Draft Natural Resources Plan - GW · Schedule C4: Sites of significance to Taranaki Whnui ki te Upoko o te Ika a Maui 276 Schedule C5: Sites of significance to Ngti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa

Draft Natural Resources Planfor the Wellington regionTe Tikanga Taiao o Te Upoko o Te Ika a Maui

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Draft Natural Resources Plan for the Wellington regionTe Tikanga Taiao o Te Upoko o Te Ika a MauiKorero mai ano! Talk to us!

Fresh water, land, and the coast are important places to us all. Over the past 3 years Wellington Regional Council has been working with many people from across the region to develop a new regional plan which will manage how we use these parts of our environment. We now want to hear from you about our suggestions.

Are we protecting the right things, in the right places? Are we being too restrictive on industries and development, or perhaps not restrictive enough? If so, in what way? And, importantly, have we missed anything?

Please read this draft Natural Resources Plan, and the supporting material on our webpage (http://www.gw.govt.nz/regional-plan-review/), and let us know your thoughts. We will be accepting feedback until the end of November 2014. After we have your feedback we will work to resolve differences of opinion on how we manage our environment, make any necessary changes to the objectives, policies and methods (including rules), and complete an evaluation of the costs and benefits of the different approaches.

We want to make sure that we have heard and discussed your perspective before we complete the proposed Natural Resources Plan, which is due for release in 2015. The important thing is to get your ideas to us. Now is the time to make suggestions about how we, as a community, wish to manage our environment into the future.

You can provide feedback and comment through the links on our web page (http://haveyoursay.gw.govt.nz/), or you can complete a feedback form and send it to us (also available on our website, or call us on 0800 496 734 and we can send you one).

We look forward to hearing from you and want to thank you for taking the time to help us develop a new regional plan to manage our fresh water, land, and the coastal environment into the future.

Status of the draft Natural Resources Plan The draft Natural Resources Plan for the Wellington region, Te Tikanga Taiao o Te Upoko o Te Ika a Maui is a combined regional air, land, water and coastal plan. It is the primary document through which the Wellington Regional Council will meet its obligations under the Resource Management Act (1991).

Section 80 of the Resource Management Act (1991) requires regional councils to identify in the Plan the provisions that are the regional plan and those that are the regional coastal plan. Those provisions that require ministerial approval under section 28b of the Resource Management Act (1991) are identified by an icon.

The draft Natural Resources Plan for the Wellington region, Te Tikanga Taiao o Te Upoko o Te Ika a Maui is for consultation only. The provisions have no legal effect.

Contents 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Overview of the Wellington region 2 1.2 Mahitahi – a work in partnership 3 1.3 Integrated Catchment Management 3 1.4 Factors shaping this Plan 4 1.4.1 Statutory framework 4 1.4.2 Identifying issues – community views, scientific and technical

information 6 1.4.3 Guiding principles of Te Upoko Taiao 7 1.5 Values in the Plan 9

2 Interpretation 13 2.1 How to use this Plan 13 2.1.1 Objectives 13 2.1.2 Policies 13 2.1.3 Rules and other methods 14 2.1.4 Whaitua chapters 15 2.1.5 Definitions, schedules and maps 15 2.2 Definitions 16

3 Objectives 33 3.1 Ki uta ki tai 33 3.2 Beneficial use and development 33 3.3 M�ori 34 3.4 Water bodies and coastal marine area 34 3.5 Natural hazards 34 3.6 Ecosystem health and mahinga kai 35 3.7 Outstanding values 38 3.8 Ng� Taonga Nui a Kiwa 38 3.9 Sites with significant values 38 3.10 Indigenous biodiversity 39 3.11 Low energy receiving environments 39 3.12 Outstanding natural features and special amenity landscapes 39 3.13 Natural character 39 3.14 Recreation and public access 40 3.15 Air 40 3.16 Soil 40 3.17 Land use 40 3.18 Discharges 41 3.19 Water allocation 41 3.20 Coast 41

4 Policies 43 4.1 General policies 43 4.1.1 Ki uta ki tai and integrated catchment management 43 4.1.2 Beneficial use and development 44 4.1.3 Natural hazards 47 4.1.4 Mauri 48 4.1.5 Aquatic ecosystem health and mahinga kai 48

4.1.6 Outstanding water bodies 49 4.1.7 Ng� Taonga Nui a Kiwa 50 4.1.8 Sites with significant values 50 4.1.9 Low energy receiving environments 53 4.1.10 Natural character, features and landscapes 54 4.1.11 Public access 55 4.2 Air quality policies 55 4.2.1 Domestic and outdoor burning 55 4.2.2 Industrial discharges 56 4.3 Land, water and coast policies 57 4.3.1 Primary policies 57 4.3.2 Discharges to water 61 4.3.3 Stormwater 64 4.3.4 Contaminated land and hazardous substances 67 4.3.5 Hydraulic fracturing 67 4.3.6 Discharges to land 68 4.3.7 Land use 69 4.3.8 Earthworks and vegetation clearance 70 4.3.9 Natural wetlands 71 4.3.10 Activities in beds of lakes and rivers 71 4.3.11 Minimum flows 72 4.3.12 Allocating water 73 4.3.13 Reasonable and efficient use of water 75 4.3.14 Managing adverse effects 75 4.3.15 Transferring water permits 76 4.3.16 Damming and diverting water 76 4.3.17 Constructing and managing bores 77 4.4 Coastal management policies 77 4.4.1 Primary Coastal policies 77 4.4.2 Structures 78 4.4.3 Activities 80

5 Rules 83 5.1 Air quality 83 5.1.1 Air quality other methods 84 5.1.2 Outdoor burning 84 5.1.3 Domestic fires 86 5.1.4 Large scale generators 86 5.1.5 Industrial discharges 90 5.2 Discharges to water 99 5.2.1 Discharges to water other methods 100 5.2.2 Water discharges 100 5.2.3 Stormwater 103 5.2.4 Contaminated land, industrial and trade premises and hazardous

substances 106 5.2.5 Water races and pumped drainage schemes 107 5.2.6 Wastewater 108 5.2.7 Biofoul cleaning 108 5.2.8 All other discharges 109 5.3 Discharges to land 111

5.3.1 Discharges to land other methods 112 5.3.2 Discharge of contaminants 112 5.3.3 Biosolids and treated community wastewater 116 5.3.4 Drinking water treatment plant waste 118 5.3.5 Fertiliser and animal effluent 119 5.3.6 Agrichemicals and vertebrate toxic agents 121 5.3.7 Refuse, silage and compost 126 5.3.8 All other discharges 128 5.4 Land use 129 5.4.1 Land use other methods 130 5.4.2 Cultivation and break feeding 130 5.4.3 Livestock exclusion 130 5.4.4 Earthworks and vegetation clearance 132 5.4.5 Plantation forestry 134 5.5 Wetlands and beds of lakes and rivers 137 5.5.1 Wetlands and beds of lakes and rivers other methods 138 5.5.2 Wetlands general conditions 138 5.5.3 Activities in wetlands 139 5.5.4 Activities in beds of lakes and rivers general conditions 144 5.5.5 Activities in beds of lakes and rivers 146 5.5.6 Reclamation and placement of a dam 158 5.6 Water allocation and damming and diversion of water 159 5.6.1 Other methods 160 5.6.2 Damming and diversion of water 160 5.6.3 Take and use of water 161 5.6.4 Transferring water permits 164 5.6.5 Bore construction or alteration 165 5.7 Coastal management activities 167 5.7.1 Coastal management other methods 170 5.7.2 Coastal marine area general conditions 170 5.7.3 Additions and alterations to existing structures 177 5.7.4 Removal or demolition of structures 181 5.7.5 New and replacement structures (including temporary) 183 5.7.6 Heritage structures 188 5.7.7 Boatsheds and swing moorings 191 5.7.8 Seawalls 193 5.7.9 Occupation 194 5.7.10 Surface water and foreshore activities 195 5.7.11 General disturbance activities 196 5.7.12 Vehicles on the foreshore 206 5.7.13 Dredging 207 5.7.14 Deposition 212 5.7.15 Dumping and incineration of waste or other matter 214 5.7.16 Reclamation and drainage 216 5.7.17 Destruction 216 5.7.18 Introduction of plants 217

6 Other methods 219 6.1 General 219 6.2 Natural hazards 219

6.3 Air quality 220 6.4 Land and water 220 6.4.1 Implementing the NPS Freshwater Management 220 6.4.2 Te Awarua o Porirua Harbour restoration 221 6.4.3 Wairarapa Moana 221 6.5 Rural land use 221 6.6 Stormwater 222 6.7 Contaminated land 222 6.8 Waste reduction and efficient use of water and energy 222 6.9 Biodiversity 223 6.10 Coast 224 6.11 Natural features and landscapes 224 6.12 Mana whenua 224 6.13 Contact recreation and M�ori use 224 6.14 Good management practice 225

