Regional Coastal Plan

This plan covers the region's "coastal marine area", which is the area from mean high water springs to the 12 nautical mile (22.2 km) limit of New Zealand's territorial sea. The purpose of the Regional Coastal Plan is to assist the Northland Regional Council, in conjunction with the Minister of Conservation, to promote the sustainable management of resources in the coastal marine area.

What activities does the plan cover?

The Regional Coastal Plan for Northland manages the following activities:

• Structures (e.g. wharves and boat ramps)
• Reclamation and impoundment
• Discharges to water
• Dredging
• Moorings and Marinas
• Aquaculture
• Port operation and development
• Sand, shingle and mineral extraction
• Network utilities and services
  

It does not cover fisheries management. This is dealt with separately by the Ministry of Fisheries.

Status of the plan

The Regional Coastal Plan for Northland was publicly notified in December 1994. Hearings commenced in November 1995, with decisions on submissions released in September 1998.

A number of appeals were made to the Environment Court . All appeals were resolved, and the plan was made operative on 1 July 2004. This means that all provisions have been through the submissions, hearing and appeals processes.

Changes to the plan

The Northland Regional Council may, from time to time, prepare plan changes to the Regional Coastal Plan.

Currently four Plan Changes to the Regional Coastal Plan are being processed.

The plan is a dynamic document and has to evolve with central government legislation and resource management innovations to remain relevant.

These Plan Change documents have legal status and must be taken into account when viewing the relevant sections of the plan.

The four main Plan Changes are:

Plan Change 1 (Moorings and Marinas Review)
Plan Change 2 (Marine 1 Review – Whangarei Harbour)
Plan Change 3 (Mangroves Management)
Plan Change 4 (Policy and Regulatory Regime for Aquaculture Management Areas)

Find out more about these plan changes

For further information on these plan changes contact the Coastal Planning Team on Tel: 0800 002 004.

Why would you use the plan?

The rules in the plan apply different levels of regulation to all activities relating to Northland's coastal marine area. Many activities with minor effects are permitted. However, others require a resource consent or are prohibited. If you are involved in any use or development in the coastal marine area or have concerns about this type of activity, you need to know what the rules are.

Get your copy

Contact any Regional Council office to order a CD copy ($20.00 including GST) of the Regional Coastal Plan for Northland.

You can view and download a copy of the Regional Coastal Plan from this website by clicking on the pdf files below.