On this page: About the Waikato Regional Policy Statement, what area does the policy cover?, policy status , ordering the Waikato Regional Policy Statement, we welcome your feedback
The Waikato Regional Policy Statement (RPS) integrates the management of natural and physical resources across the Waikato region.
About the Waikato Regional Policy Statement
The Waikato Regional Policy Statement provides an overview of resource management issues in the Waikato region. It provides policies and a range of methods to achieve integrated management of natural and physical resources across resources, jurisdictional boundaries and agency functions, and guides the development of sub-ordinate plans (regional as well as district) and the consideration of resource consents.
This Regional Policy Statement provides a framework for resource use, which enables the regional community to achieve its social and economic aspirations within the capacity of the environment. Where resource quality is high, it is the intention of objectives and policies to retain high resource quality. Where resource quality has been degraded through inappropriate use, the quality of such resources is intended to be improved over time.
The Waikato Regional Policy Statement guides the development of the Waikato Regional Plan and Regional Coastal Plan.
Recognition of the vision and strategy for the Waikato River (Te Ture Whaima o Te Awa o Waikato)
On 25 November 2010, the Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Act 2010 came in to force in its entirety. From this date the vision and strategy is deemed to be part of the Operative Waikato Regional Policy Statement. You can download a copy of the Vision and Strategy here.
What area does the policy cover?
The Regional Policy Statement applies to all uses of natural resources across the entire Waikato region, from the top of mountain ridges to 12 nautical miles (approximately 20 kilometres) out to sea.
Policy status
The Regional Policy Statement is operative.
Change No. 1 Geothermal
Waikato Regional Council proposed Change No. 1 to the Geothermal Section of the Waikato Regional Policy Statement. The change became operative on 21 December 2007.
Change No. 2 Future Proof
Waikato Regional Council notified Change No.2 (Future Proof) to the Operative Waikato Regional Policy Statement on 9 November 2009.
The provisions proposed by Change No.2 (Future Proof) to the Operative Waikato Regional Policy Statement are now addressed in the proposed Waikato Regional Policy Statement 2010 as notified in November 2010. Accordingly, pursuant to clause 8D of the First Schedule of the Resource Management Act 1991, the Waikato Regional Council withdrew Change No.2 (Future Proof) to the Operative Waikato Regional Policy Statement on 9 April 2011.
Ordering the Waikato Regional Policy Statement
Each section of the Waikato Regional Policy Statement can be viewed on this website.
Printed copies of the Waikato Regional Policy Statement can also be purchased for $80 (NZ). An invoice will be mailed to you with the documents.
Please note: prices for the Waikato Regional Policy Statement may be subject to change.
We welcome your feedback
Help us improve our Regional Policy Statement. As a user of our policy and plans we welcome your feedback.