7 Ruam�hanga Whaitua 227 7.1 Policies 227 7.1.2 Rules 227 7.2 Tables 230 7.3 Figures 236

8 Wellington Harbour and Hutt Valley Whaitua 245 8.1 Policies 245 8.2 Rules 246 8.3 Tables 248 8.4 Figures 250

9 Porirua Whaitua 253 9.1 Policies 253 9.2 Rules 253

10 K�piti Coast Whaitua 255 10.1 Policies 255 10.2 Rules 255 10.3 Tables 258 10.4 Figures 260

11 Wairarapa Coast Whaitua 261 11.1 Policies 261 11.2 Rules 261

12 Schedules 263 Schedule A: Outstanding water bodies 263 Schedule A1: Rivers with outstanding indigenous ecosystem values 263 Schedule A2: Lakes with outstanding indigenous ecosystem values 263 Schedule A3: Wetlands with outstanding indigenous biodiversity values 263 Schedule B: Ng� Taonga Nui a Kiwa 265 Schedule C: Sites with significant mana whenua values 274 Schedule C1: Sites of significance to Ng� H�pu o �taki 274 Schedule C2: Sites of significance to Te �tiawa ki Whakarongotai 275

Schedule C3: Sites of significance to Ng�ti Toa 276 Schedule C4: Sites of significance to Taranaki Wh�nui ki te Upoko o te Ika a Maui 276 Schedule C5: Sites of significance to Ng�ti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa and Rangit�ne o Wairarapa 277 Schedule D: Statutory Acknowledgements 280 Schedule D1: Statutory Acknowledgements from the Port Nicholson Block (Taranaki Whanui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika) Claims Settlement Act 2009 280 Schedule D2: Statutory Acknowledgements from the Ngati Toa Rangatira Claims Settlement Act 2014 289 Schedule E: Sites with significant historic heritage values 309 Schedule E1: Historic heritage structures 309 Schedule E2: Historic heritage wharves and boatsheds 311 Schedule E3: Historic heritage navigation aids 314 Schedule E4: Archaeological sites 315 Schedule E5: Historic heritage freshwater sites 319 Schedule F: Ecosystems and habitats with significant indigenous biodiversity values 323 Schedule F1: Rivers and lakes with significant indigenous ecosystems 323 Schedule F1a: Known spawning and migration times for indigenous fish species 345 Schedule F1b: Known rivers and parts of the coastal marine area with inanga spawning habitat 349 Schedule F1c: Lakes with significant aquatic plant communities 350 Schedule F2: Habitats for indigenous birds 350 Schedule F2a: Habitats for indigenous birds in rivers 350 Schedule F2b: Habitats for indigenous birds in lakes 351 Schedule F2c: Habitats for indigenous birds in the coastal marine area 352 Schedule F3: Criteria for identifying natural wetlands with significant indigenous biodiversity values 357 Schedule F3a: Contents of Restoration and Management Plans 358 Schedule F4: Sites with significant indigenous biodiversity values in the coastal marine area 359 Schedule F5: Habitats with significant indigenous biodiversity values in the coastal marine area 365 Schedule F6: Habitats with significant indigenous biodiversity values in Te Awarua o Porirua Harbour, Wellington Harbour & Lake Wairarapa 367 Schedule G: Principles to be applied when proposing and considering biodiversity offsets 370 Schedule H: Contact recreation and M�ori use 373 Schedule H1: Priority water bodies for improvement of water quality for contact recreation and M�ori use 374 Schedule I: Important trout fishery rivers and spawning waters 375 Schedule J: Significant geological features in the coastal marine area 377 Schedule K: Significant surf breaks 379 Schedule L: Air quality 380 Schedule L1: Regional ambient air quality targets 380 Schedule L2: Hazardous air pollutants 382 Schedule M: Community drinking water supply abstraction points 388

Schedule M1: Surface water community drinking water supply abstraction points 388 Schedule M2: Groundwater community drinking water supply abstraction points 388 Schedule N: Stormwater Management Strategy 390 Schedule O: Background soil concentration ranges 392 Schedule P: Plantation forestry harvest plan 393 Schedule Q: Classifying and managing groundwater and surface water connectivity 395 Schedule R: Reasonable and efficient use criteria 397 Schedule S: Guideline for stepdown allocations 398 Schedule T: Guideline for measuring and reporting of water takes 399 Schedule U: Pumping test 400

13 Maps 403 Map1: Outstanding water bodies (Schedule A1,A2,A3) Map 2: Ng� Taonga Nui a Kiwa (Schedule B) Map 3: Sites of significance to Ng� Hap� � �taki (Schedule C1) Map 4: Sites of significance to Te �tiawa ki Whakarongotai (Schedule C2) Map 5: Sites of significance to Ng�ti Toa (Schedule C3) Map 6: Sites of significance to Taranaki Wh�nui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika o Maui (Schedule C4) Map 7: Sites of significance to Ng�ti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa and Rangit�ne o Wairarapa (Schedule C5) Map 8: Historic heritage structures (Schedule E1) Map 9: Historic heritage wharves and boatsheds (Schedule E2) Map 10: Historic heritage navigation aids (Schedule E3) Map 11: Archaeological sites (Schedule E4) Map 12: Historic heritage freshwater sites (Schedule E5) Map 13a: Rivers and lakes with significant indigenous ecosystems: high macroinvertebrate community health (Schedule F1) Map 13b:Rivers and lakes with significant indigenous ecosystems: habitat for indigenous fish species of conservation interest (Schedule F1) Map 13b: Rivers and lakes with significant indigenous ecosystems: habitat for six or more migratory indigenous fish species (Schedule F1) Map 14: Known rivers and parts of the coastal marine area with inanga spawning habitat (Schedule F1b) Map 15: Lakes with significant aquatic plant communities (Schedule F1c) Map 16: Habitats for indigenous birds in rivers (Schedule F2a) Map 17: Habitats for indigenous birds in lakes (Schedule F2b) Map 18: Habitats for indigenous birds in the coastal marine area (Schedule F2c) Map 18a: Habitats for indigenous birds in the coastal marine area (Schedule F2c) Map 18b: Habitats for indigenous birds in the coastal marine area (Schedule F2c) Map 19: Sites with significant indigenous biodiversity values in the coastal marine area (Schedule F4) Map 20: Significant primary contact recreation rivers and lakes (Schedule H) Map 21: River Classes – upper Wairarapa valley catchments (Table 3.1) Map 22: River Classes – middle Wairarapa valley catchments (Table 3.1)

Map 23: River Classes – Lake Wairarapa and lower valley catchments (Table 3.1) Map 24: River Classes – Wellington Hutt Valley and Wainuiomata catchments (Table 3.1) Map 25: River Classes – K�piti Coast catchments (Table 3.1) Map 26: Trout habitat (Schedule I) Map 27: Significant geological features in the coastal marine area (Schedule J) Map 28: Significant surfbreaks (Schedule K) – data not yet available Map 29: Masterton Airshed Map 30: Surface water community drinking water supply protection areas (incorporates Schedule M1) Map 31a: Groundwater community drinking water supply protection areas - Wairarapa (incorporates Schedule M2) Map 31b: Groundwater community drinking water supply protection areas – Hutt Valley (incorporates Schedule M2) Map 31c: Groundwater community drinking water supply protection areas – Kapiti Coast (incorporates Schedule M2) Map 32: Water races in the Wairarapa Map 33: Erosion prone land Map 34: Hill country areas Map 35: Hutt Valley aquifer zone and freshwater seeps in Wellington Harbour Map 36: Boatshed areas Map 37: Commercial port, harbour development & noise control areas – Lambton Harbour Map 38: Commercial port, harbour development & noise control areas – Burnham Wharf Map 39: Commercial Port, harbour development & noise control areas – Seaview Wharf Map 40: Titahi Bay fossil forest (indicative) Map 41: Mooring areas Wellington Harbour - Evans Bay Map 42: Mooring areas Wellington Harbour - Lowry Bay Map 43: Mooring areas Island Bay Map 44: Mooring areas Te Awarua o Porirua Harbour – Onepoto Map 45: Mooring areas Te Awarua o Porirua Harbour – Mana Map 46: Mooring areas Te Awarua o Porirua Harbour – Pauatahanui Arm Maps 47-53: Coastal Marine Area and River Mouth Boundaries Map 54: Navigation protection areas in Wellington Harbour Map 55: Wellington International Airport height restrictions Map 56: Kapiti Coast Airport approach gradients

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1 Introduction

Ka ora te wai

Ka ora te whenua

Ka ora te whenua

Ka ora te tangata

If the water is healthy

The land will be nourished

If the land is nourished

The people will be provided for

What defines a place? The features, the natural resources and the people.

