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All of our Resource Management Plans

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Nelson’s Resource Management Plans include the Regional Policy Statement (RPS), Resource Management Plan (NRMP) and Air Quality Plan (NAQP), the Resource Management Act sets out the requirements for these Plans.

Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA)

This is the main legislation that sets out how we should manage our environment. It's based on the idea of the sustainable management of our resources, and it encourages us (as communities and as individuals) to plan for the future of our environment.

More information on the RMA can be found in the Ministry for the Environment publication ‘Getting in on the Act’.

Resource Management Plans are a requirement under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA), the Quality Planning site provides detailed information regarding Planning under the RMA.

National Policy Statements (NPS)

These are developed by Central Government and Council resource management policy statements and plans are required to give effect to them. There are a range of National Policy Statements currently in place, the Ministry for the Environment website provides further detail on these.

National Environment Standards (NES)

These have the force of a regulation and apply irrespective of provisions contained in the Nelson Resource Management Plans (although in some cases rules in the NRMP may be more stringent). There are a variety of National Environmental Standards currently in place, the Ministry for the Environment website provides further detail on these.

Regional Policy Statement (RPS)

The Nelson Regional Policy Statement, approved in March 1997, has been prepared by the Nelson City Council as the Regional Policy Statement for the Nelson City Council jurisdictional area (Nelson City) in accordance with the Resource Management Act 1991. The RPS provides an overview of the resource management issues of the region and the objectives, polices and methods to achieve integrated management of the natural and physical resources in the region. The RPS also offers broad direction and a framework for the Resource Management Plans and they must give effect to the RPS and any National Policy Statements or National Planning Standards.

A regional policy statement is required to state:

  • Significant resource management issues for the region
  • Resource management issues of significance to iwi authorities
  • Objectives sought to be achieved
  • Policies in regard to significant issues and objectives
  • Methods (excluding rules) to be used to implement the policies
  • Principle reasons for adopting the objectives, policies and methods
  • Environmental results anticipated
  • Processes to deal with cross boundary issues
  • The local authority responsible for specifying objectives, policies and methods for land use control in respect of natural hazards, hazardous substances and indigenous biological diversity
  • Procedures for monitoring

Nelson Resource Management Plan (NRMP)

The Nelson Resource Management Plan is a combined District (land use) and Regional (coastal, land and freshwater) Plan and became Operative on 1 September 2004.

The NRMP sets out what people can do on their land and how it may be developed. It also guides how individuals, businesses and the wider community may use public resources such as fresh water and coastal space.

A list of Plan Changes and amendments to the NRMP can be viewed here.

Nelson Air Quality Plan (NAQP)

The Nelson Air Quality Plan was made operative on 3 November 2008. This plan was in response to the air quality issues in the Nelson Region, to provide an instrument to monitor and address these issues through the Resource Management Act 1991.

A list of Plan Changes and amendments to the NAQP can be viewed here.

Whakamahere Whakatū Nelson Plan

The operative Nelson Regional Policy Statement and Nelson Resource Management Plan were developed in the 1990s, and the Nelson Air Quality Plan became operative in 2008. While these plans have been subject to some changes, they have not undergone a full review. In 2013, the council resolved to embark on a full review to produce the Second Generation Plan the Whakamahere Whakatū Nelson Plan, an entirely new plan, with a new format, new zones, objectives, and policies, and many changes to the rules.

The Nelson Plan was drafted between 2013 and 2021 and was anticipated to be publicly notified for public submission in early 2022. Nelson City Council decided to pause of its work on the Plan primarily due to the risk that anticipated Resource Management reforms and new legislation at the time would require significant changes to resource management plans in local government.

An efficiency and effectiveness review was undertaken as part of the Whakamahere Whakatū Nelson Plan process. The efficiency and effectiveness review and Council reports are available to download:

Nelson/Tasman Land Development Manual (NTLDM) 2020

Nelson/Tasman Land Development Manual 2020 (NTLDM) is Nelson City Council’s Engineering Standards and forms the basis for design and construction of all Nelson City’s roads, drains, water supply and reserve areas. The inundation practice note is also referenced in the NTLDM which, among other things, provides guidance on floor levels for development in relation to inundation exposure.

Council has a role as Asset Manager and has the ability to determine the type and standard of assets that are allowed to connect to Council’s reticulated systems, or that will be taken over by Council, or works on NCC assets. Council can insist upon the new standards in the Land Development Manual being complied with.

References to the NTLDM standards are in the Zone chapters of the NRMP.

For more information on the Land Development Manual 2010, click here.

Iwi

Statutory Acknowledgements

The Treaty settlements include a Statutory Acknowledgment for each iwi, recognising the particular cultural, spiritual, historical and traditional association of an iwi with the identified site/area. This type of redress enhances the ability of the iwi to participate in specified RMA processes. Each Statutory Acknowledgment includes a Statement of Association which states the iwi’s particular cultural, spiritual, historical, and traditional association with identified areas.

Statutory Acknowledgments are to be read as attachments to RMA Plans. See more information on Statutory Acknowledgments.

A GIS map showing the Treaty settlement areas for each Iwi can be found on the page.

Iwi Management Plans

It is a requirement under the RMA that whenever a council prepares a policy statement or plan it must take into account any relevant planning document recognised by an iwi authority.

View the Iwi Management Plans.

Resource Consents

If you want to use land or carry out activities on land that would otherwise be restricted by the Resource Management Act a legal permit from Resource Consents is required. View the Resource Consents information pages.

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