Under the Tairawhiti Resource Management Plan (TRMP) you will need a water permit if you plan to irrigate more than 1 hectare of land.
What to include in you water permit application
To assess your application, you need to provide:
Source details
- name of the river or aquifer you wish to take water from
- rate of take (in litres per second)
Volume and timing
- daily, weekly, monthly and annual volumes (in cubic metres)
- months you intent to irrigate
Irrigation area and use
- total area (in hectares) the water will be used on
- intended use of the water - what crop types
Irrigation equipment
- type of equipment you will use
- efficiency of the system for your specific crop type
If you're applying for a water permit to irrigate land, your Irrigation Management Plan information must meet the requirements outlined in Appendix H22 of the Tairawhiti Resource Management Plan (TRMP)
Required information:
Soil mapping
- identify the soil types being irrigated
- provide a map showing where each soil type is located
Rotation and application rates
- outline rotation schedules and application rates based on the soil types
- explain how your rates align with our Irrigation Water Guidelines
Water distribution
- describe how water will be distributed efficiently - using impervious reticulation systems, not open channels
Crop-specific efficiency
- detail how irrigation efficiency is achieved for your your specific crop types
- include the equipment used and its suitability for each crop
Rainfall monitoring
- explain how you’ll collect and use rainfall data to adjust application rates and rotation.
- For large irrigation areas or high daily volumes, use computer-controlled irrigation systems tailored to soil and climate conditions.
Maintenance programme
- provide a plan for leak detection, repairs, and ongoing maintenance of irrigation equipment
To renew your water permit
You need to provide information about your past water use, this includes previous irrigation management plans and water meter readings.
Water takes on the Poverty Bay Flats or Waipaoa Catchment
Water sources in the Poverty Bay Flats and Waipaoa Catchment are fully or over-allocated, especially during the irrigation season. This means no new water permits will be granted for these areas - unless water storage is part of the application.
Read the webpage - Water Permit on Poverty Bay Flats
Applying for a water permit
To take water from a surface or groundwater source, you'll need to apply for a resource consent - Water Permit.
What to do
- Complete the application form - Water Permit - Surface or Ground Water Take
- You can find the full application details and checklists on our resource consents page