What sustains a place? The way we humans interact with our environment.

Much has been learned about how human activity affects our region’s resources and how a comprehensive and integrated approach to natural resource management can be achieved by working collaboratively and using both regulatory and non-regulatory methods. Recognising that there are several distinct catchment areas within the region, the Natural Resources Plan for the Greater Wellington region provides for a decentralised approach to establishing priorities and programmes within each of these through the mechanism of catchment groups called whaitua committees.

The Natural Resources Plan has been developed in collaboration with many people from the diverse communities that make up the Wellington region and have economic, spiritual, cultural and environmental interests in our air, land, water and coastal resources.

The Natural Resources Plan is produced by the Wellington Regional Council under the Resource Management Act 1991. It sets out the objectives, policies and methods for people and organisations that use the region’s resources for a variety of purposes. The development of the plan has been informed by an on-going programme of engagement with stakeholders, mana whenua and the community around the review of the existing regional plans.

M�ori talk about the need to care for the mauri, or life giving properties, of our region, particularly the mauri of our fresh and coastal waters on which our wellbeing depends. Kaitiakitanga is a traditional obligation to sustain the ecosystems of the natural world. In a similar way, non-M�ori speak of the duty of stewardship and the need to look at the environment as a whole to achieve sustainable management of its many interconnected elements. In practical terms the commonality of perspective shared by M�ori and non-M�ori is a dominant feature of this Plan. The joint approach recognising and giving practical effect to M�ori and non-M�ori interests alike, is underpinned by scientific evidence.

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1.1 Overview of the Wellington region The Wellington region covers some 7,860km2. It is bordered by the Tasman Sea, the Pacific Ocean and the Cook Strait, and extends north to =taki in the west and almost to Eketahuna in the east.

M�ori who originally settled the Wellington area knew it as Te Upoko o te Ika a M�ui, meaning "the head of M�ui's fish". The area was settled by Europeans in the early 1800s and the cities, coastal towns, rural centres and fertile farming districts are now home to around 490,100 people. Over a quarter of the region’s population were born outside of New Zealand and consequently a diverse and vibrant culture is a significant aspect of our region.

The major natural features of the region include the rugged Rimutaka and Tararua Ranges, Wellington Harbour and the Hutt River Valley, Te Awarua o Porirua Harbour, the rolling hill country of the Wairarapa, the coastal flats, valleys and river plains that surround the Ruamahanga River, and Wairarapa Moana.

The region has six mana whenua and a large population of M�ori from other parts of Aotearoa. With some of the oldest areas of human habitation in the country, the cultural landscape is rich with iconic sites and associations of mana whenua dating back to some of the great explorers: Kupe, Tara, Haunui a Nanaia and others. The mana whenua that have been involved to date, as partners with the Wellington Regional Council in the Natural Resources Plan review, include the following six representative bodies of the region:

� Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust (formerly known as The Wellington Tenths Trust and Te Runanganui o Taranaki Whanui ki te Upoko o te Ika a Maui)

� Te Jtiawa ki Whakarongotai

� Ng� HapL o =taki

� Kahungunu ki Wairarapa

� Ng�ti Toa Rang�tira

� Rangit�ne o Wairarapa

The region incorporates nine territorial authorities Wellington City, Hutt City, Porirua City, Upper Hutt City, K�piti Coast District, South Wairarapa District, Carterton District, Masterton District and part of Tararua District.

The region is also home to the nation’s capital and has an economy characterised by knowledge-based sectors, including an increasingly dynamic information and technology sector, a large public sector, and well-established film and media industries. The region also has a prosperous agricultural sector, made up of a range of pasture, crop and horticulture industries, focused around the Ruamahanga River Valley, the Ohariu Valley, the Wairarapa Hill Country and the Wairarapa and K�piti coasts.

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1.2 Mahitahi – a work in partnership A new approach has been taken in developing this plan. Te Upoko Taiao - Natural Resource Management Committee, formed by 7 Councillors and 7 members appointed by the region’s mana whenua, has been created as an expression of the Treaty of Waitangi relationship at a regional level, enabling a mana whenua perspective in resource management policy direction. Te Upoko Taiao – Natural Resource Management Committee grew from Ara Tahi, the partnership committee formed between mana whenua leaders and Wellington Regional councillors more than two decades ago.

Te Upoko Taiao - Natural Resource Management Committee sets a new standard for recognition of kaitiakitanga in regional resource management. Wellington Regional Council delegated responsibility to oversee the development of this Natural Resources Plan to Te Upoko Taiao and, as a result, the objectives, policies and methods contained in the plan recognise shared values of both Council and mana whenua. The Committee will also have an active role in implementing the Plan at a local and community level, ensuring an on-going management partnership.

There are a number of other important regional partners who have a particular role to play in managing natural resources, including district and city councils, primary industry groups and community and interest groups. They have all played a significant role in the development of this Plan.

The wider community, too, has actively engaged in the development process from the start, through a series of community workshops, and on-line participation. More than 1400 people have been involved in this way.

1.3 Integrated Catchment Management Te Upoko Taiao has adopted an innovative model to ensure collaborative development of both regional and catchment specific programmes and an integrated approach to the management of land and water resources. The emphasis is on local inputs to decision making. This model introduces the establishment of committees for the five identified whaitua catchments (Figure 1.1). Each whaitua committee will have a majority of members from the local community, along with regional and city/district councillors and mana whenua.

Whaitua committees will continue to develop the Natural Resources Plan on a catchment basis. They form the basis of the Council’s programme to implement the National Policy Statement for Freshwater and to improve the integration of activities aimed at better resource management practices reflecting local aspirations.

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Figure 1.1: Whaitua catchments

1.4 Factors shaping this Plan The Natural Resources Plan is shaped by four principal factors:

� the statutory framework and the hierarchy of policy statements and plans provided for by the Resource Management Act 1991,

� scientific and technical information on the state of the environment and the impacts of use and development on these receiving environments,

� the views of stakeholders, including individuals, mana whenua, community groups and industry or sector organisations, and

� the guiding principles of Te Upoko Taiao – Natural Resource Management Committee and the Wellington Regional Council.

These factors are explained below.

1.4.1 Statutory framework The purpose of the Natural Resources Plan is to assist Wellington Regional Council to carry out its functions in order to achieve the purpose of the Resource Management Act 1991. The purpose of the Resource Management Act 1991 is to promote the sustainable management of natural and physical resources. Sustainable management is defined in the Resource Management Act 1991 as:

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“Managing the use, development, and protection of natural and physical resources in a way, or at a rate, which enables people and communities to provide for their social, economic, and cultural wellbeing and for their health and safety while:

(a) Sustaining the potential of natural and physical resources (excluding minerals) to meet the reasonably foreseeable needs of future generations; and

(b) Safeguarding the life-supporting capacity of air, water, soil and ecosystems; and

(c) Avoiding, remedying, or mitigating any adverse effects of activities on the environment” (RMA, 199:65)”

Natural and physical resources in the Resource Management Act 1991 include land, water, air, soil, minerals and energy, all forms of plants and animals and all structures.

The Resource Management Act 1991 provides for a hierarchy of planning and policy instruments to give national, regional and district policy direction and sets out responsibilities for the management of our resources. These include national policy statements, national environmental standards and regional policy statements.

Figure 1.2 shows the geographical boundaries of the policy statements and plans within this resource management framework.

Figure 1.2: The resource management policy and planning framework

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National policy statements provide guidance on matters of national significance and are prepared by central government. New Zealand currently has four approved national policy statements: the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014, the National Policy Statement for Renewable Electricity Generation 2011, the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010 and the National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission 2011.

National environmental standards are also prepared by central government. They apply nationally and can prescribe technical standards, methods or other requirements for environmental matters such as air quality, assessing and managing contaminants in soil to protect human health, and managing sources of human drinking water. The same standards are enforced by all councils, regional and district. In some circumstances, councils can impose stricter standards than the national standard. The Resource Management Act 1991 stipulates that a regional plan must not conflict with a provision in a national environmental standard.

The Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington Region 2013 provides an overview of the resource management issues for the region, along with objectives to address these issues, and policies and methods to achieve the objectives. The Regional Policy Statement includes four different types of policies. The first group of policies are directive to local authorities and require provisions to be included in district or regional plans. The second group needs to be given particular regard to when changing, varying or replacing city, district or regional plans. Then there are policies that allocate responsibilities for indigenous biodiversity, natural hazards, and hazardous substances and policies that outline non-regulatory actions.

