Environmental Policy Newsletter – April 2026

Plan Stop lifted for Tasman’s Plan Change 81

Tasman District Council welcomes the Minister for RMA Reform’s decision to direct Plan Change 81 to the Tasman Resource Management Act and Change 1 to the Tasman Regional Policy Statement (TRPS) into the Streamlined Planning Process.

The decision recognises the importance of Tasman’s future growth and the district’s contribution to New Zealand’s housing supply, business land needs, and broader economic wellbeing. It also acknowledges the urgency of providing more developable land to support a growing community.

The proposal has the potential to enable around 4,560 new homes and eighty additional hectares of business land.

“This plan change is about creating an enabling environment. So rather than having too many prescriptive rules, the focus of this plan change is meeting the needs of the community and market,” — Barry Johnson, Environmental Policy Manager

“The Minister’s direction also requires strong consideration of natural hazard risk, climate change, highly productive land, and the economic effects of the proposed urban design provisions.

“The Minister also highlighted the importance of the Government’s Going for Housing Growth programme, which aims to increase the supply of developable land, improve housing affordability, and support communities and councils to accommodate growth. That broader context reflects the importance of Tasman’s growth to New Zealand’s wider housing and economic needs.”

Progressing Plan Change 81

The Streamlined Planning Process provides a structured pathway for progressing the plan change in a time-bound way. The process begins with consultation with the community, iwi authorities and affected parties, followed by updates to the planning documents and technical reports before public notification.

Once notified, the proposal will move through submissions, further submissions, possible conferencing, a public hearing, and consideration by an independent panel before Council makes its decisions.

The process must be completed within 240 working days of the direction taking effect, unless amended or extended by the Minister.

The notification, community engagement and online webinar dates will be announced shortly.

Tasman responds to government proposals and bills

We make submissions on national policy statements, national environmental standards and regulations that influence the Tasman Regional Policy Statement and Tasman Resource Management Plan.

Plan Change 84 – Freshwater Protections

Tasman District Council is asking the Minister for the Environment to grant an exemption that would allow notification of a time sensitive plan change required to support the Water Conservation Order (WCO) for Te Waikoropupū Springs.

In early September, Tasman District Council wrote to the Minister for the Environment requesting an exemption that would allow notification of this plan change.

The Minister requested further information about the plan change in early November. That information was supplied on 14 November, and we are currently waiting to hear whether the Minister will allow the plan change to be notified.

Plan Change 85 – Natural Hazards

Council has resolved to cease progressing Plan Change 85 (Natural Hazards) as a standalone change to the Tasman Resource Management Plan. Instead, the natural hazards work programme will be integrated into future plan-making under the forthcoming resource management system. Given PC85 was at an early stage with completion of ‘Issues and Options,’ this approach retains the work and feedback completed and carries it forward into the new planning framework.

Our focus will now be on ensuring natural hazards policy is developed and delivered through the next generation of statutory plans rather than through a TRMP plan change process. Natural hazards planning and science staff have been supporting development of PC81 to ensure that the plan change gives effect to the National Policy Statement for Natural Hazards and enables new development that is natural hazards and climate resilient.

Plan Change 79 – Deferred Zoning

Tasman District Council is progressing Plan Change 79 – Deferred Zoning – a proposed change to the Tasman Resource Management Plan that introduces a new deferred zoning framework to replace the existing method. The plan change is designed to provide clearer, more consistent rules so that deferred zoned land is released for development once infrastructure requirements are in place. A hearing on Plan Change 79 was held in 2025 and included expert conferencing between some of the key parties.

The Hearing Panel’s decision was notified on 13 March, starting a six-week appeal period. The period runs to 30 April 2026. No appeals have been received so far.

Council Consultation with Government

To read our most recent submissions to the proposals for Simplifying Local Government, Rates Capping and the Planning and Natural Environment Bill go to the Legislation – Council Submissions page.

The Tasman Report podcast episode 05 features Mayor Tim King in front of the Environment Select Committee with Barry Johnson, Environmental Policy Manager, speaking to the Tasman submission on the Natural Environment and Planning Bills.

Council’s draft Annual Plan now out for feedback

The Annual Plan 2026/2027 focuses on finding the right balance – continuing progress towards our long-term vision for future generations, while keeping rates fair and as affordable as possible.

We want to hear your view on the Draft Annual Plan 2026/2027, with feedback now open on Shape Tasman till Sunday 3 May 2026.

Tasman Inundation Practice Note 2026

Tasman District Council has adopted a Tasman‑specific update of the Inundation Practice note (IPN) to incorporate national guidance and updated local datasets.

The IPN was first adopted jointly by Tasman District and Nelson City Councils in 2019 to provide a consistent methodology for determining minimum ground and/or building platform levels for subdivision, new buildings, and major alterations in areas at risk of inundation from seawater (coastal) and freshwater flooding.

The aim of the IPN is to support robust, future-focused resource and building consent processes, ensuring safe and resilient development across our region for the next 50–100 years. This document provides guidance to support the implementation of the Building Act 2004, the New Zealand Building Code, and the Tasman Resource Management Plan.

National guidance, updated values and improved readability

The Tasman IPN incorporates recent national guidance, including the Ministry for the Environment’s updated Coastal Hazards and Climate Change Guidance (2022, 2024) and Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment’s 2023 Natural Hazards Provisions Guidance on complying with the Building Act. The latest climate change projections have also been incorporated—including updated sea-level rise values as well as the effects of vertical land movement.

It also features the newest NIWA coastal calculator data, revised mean sea-level and high tide assessments, updated extreme sea level values for Waimea and Moutere Inlets, and refreshed flood modelling for local rivers and catchments. Other changes include refined technical definitions and minor amendments to improve accuracy and readability.

Consultation

We invited stakeholders, practitioners, and the wider community to provide feedback to help ensure the Inundation Practice Note meets local needs and reflects best practice. This feedback closed on 17 December 2025, with the Tasman IPN being adopted in March 2026.

• Tasman Inundation Practice Note 2026
• Inundation Practice Note – Nelson City Council

Environmental Policy media links

• Tasman Report is a podcast about the work of your council. Each episode draws on business from council committees and community boards, plus stories from staff working across parks and reserves, planning, infrastructure, biosecurity, ports and marine, planning, and emergency management, online here at Fresh FM and on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and iHeart Radio.
• Tasman Resource Management Plan online here.
• Natural Hazards map viewer. Access a YouTube how-to video.
• Tasman Rural Hub is the place for everything rural. Check it out here.
• Te Waikoropupū Springs WCO information and data.
• Te Waikoropupū Springs Monitoring Review presentation by Murray Close in Tākaka Tuesday, 15 April 2025. View here.
• Avian Bird Flu threat updates read here.

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