On this page:
What’s a Regional Policy Statement?
A Regional Policy Statement (RPS) is a mandatory document that provides:
- an overview of the resource management issues of the region
- the ways in which integrated management of the region’s natural and physical resources will be achieved.
An RPS can have a considerable impact on resource management decision making within the region. It sets the direction for management of our region’s natural and physical resources over a ten year period – and decisions made on matters like infrastructure for many years beyond. By setting a framework promoting the sustainable management of our natural and physical resources, the RPS can help achieve community aspirations for our region.
Find out more about the existing Waikato Regional Policy Statement.
Review of the Regional Policy Statement
The Waikato region’s existing RPS, which became operative in 2000, is currently being reviewed. All regions must have an RPS, and are required to review it every 10 years.
Since the existing RPS came into effect in 2000, significant changes in the Waikato region and beyond have put pressure on our region’s natural and physical resources. These changes, which will be considered in the RPS review, include:
- decline in the quality and availability of natural resources
- effects of climate change
- increasing demands for energy nationally, which, as a major energy provider, creates demand for our resources used for energy needs
- increasing demand for development in coastal and rural areas
The legislative context has also changed, with amendments to the RMA in 2003, 2004 and 2005 imparting new functions on regional councils. Regional and district plans must now "give effect to" an RPS. This means that regional and district plans must contain policies and rules that implement the policy direction set by the RPS.
What’s happening now
March 2010
Seventy eight organisations and individuals provided feedback on the RPS Working Draft. Feedback closed on Sunday 28 February 2010. Feedback will inform the next series of joint iwi-councillor workshops that will guide the development of the proposed RPS. You can download the list in PDF format below.
List of feedback providers on the RPS Working Draft
(33 kb, 4 seconds to download, 56k modem)
For a copy of individual feedback, please contact rps@ew.govt.nz.
What’s happened to date
December 2009 - Call for feedback on RPS Working Draft
Environment Waikato called for feedback on the RPS Working Draft. Feedback closed on 28 February 2010.
Please note that the Working Draft is not council policy. It is for consultation only and has no weighting under the Resource Management Act 1991. It is a collation of current thinking, and contains gaps, duplications and inconsistencies. The policies and methods it contains are at different stages of development.
View the RPS Working Draft in pdf format below.
Regional Policy Statement Working Draft
(1009 kb, 144 seconds to download, 56k modem)
Maps: Coastal environment
You can download and view the maps as PDFs for the landward boundary of the coastal environment by clicking on the links below:
RPS coastal environment overview map
RPS coastal environment map 1
RPS coastal environment map 2
RPS coastal environment map 3
RPS coastal environment map 4
RPS coastal environment map 5
RPS coastal environment map 6
RPS coastal environment map 7
RPS coastal environment map 8
RPS coastal environment map 9 -this is still being developed and will be put up as soon as it can be made to reflect agreed criteria.
RPS coastal environment map 10 -this is still being developed and will be put up as soon as it can be made to reflect agreed criteria.
RPS coastal environment map 11
RPS coastal environment map 12
RPS coastal environment map 13
RPS coastal environment map 14
RPS coastal environment map 15
RPS coastal environment map 16
RPS coastal environment map 17
RPS coastal environment map 18
RPS coastal environment map 19
RPS coastal environment map 20 - this is still being developed and will be put up as soon as it can be made to reflect agreed criteria.
Maps: Outstanding natural features and landscapes (ONFL)
Overview map
(209 kb, 29 seconds to download, 56k modem)
ONFL 1_1 Tongariro National Park
(1670 kb, 238 seconds to download, 56k modem)
ONFL2_1 Kaimanawa Mountains
(1711 kb, 244 seconds to download, 56k modem)
ONFL3_1 Northern Herangi Range
(1621 kb, 231 seconds to download, 56k modem)
ONFL4_1 Mount Karioi
(1114 kb, 159 seconds to download, 56k modem)
ONFL5_1 Coromandel Range and Moehau Range
(1176 kb, 168 seconds to download, 56k modem)
ONFL6_1 Maungatautari
(1843 kb, 263 seconds to download, 56k modem)
ONFL7_1 Pirongia
(1878 kb, 268 seconds to download, 56k modem)
ONFL8_1 Kaimai Range
(1924 kb, 274 seconds to download, 56k modem)
ONFL9_1 Lake Taupo
(1573 kb, 224 seconds to download, 56k modem)
ONFL10_1 Cathedral Cove, Cook Bluff, Shakespeare Cliff and the coastline south of Hahei
(1179 kb, 168 seconds to download, 56k modem)
ONFL10_2 Northern tip of the Coromandel Peninsula and western slopes of Moehau Range down to the coast
(978 kb, 139 seconds to download, 56k modem)
ONFL10_3 Tuateawa
(1119 kb, 159 seconds to download, 56k modem)
September 2009 - Waikato Regional Energy Strategy adopted
The Waikato Regional Energy Strategy was adopted in September 2009. Some of the strategy's recommendations will inform the RPS review.
August 2009 - Summary of feedback on RPS review discussion document
A summary of the feedback received by Environment Waikato on the RPS review discussion document was released. You can download the summary of feedback in pdf format below:
Waikato Regional Policy Statement Review Discussion Document - Summary of feedback
(414 kb, 59 seconds to download, 56k modem)
March 2009 - Call for feedback on Waikato RPS review discussion document
Environment Waikato called for feedback on the Waikato RPS review discussion document. Feedback closed on 17 April 2009. View the RPS review discussion document.
October 2008 - Release of Draft Waikato Regional Energy Strategy
The Draft Waikato Regional Energy Strategy was released at an energy conference in Hamilton in October 2008. Its content will contribute to the next RPS.
This non-statutory, multi-stakeholder document was prepared by the Waikato Regional Energy Forum, which Environment Waikato was involved in facilitating.
September 2007 - Evaluation of Waikato RPS
The Evaluation of the Waikato RPS marked the first step in determining how and to what extent the new RPS might need to differ from the current RPS.
Environment Waikato is required under the RMA to monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of our RPS, and we commissioned an independent evaluation to find out if we were achieving the objectives set in the RPS.
The evaluation looks at each chapter of the RPS, assesses the progress made towards achievement of the objectives and makes recommendations on areas for improvement. This process ensures that the RPS remains relevant by taking account of changes in demands on our resources.
You can download the Evaluation of the Waikato Regional Policy Statement in PDF format below:
Evaluation of the Waikato Regional Policy Statement
(539 kb, 77 seconds to download, 56k modem)
Sign up for policy update by email
Keep up to date with developments on the RPS review by signing up to receive our policy update newsletter by email.
We welcome your input
Please contact us with any comments or questions you might have about the RPS review.