The Resource Management Act 1991 requires that the regional plan give effect to both National Policy Statements and the Regional Policy Statement. These documents have been key drivers in respect of the objectives and policies within the Natural Resources Plan.

1.4.2 Identifying issues – community views, scientific and technical information A range of methods and tools have been used to identify the natural resource issues of the region, including environmental monitoring and research programmes, scientific research, community engagement, resource consent monitoring, mana whenua views, M�ori and community consultation and rulings of the Environment Court.

The key natural resource management issues identified across the region are:

� the quality of fresh water in both urban and rural areas, and

� the allocation and efficient use of water, including groundwater, and

� the state of the coastal environment, particularly the impacts that land-use and degraded freshwater systems have on coastal and estuarine ecosystems, and

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� the management of natural hazards, including earthquake, flooding hazard and coastal erosion.

Other natural resource management issues such as soil conservation, air quality, heritage protection and managing sites of significance are also addressed in this plan.

1.4.3 Guiding principles of Te Upoko Taiao Te Upoko Taiao established a set of guiding principles as shown in Figure 1.3 that underpin the overall management approach of the Natural Resources Plan. These are:

Ki uta ki tai (connectedness) – managing natural and physical resources in a holistic manner, recognising they are interconnected and reliant upon one another

Wairuatanga (identity) – recognition and respect for mauri and the intrinsic values of natural and physical features, and including the connections between natural processes and human cultures

Kaitiakitanga (guardianship) – recognition that we all have a part to play as guardians to maintain and enhance our natural and physical resources for current and future generations the understanding that these all have a role as guardians of the natural environment

T� m�tou whakapono (judgement based on knowledge) – recognition that our actions will be considered and justified by using the best available information and good judgement

Mahitahi (partnership) – partnership between Wellington Regional Council, mana whenua and the community based on a commitment to active engagement, good faith and a communality

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Figure 1.3: Guiding principles of the regional plan

The Committee’s make-up and the guiding principles reflect an understanding that mana whenua, the Council and the wider community all share the responsibility of caring for our region’s environment. A great deal of collaboration between regulators, resource users, mana whenua, the government and the wider community will be required to manage the region’s natural and cultural resources effectively.

Te Upoko Taiao has also specified that the Natural Resources Plan must be a document that meets the needs of its users, typically a wide range of people from professional planners and consents officers to individual property owners. This means the structure must be readable, functional and accessible.

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1.5 Values in the Plan Values are the worth or desirability held for a particular set of qualities, uses or outcomes. The Natural Resources Plan reflects a wide range of values from across society and from a range of different sources. They have been gained from statute, for example, expressly the Resource Management Act 1991 and associated policy documents such as the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014. The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management is particularly important in determining and managing for values, specifically in respect of the region’s freshwater resources. It provides a management framework that enables water to contribute both economic growth and environmental integrity and provides for the values that are important to New Zealanders. Key to this framework is the setting of national bottom lines for two compulsory values; ecosystem health and human health for recreation, and minimal acceptable states for other national values and uses of freshwater, such as for municipal and domestic water supply and navigation.

Other values have been brought into the Natural Resources Plan through consultation with the community, mana whenua and other stakeholders. The concept of shared values expressed by Te Upoko Taiao – Natural Resource Management Committee is also fundamental to the Natural Resources Plan.

The values that have been identified during the development of the Natural Resources Plan are set out in Table 1.1 below.

The table illustrates commercial use values, direct use values (that is, associated with a utility but not associated with opportunities for financial returns), intrinsic values and shared values. The activities associated with the values are also identified.

The values that have been identified are given practical application through the different objectives, policies and methods of the Natural Resources Plan, including rules and non-regulatory programs. The purpose of the Natural Resources Plan is to manage the impacts of activities on natural resources and to sustainably manage the use of these resources. For example, the practical expression of commercial use values in objectives and policies provides opportunities for economic development through the Natural Resources Plan. These occur alongside other values expressed in the Natural Resources Plan, such as the protection of the region’s cultural heritage and biodiversity.

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Table 1.1: Values These values have been sourced from the following sources: National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management; Policies in the Regional Policy Statement; Resource Management Act 1991; mana whenua; community and stakeholder engagement.

Shared values – recognising commonalities in values – water quality

Values Commonality

Ecosystemhealth and mahinga kai

In practice water quality that provides for ecosystem health outcomes also has the potential to provide for mahinga kai

Contactrecreation and Maori use

Contact recreation in freshwater is managed to a level to allow immersion

Intrinsic values

Values Activities associated with values

Ecosystemhealth and function

Freshwater systems, marine systems, coastal and estuarine systems, bird habitat, marine life habitat, dune ecosystem function and habitat, protecting the welfare of tuna/eels, places for fish to survive and repopulate

Biodiversity Protecting indigenous biodiversity (plants and animal), Healthy freshwater biodiversity, preventing extinctions - fish, invertebrates, whitebait, grey mullet, frogs, lizards, algae, variety of creatures, diversity of native birds

WaterwayCharacter

Protecting river form – the mix of riffles, rapids and pools, flowing water, free flowing, channel process effect ecological habitat

Use values – direct


Humansustenance,health and welfare

Healthy food, clean water, well-being and health, drinking water, marae supplies, domestic stock drinking water, fire fighting

Wai tapu Sacred waters, ceremonial waters

Infrastructureintegrity

Reliable drinking water supplies, seasonal water harvesting and storage, coastal navigation, decreased flood risk, human potable water, recycling and reusing water, efficient use of water

Activerecreation/Contactrecreation

Opportunity for recreational variety, coastal fishing, beach swimming, boating, water sports (fresh and marine), canoeing, surfing rafting, sport fishing – trout

Wasteremoval and dilution

Dilution and dispersal of waste, runoff and leaching

Mahinga Kai Direct gathering of food, places of food

Transportationandnavigation

Transportation and navigation

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Use values – economic


Food and fibre production

Food, agricultural production (livestock and horticulture), cultivation, organic agricultural production, clean irrigation water

Commercialenterprise

Commercial fisheries, eel fishing, commercial recreation (eg rafting), gravel extraction, eco-tourism, electricity generation, tourism, industrial use, disposal of waste

Industrialprocesses

Clean water for industry

Mai te kakano ka tipu te purapura, i ruia mai i Rangi�tea

Mai ng� p�take ka � mai te waiora, i � mai i a Papat��nuku

Mai i ng� raureka ka � mai te hau ora, i � mai i a Ranginui

Ka pu�wai, ka p� ng� hae. Ka pua ng� hua, ka k�kano ano

Ko t�tau r� i tenei w�

Tihei mauri ora

Tihei mauri ora

From a seed a sapling grew, that was sown from Rangi�tea

Through the roots flowed the waters of life, that came from PapatL�nuku

Through the sweet leaves, came the breath of life of Ranginui

It blossoms and is pollinated it fruits and seeds again, hence as today to continue the cycle

(Rangi�tea is the house of Io the Supreme Creator from where the kits of knowledge were given to T�ne the god of the forest. Ranginui is the Sky Parent

and PapatL�nuku is Mother Earth. This song is about the important role that people particularly young ones play in ensuring the survival of the culture.) Na

Hirini Melbourne.

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2 Interpretation 2.1 How to use this Plan

The draft Natural Resources Plan for the Wellington region - Te Tikanga Taiao o Te Upoko o Te Ika a Maui is a combined regional air, land, water and coastal plan.

Section 80 of the Resource Management Act (1991) requires regional councils to identify in the Plan the provisions that are the regional plan and those that are the regional coastal plan. Those provisions that require ministerial approval under section 28b of the Resource Management Act (1991) are identified by an icon .

2.1.1 Objectives The first part of this document contains the objectives of the Plan. They identify the resource management outcomes or goals for air, land, water and coastal resources in the Wellington region, to achieve the purpose of the Resource Management Act 1991. The outcomes will be achieved through the implementation of the policies, rules and other methods.

By reading the objectives you will gain an understanding of what will be addressed in this Natural Resources Plan and what the plan is seeking to accomplish.

While the objectives form a comprehensive suite of outcomes for the region, the individual provisions can conflict with one another. For this reason, no single objective should be read in isolation. Deciding whether an activity is appropriate requires an assessment to be made as to how it fits within the overall scheme of the plan and provides for the achievement of the environmental outcomes sought for the Wellington region.

2.1.2 Policies The how of the Plan is contained in the policies chapter, which covers the overarching regional or general policies and those specific to a particular resource: air, land, water and the coast or a whaitua. The policies implement the plan’s objectives, as required under section 67(1)(b) of the Resource Management Act 1991, and describe the actions to be undertaken to achieve the objectives.

