What is the Council doing to plan for aquaculture?
Plan Change 4
Plan Change 4 to the Regional Coastal Plan for Northland sets out the new way aquaculture will be managed in Northland.
It includes policies and rules for:
- managing existing aquaculture,
- directing how and where new aquaculture is located.
Where is the aquaculture planning process at now?
Twelve appeals were made to the Environment Court on the Council decisions on Plan Change 4. None of the appeals have been resolved to date.
A decision was made in early 2010 to postpone negotiations of the appeals until after the new aquaculture law comes into force (anticipated to be early 2011). For more information about changes to the aquaculture law, go to the Government’s aquaculture website www.aquaculture.govt.nz
Council decisions
At its meeting on 16 April 2008, Council adopted as its decisions, all the recommendations of the Aquaculture Planning Hearing Committee on the Aquaculture Planning documents:
Summary of Council Decisions on the Aquaculture Planning Documents (810KB)
Plan Change 4:
Council Decision – Committee Recommendation report on Plan Change 4 (2MB)
Council Decisions on Plan Change 4 - Clear Copy (454KB)
Council Decisions on Plan Change 4 – Tracked Changes (425KB)
AMA Restriction Map – All of Northland (2MB)
There are also ‘zoomed in’ maps - please contact us if you’d like a map of a particular location.
Local Government Act 2002 documents:
These documents will be used as one tool in the evaluation of plan changes. They are ‘living documents’ and will be reviewed and updated to reflect new information.
These documents are being developed under the Local Government Act.
Council Decision – Committee Recommendation Report on Threshold Test and Maps (379KB)
Threshold Test for Invited Private Plan Changes Requests (196KB)
View the proposed Use and Value Maps
History
We started work on the aquaculture planning documents in 2002.
Read the overview of work to date
Find out more about aquaculture management work to date
If you would like to receive more information as it becomes available:
- email us with your details or
- phone us on freephone 0800 002 004
- check this website regularly for the latest information
Please tell us if you’d like to be emailed with the information, or have it posted to you.
How to contact the Northland Regional Council
Freephone: 0800 002 004 during business hours.
Email: mailroom@nrc.govt.nz
Postal address:
Planning and Policy
Northland Regional Council
Private Bag 9021
Whāngārei Mail Centre
WHĀNGĀREI 0148
Further information
Community Perspectives on Aquaculture Planning
In 2007 a group of tertiary students from the Australian and New Zealand School of Government carried out a research project on aquaculture planning.
The overall aim of the project was to assess the government process for development of Aquaculture Management Areas (AMAs), including engagement with the community. The research has a focus on a case study area - Northland, NZ.
At the time of this research study, the Northland Regional Council (NRC) was undertaking a community consultation process to develop Aquaculture Management Areas.
Read the Community Perspectives on Aquaculture Planning report
New Zealand government
The New Zealand government has developed a website that explains their position on aquaculture and keeps people up to date on initiatives.
www.aquaculture.govt.nz
New Zealand aquaculture industry
The New Zealand aquaculture industry has formed an organisation called Aquaculture New Zealand Ltd. Their website has links to the industry strategy and other organisation's websites.
http://www.aquaculture.org.nz/