Feedback on fresh and coastal waters wanted

Measures to maintain and enhance Wellington’s waterbodies are among proposed changes to Greater Wellington’s Natural Resources Plan (NRP) which we have unanimously voted in support of around the GWRC council table.

Consultation on Change 1 to the National Resources Plan is now open until December 15.

From the outset council has been seeking to introduce a plan where the proposed changes would strengthen the role of council and mana whenua as kaitiaki, ensuring water and land use is managed sustainably.

Why wouldn’t we all want to swim in our rivers, and for our children to collect kai in their local awa and moana, just like their grandparents’ generation did.

At the core of council’s function, as per the legislation, we are an environmental protection agency for our community. And we all want healthy water, thriving ecosystems and a regional council committed to protecting the environment.

Following years of in-depth discussion with mana whenua and our communities, we’ve reached a key milestone, in proposing significant changes that will safeguard our fresh and coastal waters by managing land-based activities that affect them.

Development of Change 1 has been driven by the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM) and mana whenua and community direction for improved water quality through council’s Whaitua programmes.

Under the NPS-FM, regional councils must introduce regulations that extend protection of freshwater, and non-regulatory measures like action plans to achieve water quality targets.

The NRP Change 1 aims to reduce the amount of contaminants being discharged to water bodies from activities like earthworks and urban development.

It also recommends amendments to regional biodiversity schedules, to protect more of our precious native plants, animals and ecosystems, like the black coral colony recently identified on the Kā piti Coast.

Find out more about NRP Change 1 and the proposed changes to the NRP at Greater Wellington — Natural Resources Plan — 2023 changes (gw.govt.nz).