The general policies are identified as Policy GP.Pn and relate to all resource areas. The specific policies which relate to air quality (Policy AQ.Pn), land, water and coast (Policy LW.Pn), and coastal management (Policy CM.Pn) must be read in conjunction with the general policies. The specific whaitua policies are in the whaitua chapters.

Some of the plan’s policies give direction on the management action for the resource value such as “protect and restore”, and the appropriateness of activities for that resource. Some of the policies guide decision-making on resource consent applications such as ‘maintain and restore…by...’ managing the effects. Policies can provide the rationale for the status which is given to

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activities in the rules. As with the objectives, the policies are intended to apply as a comprehensive suite, and must be read and considered together.

2.1.3 Rules and other methods The rules and other methods in the Plan implement the policies, as required under section 67(1)(c) of the Resource Management Act 1991.

The rules have the force and effect of regulations in statute, which means they are legally binding. They determine whether a person needs to apply for resource consent or whether the proposed activity can be undertaken without one (known as permitted activities). The rules may also make some activities prohibited, which means there can be no resource consent application for that activity. An activity needs to comply with all relevant rules in the Plan, unless the rule itself states otherwise.

Generally the plan does not repeat provisions from National Environmental Standards or Regulations – these must be read in conjunction with the plan provisions.

There is a strong relationship between the status an activity is given in a rule in a plan and the effects sought to be managed by the policies and the environmental outcomes sought to be achieved by the policies and objectives.

� Permitted activities do not require resource consent provided they comply with any performance standards or conditions specified for that activity. The performance standards have been designed to adequately manage the expected effects of an activity. Permitted activity rules are intended to enable good management practice.

� Controlled activities require resource consent so that specific assessment of identified matters can be undertaken, and resource consent conditions adequate to manage the effects of an activity can be proposed. An application for a controlled activity must be granted.

� Restricted discretionary and discretionary activities can be declined or granted (with or without conditions) depending on the effects of the activity.

� Non-complying activities are generally inappropriate, though there may be an exceptional case when a resource consent for a non-complying activity can be granted.

� Prohibited activities are not appropriate in any circumstance, and no resource consent application may be made for a prohibited activity.

The rules for specific resources or whaitua are identified by the same letters as the policies.

To make it easier to apply for resource consents and to reduce the number of separate resource consents required to undertake any particular activity, this Plan has, where practicable, adopted the concept of ‘rule bundling’. Rule

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bundling is used in this Plan to combine several permissions which may be required under section 9 and sections 13 to 15 of the Resource Management Act 1991 into one rule. One application for resource consent can therefore be made under the bundled rule. The Council will assess and determine the component activities separately, in accordance with the provisions of the Resource Management Act 1991 relevant to that activity, and any resource consents granted will specify the relevant provisions of the Resource Management Act 1991 under which the different resource consents have been issued. Resource consents for activities that would otherwise contravene sections 13 – 15 need to expressly allow the relevant activity by reference to the relevant provision.

Other methods are complementary to the rules and are the non-regulatory means of achieving the policies. The Plan will promote the methods to work along with the rules. They may be in the form of information and guidance, programmes for identification and investigation, or other programmes providing support to achieve the objectives of the plan.

The non-regulatory other methods are set out in a separate chapter of the Plan, and are also referenced throughout the relevant sections of the Plan.

2.1.4 Whaitua chapters The whaitua chapters provide the regulatory and non-regulatory provisions relating to the five whaitua catchments (which are shown in the Introduction). These chapters will continue to be developed over time and will contain provisions specific to each whaitua catchment that should be read in conjunction with the other policies.

2.1.5 Definitions, schedules and maps The definitions in this chapter, and the schedules and maps at the back, are where you will find more detailed information, references and links.

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2.2 Definitions Definitions have the same meaning in the singular and plural.

Defined words within the definitions have not been bolded, except where the word does not appear anywhere else in the plan other than here in the definitions.

Words that are also defined in the Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington Region 2013 have an asterisk * after the definition term.

Words defined in the Resource Management Act 1991 are not repeated.

Active beach An area from the crest of either the foredune or, top of a storm berm or, an erosion scarp or, from the toe of a cliff or, an artificial embankment or, a seawall/revetment, out to the limit of wave disturbance on the nearshore seabed that is subject to change on a daily, weekly, monthly and inter-annual basis as a result of coastal processes including erosion, accretion, sediment transport by wind, waves, fluvial and nearshore currents and encompassing the biodiversity that resides within that environment.

Active bed The bed of a permanently or intermittently flowing river or stream, that is subject to at least frequent flows and is predominately unvegetated and made up of silt, sand, gravel, boulders or similar material.

Agrichemical Any substance, whether inorganic or organic, human-made or naturally occurring, modified or in its original state, that is used to eradicate, modify or control flora and fauna. It excludes fertilisers, vertebrate pest control products, ethylene dibromide, hydrogen cyanide, phosphine, chloropicrin and oral nutrition compounds.

Allocation limit Has the same meaning as “limit”.

Animal effluent Dry or wet, liquid, solid or semi-solid, treated or untreated faeces and urine from animals other than humans, including associated process water, washdown water, contaminants and sludge.

Anti-fouling coating

A coating applied to submerged surfaces to prevent or reduce accumulation of biofouling. Common types of anti-fouling coating are described in Appendix 2 of the Anti-fouling and in-water cleaning guidelines for Australia and New Zealand (June 2013).

Aquatic ecosystem health

The degree to which an aquatic ecosystem is able to sustain its ecological structure, processes, functions, and resilience within its range of natural variability.

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Aquifer A geological formation through which water moves under natural conditions and is capable of yielding water at a sufficient rate to be a practical source of water.

Beach recontouring (Beds of rivers)

The movement of gravel on a river beach to remove obstructions to flow or to move material to protect an eroding bank edge and includes beach ripping to loosen the upper surface (armour) layer of the beach to encourage gravel movement.

Beach recontouring (Coastal marine area)

The redistribution (using hand and/or mechanical methods) of in-situ, natural beach sediments in order to reshape the beach profile for hazards management, beach or dune restoration and may involve the reshaping of an erosion scarp to reduce its gradient.

Biofouling Accumulation of aquatic organisms (micro-organisms, plants and materials) on surfaces and structures immersed in or exposed to the aquatic environment.

Biogas Means a gas produced during the breakdown of biological matter.

Biosolids Wastewater or wastewater sludges derived from a wastewater treatment plant that has been treated and/or stabilised to the extent that it is able to be safely and beneficially applied to land.

Bore A structure, well or hole in the ground less than one metre in diameter that has been constructed for the purpose of: (a) investigating or monitoring the conditions below the ground surface, or (b) abstracting liquid substances from the ground, or (c) discharging liquid substances into the ground.

Break-feeding The feeding of livestock on pasture or forage where feed allocation is controlled by the frequent movement of an electric fence. This method is typically used during winter.

Category 1 surface water body

Category 1 surface water body includes, and is limited to: (a) sites of with significant mana whenua value identified in Schedule C (mana whenua),

and (b) inanga spawning habitat identified in Schedule F1b (inanga spawning), and (c) habitats for indigenous birds in rivers identified in Schedule F2a (birds-rivers) (d) estuaries identified in Schedule F4 (coastal sites), and (e) significant wetlands that are:

(i) greater than 0.1 hectare in size, or (ii) within 50 metres of another significant wetlands, where the collective area

is greater than 0.1ha, or (iii) significant wetlands connected by surface water to another surface water

body, and (f) outstanding water bodies identified in Schedule A (outstanding water bodies), and (g) within 1000m upstream of a surface water community drinking water supply

abstraction site shown on Map 30. In relation to rules for livestock exclusion, WRC will work with landowners across the region to identify wetlands meeting this definition, within the timeframes stipulated in rules.

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Category 2 surface water body includes, and is limited to: (a) estuaries other than those identified in Schedule F4 (coastal sites), (b) natural wetlands that are:

(i) greater than 0.1 hectare in size, or (ii) within 50 metres of other natural wetlands, where the collective area is

greater than 0.1ha, or (c) connected by surface water to another surface water body, and within lowland areas

shown on Map 21, rivers that have an active bed width of 1 metre or wider, and (d) within hill country areas shown on Map 21, rivers that have an active bed width of 3

metres or wider, and (e) drains greater than 1m wide, and (f) water races, and (g) rivers and streams important to trout habitat identified in Schedule I (trout habitat),

and (h) natural lakes, but excludes any surface water body that meets the definition of Category 1 surface water body.


Any surface water body that does not meet the definition of Category 1 or 2 surface water body.

