allen emphasised that the exemption request is only the first stage.
“Seeking an exemption doesn’t predetermine the outcome of the plan change - it simply positions Council to keep developing the essential science, mapping and policy work needed to develop a proposal that addresses our high-risk land.”
“Seeking an exemption will allow Council to continue developing Plan Change 7 and undertake the full Schedule 1 consultation process with our community, iwi and stakeholders before any proposed regulations are formally considered.”
“This approach allows us to keep building the groundwork while ensuring the community has a strong voice in what happens next.”
The recommendation ensures Council acts responsibly during a period of national planning uncertainty and focuses our resources and those of our landowners, mana whenua, industry and the wider community on a plan change that can eventually be notified.
The full report is available now on Council’s website: COUNCIL - 11 December 2025
People can keep informed of the progress on the Sustainable Land Use Plan Change at www.participate.gdc.govt.nz/sustainable-landuse-planchange
ENDS
Links:
Ministerial Inquiry into Land Use | Ministry for the Environment