Introduction

Preface

Under the Resource Management Act 1991, regional councils are required to have in place a regional policy statement for their regions.

This document - the Regional Policy Statement for Taranaki 2010 - is the second Regional Policy Statement to be prepared by the Taranaki Regional Council. It is an important document because it sets out the strategic direction that the Council and the wider community will take to achieve the purpose of the Act. The Regional Policy Statement provides an overview of the resource management issues of regional significance and the policies and methods that will be adopted to address those issues. The Regional Policy Statement also sets out the strategic directions for achieving integrated management in Taranaki - not just across land, water, air and the coast - but also between the Taranaki Regional Council and the three district councils.

Much of the information in this document draws on comprehensive state of the environment monitoring programmes put in place by the Taranaki Regional Council subsequent to the adoption of the first Regional Policy Statement in 1994. Generally, environmental quality is high and has been maintained or improved over the last decade. The previous Regional Policy Statement built a solid foundation for resource management in Taranaki. This review of the Regional Policy Statement shows that the Taranaki Regional Council, the region's three territorial authorities, industry, landowners, other organisations and the community at large have implemented or are implementing the Statement.

The challenge now is to build on the success of the past, continue with our successful policies and programmes and identify opportunities to further improve environmental standards and conditions.

With that in mind, I have great pleasure in presenting the Regional Policy Statement for Taranaki. The Taranaki Regional Council looks forward to working with you and to continuing our efforts towards a sustainable and prosperous Taranaki.

— David MacLeod, Chairman, Taranaki Regional Council

Back to index

Top

Part A — Introduction and background

1. Introduction

1.1       TITLE
This document is known as the Regional Policy Statement for Taranaki.

1.2       PURPOSE
The Regional Policy Statement for Taranaki ('the Regional Policy Statement' or 'Statement') is a statement of policy for the Taranaki region (as constituted under the Local Government (Taranaki Region) Reorganisation Order 1989). Its purpose is to promote the sustainable management of natural and physical resources in the Taranaki region by:

• providing an overview of the resource management issues of the Taranaki region
• identifying policies and methods to achieve integrated management of the natural and physical resources of the whole region.

1.3       OPERATIVE DATE AND REVIEW
This Regional Policy Statement is the second regional policy statement to be prepared by the Taranaki Regional Council and became operative on 1 January 2010. The Regional Policy Statement will be fully reviewed not later than 10 years from the date this Statement became operative. A five-year interim review will be undertaken of the results of monitoring the efficiency and effectiveness of the policies and methods in the Regional Policy Statement.

1.4       SCOPE AND EFFECT
The Taranaki Regional Council in accordance with section 62 of the Resource Management Act has prepared the Regional Policy Statement. As one of the requirements of the Act, the Regional Policy Statement provides an overview of the resource management issues of the region, and identifies policies and methods to achieve integrated management of the natural and physical resources of the whole region.

The Regional Policy Statement takes account of all those issues relating to resources such as land, water and air that are of importance to the region, and puts in place policies and methods to achieve integrated management of those resources. This integrated management recognises that decisions on any particular resource (e.g. land) may have effects on other resources (e.g. water) and coordinates the decisions of resource management agencies such as regional councils and local territorial authorities.

The Regional Policy Statement has an important role in setting the overall direction for the management of natural and physical resources and the environment of Taranaki.

Although the Regional Policy Statement does not contain rules to regulate activities, the Taranaki Regional Council and the territorial authorities of the region are required to give effect to the Regional Policy Statement when preparing or changing regional or district plans (which may contain such rules). In addition, the Taranaki Regional Council and territorial authorities are required to "...have regard to" relevant policies and objectives in the Regional Policy Statement when considering an application for a resource consent (section 104(1) of the Act).

1.5       STRUCTURE
The Regional Policy Statement for Taranaki is divided into four parts.

Part A contains an introduction and provides background information on the Regional Policy Statement.

Section 1 contains an introduction to the Regional Policy Statement, including its purpose, operative date, scope and structure.

Section 2 presents an overview of Taranaki's history, environment, people and economy. This provides an important context for understanding the issues and associated objectives, policies and methods contained in this document.

Section 3 presents an overview of the Resource Management Act, other relevant legislation, and the planning framework relevant to the implementation of objectives, policies and methods in the Regional Policy Statement.

Part B contains the significant resource management issues relating to the Taranaki region. In relation to each issue, objectives, policies, methods of implementation and environmental results anticipated are identified. To assist the reader in locating all relevant policies, related policies (e.g. where an activity has effects on other resources) identified in other sections of the Regional Policy Statement are cross-referenced.

Section 4 contains issues, objectives, policies and methods addressing the use and development of resources.

Section 5 contains issues, objectives, policies and methods addressing land and soil - these issues relate to soil erosion, soil health and the management of hazardous substances and contaminated sites.

Section 6 contains issues, objectives, policies and methods addressing fresh water - these issues relate to the sustainable allocation of surface water, surface water quality, groundwater quality and allocation, wetlands, drainage, the use of river and lake beds and public access to and along rivers and streams.

Section 7 contains issues, objectives, policies and methods addressing air - these issues relate to air quality and greenhouse gases.

Section 8 contains issues, objectives, policies and methods addressing the coast - these issues relate to coastal water quality, natural character and public access to and along the coast.

Section 9 contains issues, objectives, policies and methods addressing indigenous biodiversity - these address terrestrial, fresh water, and marine habitats.

Section 10 contains issues, objectives, policies and methods addressing natural features and landscapes, historic heritage and amenity values.

Section 11 contains issues, objectives, policies and methods addressing natural hazards management.

Section 12 contains issues, objectives, policies and methods addressing waste management.

Section 13 contains issues, objectives, policies and methods addressing minerals.

Section 14 contains issues, objectives, policies and methods addressing energy.

Section 15 contains issues, objectives, policies and methods addressing the built environment - these issues relate to sustainable urban development and providing for regionally significant infrastructure.

Part C sets out the resource management issues of significance to iwi authorities. Section 16.1 contains issues, objectives, policies and methods to take into account the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.

Section 16.2 contains issues, objectives, policies and methods to recognise kaitiakatanga. Section 16.3 contains issues, objectives, policies and methods recognising and providing for the relationship of Māori with ancestral lands, water, sites, wāhi tapu and other taonga. Section 16.4 contains issues, objectives, policies and methods to recognise cultural and spiritual values of tangata whenua in resource management processes.

Part D sets out administrative procedures relating to the implementation of the Regional Policy Statement. They include the processes that the Taranaki Regional Council will use to promote integrated management and deal with issues that cross local authority boundaries, and the procedures to monitor the effectiveness of the Regional Policy Statement and for reviewing the Regional Policy Statement.

To assist readers in using the Regional Policy Statement, a glossary has been prepared and is located at the back of this document. Additional information of relevance to the Regional Policy Statement is also contained in the Appendices.

Back to index

Top