Category A groundwater

Groundwater directly connected to surface water at the locations generally shown in Figures 8.3, 8.5 and 8.8 in whaitua chapter 8; Figures 9.3 and 9.4 in whaitua Chapter 9; and Figure 11.1 in whaitua chapter 11. Taking water from category A groundwater is considered to be surface water allocation.

Category B groundwater

Groundwater not classified as either category A or category C groundwater. Category B groundwater is at the locations generally shown in Figures 8.2, 8.3, 8.5, 8.6, 8.7, 8.8 and 8.9 in whaitua chapter 8; Figures 9.3 and 9.4 in whaitua Chapter 9; and Figure 11.2 in whaitua chapter 11. Taking water from category B groundwater can include components of surface water allocation or groundwater allocation depending on the degree of connectivity to surface water as identified in Schedule Q (groundwater connectivity).

Category C Groundwater

Groundwater not directly connected to surface water at the locations generally shown in Figures 8.2, 8.3, 8.5, 8.6, 8.7, 8.8 and 8.9 in whaitua chapter 8; Figures 9.3 and 9.4 in whaitua Chapter 9; and Figure 11.2 in whaitua chapter 11. Taking water from category C groundwater is considered to be groundwater allocation.

Catchment based flood and erosion risk management activities

Structures built, controlled or maintained by a local authority and associated activities for the purpose of protecting the community from flood or erosion risk in accordance with a river management scheme or flood plain management plan.

Cleanfill material Material that when buried will have no adverse effect on people or the environment; includes virgin natural materials such as clay, soil and rock, and other inert materials such as concrete or brick that are free of: � combustible, putrescible, degradable or leachable components � hazardous substances � products or materials derived from hazardous waste treatment, hazardous waste

stabilisation or hazardous waste disposal practices � materials that may present a risk to human health � liquid waste.

Coastal hazards* Coastal processes that have the potential to adversely affect human life, property or infrastructure including erosion, sedimentation, storm surge, inundation, tsunami.

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Coastal restoration

A programme designed to return or restore a coastal environment into as natural state as possible, with the aim of allowing the coastal environment and/or active beach to function as a natural system, operating by natural coastal processes with minimal interference from human activities. Can involve all or some of the following activities; removal of exotic flora and fauna, removal of hard structures, rock, rubble or other introduced materials, beach renourishment (sand or gravel), dune or beach recontouring, re-introduction or enhancement of native plant species.

Common marine and coastal area

The Marine and coastal area other than (a) specified freehold land located in that area; and (b) any area that is owned by the Crown and has the status of any of the following kinds:

(i) a conservation area within the meaning of section 2(1) of the Conservation Act 1987:

(ii) a national park within the meaning of section 2 of the National Parks Act 1980:

(iii) a reserve within the meaning of section 2(1) of the Reserves Act 1977; and

(c) the bed of Te Whaanga Lagoon in the Chatham Islands

Commercial Port Area

The area shown on Map 37, Map 38 and Map 39 (unless otherwise specified).

Community drinking water supply

A drinking-water supply that is recorded in the drinking-water register maintained by the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Health (the Director-General) under section 69J of the Health Act 1956 that provides no fewer than 501 people with drinking water for not less than 60 days each calendar year.

Community drinking water supply protection area

The area surrounding a community drinking water supply as shown on Map 30 and Map 31a, b & c. The community drinking water supply abstraction points are also identified in Schedule M1 (surface water supplies) and Schedule M2 (groundwater supplies).

Compost Any combination of solid or semi-solid vegetable and animal waste that has fully decomposed and matured to a stabilised product. For the purposes of this plan, compost does not contain human sewage, dead animals or animal parts.

Composting toilet

A sanitation system (also known as waterless compost toilet systems) which combines human waste with sawdust, peat or other organic material to support aerobic processing in a controlled manner.

Core allocation The amount of water allocated from a river below the median river flow.

Crematoria Appliances and machinery and furnaces for effecting cremation (the reduction to ashes of dead bodies or dead animals by burning), and includes any building in which any such appliances, machinery, or furnaces are fixed.

Cultural impact assessment

A report prepared to consider and assess the potential impacts of an activity on the cultural values within an area. A cultural assessment may include, but is not limited to, M�ori history, Treaty claims and settlements, presence of significant sites, social effects and recommendations for avoiding, remedying and mitigating adverse effects.

Cultivation To till the soil for the preparation of growing crops, excluding: (a) direct drilling (b) no-till practices (c) harvesting (d) forestry

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Dewatering The abstraction of groundwater so as to lower the water table for the period of time required to enable maintenance, excavation, construction, or geotechnical work to proceed in the dewatered area, or to sustain a lower localised water table.

Directly connected groundwater

Has the same meaning as “groundwater directly connected to surface water”.

Disposal The abandonment of waste or other matter into the coastal marine area, including but not limited to: (a) dredge material, and (b) sewage sludge, and (c) fish processing waste from an onshore facility, and (d) ships and platforms or other man-made structures at sea, and (e) inert, inorganic geological material, and (f) organic materials of natural origins, and (g) bulky items consisting mainly of iron, steel and concrete.

Domestic fire Any indoor domestic fire fuelled by solid materials (coal, or wood), and includes open fires, coal burning heaters, woodburners, multifuel burners and wood/coal stoves.

Drain Any artificial watercourse, open or piped, that is designed and constructed for the purpose of land drainage of surface or subsurface water. Channels designed and constructed to convey water only during rainfall events and which do not convey or retain water at other times are excluded from this definition. Only for the purpose of Rule LW.R123 (drain clearance) a drain also includes a highly modified watercourse or river and is channelled to such an extent that it has the characteristics of a farm drainage canal.

Drainage system All components associated with a system to drain land of surface or subsurface water, including channels, pipes, pumps and their chambers, housings, electrics, controls and flap gates.

Earthworks The disturbance of a land surface from the time between which soil is first disturbed on a site until the time that the site is stabilised. Earthworks includes blading, contouring, ripping, moving, removing, placing or replacing soil or earth, by excavation, or by cutting or filling operations, or by root raking, and including the regarding and widening of roads and tracks. Earthworks does not include: (a) cultivation of the soil for the establishment of crops or pasture (b) the harvesting of crops (c) thrusting, boring, trenching or mole ploughing associated with cable or pipe laying (d) water table maintenance on roads and tracks.

Efficiency In relation to water use, efficiency means that for any given level of output inputs are minimised and includes both technical and allocative efficiency.

Ephemeral flow path

A river that: (a) does not have a defined bed, or (b) has a bed that is predominantly vegetated, and (c) only conveys water during heavy rainfall events, and (d) does not convey or retain water at other times.

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Erosion prone land

Land within Area A (Kapiti hill country) with a slope greater than 230, or within Area B (Western hill country) with a slope greater than 280, or within Area C (Eastern hill country) with a slope greater than 230 (see Map 33).

Existing resource consent

An existing resource consent is: (a) an existing resource consent which has been given effect to, or (b) an existing resource consent which has not been given effect to and has not lapsed,

or (c) an expired resource consent continuing to be exercised under s124 of the Resource

Management Act.

Equivalent flow The natural flow of a river listed in Table 8.1, Table 9.1 and Table 11.1 that occurs at any point downstream of the management point for the river at the same time as the specified minimum flow.

Farm refuse dump

A disposal site located on a property used to dispose of household and/or farm waste generated on that property.

Fertiliser A solid or fluid substance or biological compound, or mix of substances or biological compounds that is described as, or held out to be for, or suitable for, sustaining or increasing the growth, productivity, or quality of plants or, indirectly animals through the application to plants or soil of any of the following: (a) Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, magnesium, calcium, chlorine, or sodium

as major nutrients; (b) Manganese, iron, zinc, copper, boron, cobalt, molybdenum, iodine, or selenium as

minor nutrients; (c) Fertiliser additives to facilitate the uptake and use of nutrients; and Includes non-nutrient attributes of the materials used in fertiliser; but not compost or substances that are plant growth regulators that modify the physiological functions of plants.

Field capacity The moisture content of soil when the addition of further water would result in saturation and/or drainage of water from the soil.

Flushing flows* High river flows, usually associated with rainfall, which flush out the river system. These can be artificially induced as a mitigation measure in rivers where flows have been lowered by dams or large abstractions.

Frost prevention device

A burning device used for the purpose of preventing frost damage. The device has a centrally located fuel source and discharges contaminants into air via a chimney.

Functional need When an activity is dependent on having its location in the coastal marine area

Geotechnical investigation bore

Any bore constructed to provide information about soil, sediment or rock.

Good management practice

Practices, procedures or tools that are effective at achieving the desired performance while providing for desired environmental outcomes. Good management practice evolves through time and results in continuous improvement as new information, technology and awareness of particular issues are developed and disseminated. Good Management Practice guidelines can be found on the Wellington Regional Council’s website [enter link when we have it].

Greywater Untreated liquid wastewater from a domestic source, such as from household sinks, basins, baths, showers and similar appliances but does not include any toilet, faecal matter or urinal wastes.

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Groundwater allocation

The amount of water available for allocation expressed in cubic metres per year as a limit that applies to groundwater not directly connected to surface water.

Groundwater directly connected

Category A groundwater and the component of category B groundwater that is part of the surface water allocation amount.

Groundwater not directly connected

Category C groundwater and the component of category B groundwater that is not part of the surface water allocation amount.

Group drinking water supply

A registered drinking water supply that is recorded in the drinking water register maintained by the Ministry of Health (the Director-General) under section 69J of the Health Act 1956 that provides more than 25 people with drinking water for not less than 60 days each calendar year.

Gully A channel or small valley especially one cut by heavy rain.

HAIL Acronym for the Hazardous Activities and Industries List, as defined by the Ministry for the Environment, describing activities and industries that are considered likely to cause land contamination resulting from hazardous substance use, storage or disposal. See http://www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/managing-environmental-risks/contaminated-land/is-land-contaminated/hail.html

Hard engineering *

Engineering works that use structural materials such as concrete, steel, timber or rock armour to provide a hard, inflexible edge between the land-water interface along rivers, shorelines or lake edges. Typical structures include groynes, seawalls, revetments or bulkheads that are designed to prevent erosion of the land. Also referred to as ‘structural engineering’.

Hazardous air pollutant

Any substance known or suspected to cause a significant adverse effect on human health or to the environment due to it toxicity, persistence in the environment, tendency to bio-accumulate or any combination of these things. Hazardous air pollutants are identified in Schedule L2 (air pollutants).

Hazard management strategy

A coherent, integrated framework for the management of a hazard, normally developed by a local authority or appropriately qualified agency, and including some or all of the following elements; hazard and risk identification, impact assessment, potential mitigation works (costs/impacts/maintenance), assessment of environmental effects, assessment of alternate options, cost-benefit analysis, budget allocation; community engagement and implementation plan.

Hazardous waste Waste that contains: (a) a hazardous substance, or (b) an infectious substance, or material known or reasonably expected to contain

pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, rickettsia, parasites, fungi or recombinant micro-organisms (hybrid or mutant) that are known, or reasonably expected, to cause infectious disease in humans and animals that are exposed to them, or

(c) radioactive material that meets the definition in section 2 of the Radiation Protection Act 1965

Health needs of people

The amount and quality of water needed to adequately provide for people’s hygiene, sanitary and domestic requirements. It does not include: (a) water used outside, e.g. for irrigation, vehicle or house washing or hosing but not

including water consumed by animals, or (b) water used by industry as process water or cooling water.

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High hazard areas (also known as areas at high risk from natural hazards)

Are all areas in the coastal marine area and the beds of lakes and rivers and their margins.

High risk* Refers to events that are likely to cause moderate to high levels of damage to the subdivision or development, including the land on which it is situated. It applies to areas that face genuine likelihood of experiencing significant damage in a hazard event – such as fault rupture zones, beaches that experience cyclical or long-term erosion, failure prone hill slopes, or areas that are subject to repeated flooding.

Huanga The attributes of an entity or water body.

In-water cleaning The physical removal of biofouling and/or anti-fouling coating surface deposits from submerged surfaces. In-water refers to the parts of a vessel or movable structure that are either below the load line or normally submerged and/or are coated in anti-fouling coating.

Kaupapa The principles, values or philosophies of M�ori culture.

Ki uta ki tai From the mountains to the sea, inclusive of the whole catchment.

Lambton Harbour Development Area

The area shown on Map 37.

Large scale generator

Any boiler, furnace, engine or other device designed to burn for the primary purpose of energy production having a net heat or energy output of more than 40 kW, but excluding motor vehicles, trucks, boats and aircraft. This definition excludes domestic fires.

Limit As defined in the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2011.

Low energy receiving environments*

Aquatic environments with little flushing action from tides, river flows, or wave action. For example, protected harbours and bays.

Livestock Domestic animals, such as cattle or horses, raised for home use or for profit. For the purpose of this plan livestock does not include horses while they are being used for transportation, or bird species.

Livestock exclusion

The prevention of animals from accessing a specified area. Fencing is one method of achieving livestock exclusion and fencing can be either permanent or temporary as long as it prevents the animals from accessing the area.

Mahinga kai* The customary gathering of food and natural materials, the food and resources themselves and the places where those resources are gathered.

Mana Respect, dignity, influence and/or authority associated with the energies and presences of the natural world, as well as of people. It is an essence, presence or energy and is linked to mauri and so can be lost, diminished or restored, innate, developed or won.

Mana whenua M�ori with ancestral claims to a particular area of land and resources. Literally, translated as “authority over the land”. Whanau, hapu and Iwi are mana whenua of a particular rohe, while M�ori are tangata whenua of Aotearoa (New Zealand).

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Managed fill Fill material is predominantly cleanfill material, but may contain specified inert materials, such as concrete or brick and soils with concentrations of selected chemical contaminants that are greater than local background soil concentrations, but with specified maximum total concentrations.

Management unit

The water bodies (rivers, Lake Wairarapa or groundwater) that populate each row of Tables 8.3-8.8 in chapter 8 of the Plan; Tables 9.2-9.3 of chapter 9 of the plan; and Table 11.2 of chapter 11 of the Plan and include sub-catchment management units or river, lake and groundwater management units.

M�ori use The interaction of M�ori with fresh and coastal water for cultural purposes. This includes the cultural and spiritual relationships with water expressed through M�ori practices, recreation and the harvest of natural materials.

Marae Wh�nau, hap� and iwi communal meeting places where significant events are held and decisions made.

M�tauranga M�ori

Knowledge developed and/or adopted as part of the M�ori knowledge continuum.

Mauri* An energy or life force that mana whenua consider exists in all things in the natural world, including people. Mauri binds and animates all things in the physical world. Without mauri, mana cannot flow into a person or object.

Mean annual low flow (MALF)

The average of the lowest flows measured in each year of a full site record.

Mechanical land preparation

means root raking, discing, mounding and spot mounding, contour and downhill ripping, roller crushing and other cultivation of land and associated removal of vegetation. V-blading involving the disturbance of the subsoil is considered earthworks.

Median flow If the full flow record for a river is ranked from lowest to highest flows, the median flow is the middle of those ranked values. That is, the median is the flow rate that is exceeded 50% of the time.

Minimum flow Has the meaning contained in the definition of minimum flow or water level.

Minimum flow or water level

The flow or water level at which abstraction from a river or directly connected groundwater is restricted by Wellington Regional Council (or required to cease). The flow in a river or water level in a lake may naturally drop below the interim minimum flow or water level following the restriction/suspension of abstractions.

Minimum water level

Has the meaning contained in the definition of minimum flow or water level

Mobile sources A mobile source that discharges contaminants into air including, but not limited to, motor vehicles (cars), trucks, light utility vehicles, buses, aircraft, trains, vessels (boats), and lawn mowers, port authority straddle cranes, and forklifts.

Natural lake A lake which is formed by natural geomorphic processes, whether modified by human activity or not.

Natural processes

Dynamic natural, physical and ecological relationships and events, that are characteristically natural in their occurrence and effects, that act to shape the natural environment, its landforms and features - such as, beaches, dunes, wetlands, and rivers - and including processes of: wave formation, breaking and dissipation; swash run-up; nearshore currents; sediment transport, erosion and deposition, flooding, river meandering, aggradation, mass movement.

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Natural wetland Is a permanently or intermittently wet area, shallow water and land water margin that supports a natural ecosystem of plants and animals that are adapted to wet conditions, including in the beds of lakes and rivers, the coastal marine area (e.g. saltmarsh), and groundwater-fed wetlands (e.g. springs). Natural wetlands do not include: (a) damp gully heads, or paddocks subject to regular ponding, dominated by cultivated

pasture species (b) areas of wetland habitat in or around bodies of water specifically designed, installed

and maintained for any of the following purposes: (i) water storage ponds for

a) public water supply, or b) hydroelectric power generation, or c) firefighting or d) irrigation, or e) stock watering or

(ii) water treatment ponds for a) wastewater, or b) stormwater, or c) nutrient attenuation, or d) sediment control, or e) animal effluent, or

(iii) beautification, landscaping, amenity, or (iv) drainage.

See also significant wetland and outstanding wetland ‘Wetland’ has the same meaning as in the RMA

Navigation protection areas

Those navigation protection areas shown on Map 54.

Ng� Taonga Nui a Kiwa

Ka moe a Kiwa ki a Parawhenuamea r�ua ko Hinemoana. Ko ng� tamariki o �nei hononga ko ng� awa, roto, manga, repo, moana hoki. He taonga nui �tahi o �nei w�hi ki a ng�i t�ua te M�ori, ar� ko ng� w�hi rongonui, ko ng� w�hi whakaharahara ki ng� iwi o ng� whaitua nei. This whakapapa identifies the lineage from which all forms of water flow and emphasises their importance to M�ori. The values of Ng� Taonga Nui a Kiwa are based on the relationship between the taonga and tangata whenua, and are the huanga identified in Schedule B.

Non-point source discharges

Diffuse discharges of contaminants to air, water or land not attributable to a point discharge

Offal pit A hole excavated on a rural property for the sole purpose of disposing of offal from that property. An offal pit should not contain farm refuse dump contents.

Offset To provide measures that counterbalance the residual adverse effects of an action on the environment, where the residual adverse effects may be those caused by an activity itself, or those cumulative effects of activities within a catchment or airshed.

On-site domestic wastewater treatment and disposal systems

A treatment and disposal system which receives, treats, and applies wastewater to a land application system or a holding tank on the same property that produces the wastewater.

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Open fire An open fire is any fire where the combustion chamber is not totally enclosed within a domestic building. This includes combustion chambers that are partially closed (e.g., has a door) and those that have a limited control of the primary or secondary air supply. Some common examples of open fires are fireplaces including brick or masonry, visors, open hearths, and ‘Jetmaster’ fireplaces.

Operational requirement

When an activity needs to be carried out in a particular location or way in order to be able to function effectively and efficiently.

Outdoor burning The combustion of materials in the open air, including, but not limited to, burning in a simple drum or single combustion chamber or waste incineration device, or on open ground.

Outstanding wetland

A natural wetland identified as having multiple significant indigenous biodiversity values and identified in Schedule A3.

Partial restrictions

A reduction in the rate of water taken by a consent holder in accordance with conditions on the consent and in response to the onset of water stress (low flows or water levels). Partial restrictions occur prior to cease-take orders.

Petroleum substances

Liquid petroleum substances including diesel, used oil, new oil, and lubricating oils.

Pit latrine A disposal system of human waste in a hole dug in the ground, ranging from a simple slit trench to more elaborate systems with ventilation. Also called ‘long-drop’ or ‘privies’.

Plantation forestry

A forest (native or exotic) harvested for commercial purposes.

Point source discharge

The discharge of contaminants at a specific identifiable location (such as a factory or property) or fixed facility such as a pipe, ditch, or smokestack.

Polluted airshed An airshed that with more than 1.0 average exceedances of the ambient PM10 standard for the immediately prior 5-year period, calculated from meaningful data for up to 5-years of monitoring data.

Port noise control line

The line at or beyond which the rule controlling the emission of noise from port related activities applies and where the noise from port related activities is monitored.

Port related activities

Activities within the Commercial Port Area, the Lambton Harbour Development Area and on the adjacent land within the district including, but not limited to, the berthing, departure and movement of ships, storage and cargo handling, handling of goods and passengers, all activities associated with the movement, storage and handling of cargo and any activities (including construction, maintenance and repair) associated with buildings, machinery and equipment used in connection with the port or its administration. Activities not directly connected to the operation of the port such as office activities, retail activities, and other non-port uses within the Commercial Port Area and the Lambton Harbour Development Area are excluded

Property Any contiguous area of land held in one ownership.

Pumped drainage scheme

A scheme for the drainage of land by the pumped collection, transfer and point source discharge of water to a surface water body.

Pumping test A test made by pumping a well for a period of time and observing the change in water level or pressure in the aquifer. A pumping test may be used to determine the capacity of the well and the hydraulic characteristics of the aquifer.

Qualifying development

Has the meaning set out in section 14(1) of the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Act 2013.

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Reasonable mixing

Refer to zone of reasonable mixing.

Reclamation Reclamation in the coastal marine area means the creation of dry land and does not include coastal or river mouth protection structures such as seawalls or revetments, boat ramps, and any structure above water where that structure is supported by piles, or any infilling where the purpose of that infilling is to provide beach nourishment.

Regionally significant infrastructure*

Regionally significant infrastructure includes: � pipelines for the distribution or transmission of natural or manufactured gas or petroleum � strategic telecommunications facilities, as defined in section 5 of the Telecommunications

Act 2001 � strategic radio communication facilities, as defined in section 2(1) of the Radio

Communications Act 1989 � the national electricity grid, as defined by the Electricity Governance Rules 2003 � facilities for the generation and transmission of electricity where it is supplied to the

network, as defined by the Electricity Governance Rules 2003 � the local authority water supply network and water treatments plants � the local authority wastewater and stormwater networks, systems and wastewater

treatment plants � the Strategic Transport Network, as defined in the Regional Land Transport Plan 2015- � Wellington City bus terminal and Wellington Railway Station terminus � Wellington International Airport � Masterton Hood Aerodrome � Paraparaumu Airport � Commercial Port Area within Wellington harbour and adjacent land used in association with

the movement of cargo and passengers and including bulk fuel supply infrastructure, and storage tanks for bulk liquids, and associated wharflines

Renewable electricity generation activities

The construction, operation and maintenance of structures associated with renewable electricity generation, including small and community-scale distributed renewable generation activities.

Residual risk* The risk to a subdivision or development that remains after implementation of risk treatment or hazard mitigation works.

Restoration The enhancement or rehabilitation of natural environments to support indigenous flora and fauna, ecosystem functions and natural processes that would naturally live or occur in the area.

Restoration and Management Plan

A plan detailing the activities required for the management or restoration of a site or area. A restoration and management plan can be developed in partnership by Wellington Regional Council and relevant landowners and stakeholders; or by a suitably qualified consultant for a landowner. The restoration and management plan must be prepared in accordance with Schedule F3a (restoration plans) and approved by a General Manager of Wellington Regional Council.

Reticulated stormwater network

The network of devices designed to capture, detain, treat, transport and discharge stormwater, including but not limited to kerbs, intake structures, pipes, soak pits, sumps, swales and constructed ponds and wetlands, and that serves more than one property or a state highway.

Reverse sensitivity*

The vulnerability of an existing lawfully established activity to other activities in the vicinity which are sensitive to adverse environmental effects that may be generated by such existing activities, thereby creating the potential for the operation of such existing activity to be constrained.

Risk* A combination of the probability of a natural hazard and the consequences that would result from an event of a given magnitude. Commonly expressed by the formula: risk=hazard x vulnerability.

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Risk based approach (natural hazards)

A risk based approach takes account of the vulnerability and exposure of a development to hazards and is assessed on the basis of: (a) the scale, engineering design and intended use for the development, and (b) the frequency and magnitude of natural hazard events that may affect the site, and (c) the vulnerability and consequences to the development from natural hazard events.

River class Classification of the region’s rivers based size, nature of the catchment and substrate, described as: River class 1 Steep, hard sedimentary River class 2 Mid-gradient, coastal and hard sedimentary River class 3 Mid-gradient, soft sedimentary River class 4 Lowland, large, draining ranges River class 5 Lowland, large, draining plains and eastern Wairarapa River class 6 Lowland, small River classes are mapped in Maps 21-25.

Roading and tracking

Any earthworks associated with the formation of any new road or track, or the upgrade of any existing road or track.

Stabilised The processing of having made an area of disturbed soil resistant to erosion. This may be achieved by using indurated rock or through the application of base course, or grassing a surface that is not otherwise resistant to erosion. Where seeding or grassing is used on a surface that is not otherwise resistant to erosion, the surface is considered stabilised once 80% vegetative ground cover has been established over the entire area.

Sensitive activity*

Activities which suffer should they experience adverse effects typically associated with some lawful activities. For example, dust or noise from a quarry or port facility, noise in an entertainment precinct, smells from a sewage treatment facility. Activity considered sensitive includes, any residential activity, any early childhood education centre, and any hotel or other accommodation activity. It may also include hospitals and respite care facilities.

Sensitive area A sensitive area includes the following: � Dwelling house � Educational facilities � Amenity areas and public places � Drinking water supply protection area � Surface water bodies and associated riparian vegetation � Non-target plants, crops, which are sensitive to agrichemicals � Organically certified properties, e.g., Bio-Gro � Wetlands, indigenous biodiversity flora and fauna and habitats

Serious water shortage

A serious temporary shortage of water that may require a water shortage direction to be issued under section 329 of the Resource Management Act.

Significant wetlan

Documents

Draft Natural Resources Plan - GW · Schedule C4: Sites of significance to Taranaki Whnui ki te Upoko o te Ika a Maui 276 Schedule C5: Sites of significance to Ngti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa