REGIONAL COASTAL PLAN
CHANGE 1 & 2
January 2002
horizons.mw is the trading name of the Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council
Cover Photographs (top to bottom)
Cape Turnagain
Waitarere Beach
Kai Iwi River mouth
January 2002
Report No: 2001/EXT/466
ISBN No: 1-877277-32-0
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Head Office:
Depots:
Taumarunui
Palmerston North
Levin
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Phone 06 952 2800
Phone 06 367 8259
Wanganui
Freephone 0508 446 749
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help@horizons.govt.nz
Phone 06 388 0192
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MANAWATU-WANGANUI REGIONAL COUNCIL
REGIONAL COASTAL PLAN
(CHANGE 1 AND 2)
Change 1 and 2 to the Regional Coastal Plan were prepared by the Manawatu-
Wanganui Regional Council pursuant to Section 65 and the First Schedule of the
Resource Management Act 1991.
The Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council approved the Regional Coastal Plan
(Change 1 and 2) on the 18th day of December 2001.
Signed by the Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council by the affixing of its Common
Seal in the presence of
Peter Davies
Chris Lester
GENERAL MANAGER
CHAIRMAN
The Minister of Conservation approved the Regional Coastal Plan (Change 1 and 2),
in accordance with the First Schedule to the Resource Management Act 1991, on this
19th day of February 2002.
Sandra Lee
MINISTER OF CONSERVATION
The Regional Coastal Plan (Change 1 and 2) became operative on 9th March 2002.
Regional Coastal Plan
i
(Change 1 and 2)
ii
Regional Coastal Plan
(Change 1 and 2)
FOREWORD
New Zealanders often say they have a special affinity to the coast. No part of the
country is further than two and a half hours away from the coast. To many people the
coast has high recreational, cultural or spiritual values.
The Manawatu-Wanganui Region occupies 22,000 km2 in the lower North Island. It
has approximately 160 kilometres of coastline which is well known in the west but
relatively little known in the east. Most of the Regional community live within easy
driving distance of the coast.
In the Manawatu-Wanganui Region the coast does not face the development pressures
evident elsewhere in the country. This does not mean that it is any less important.
Many people in the Region value the coast for the wilderness experience or
recreational opportunities it can provide.
Along the coast, in particular the west coast, there are many communities, ranging in
size from small settlements such as Koitiata or Scotts Ferry, to large communities such
as Foxton Beach and Wanganui City. Coastal management needs to balance the social
and economic needs of these communities within the requirements of the Resource
Management Act to preserve the natural character of the coastal environment from
inappropriate subdivision, use and development. This Plan strikes this balance by
providing for the ongoing operation of the port at Wanganui, while protecting areas of
significant conservation value and providing for appropriate use and development of
the balance of the coastal marine area.
In conjunction with the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement, this Plan seeks to
provide a coastal management framework that will enable future generations to enjoy
the same opportunities that we do today on this Region's coast.
Plan Change No 1 was requested due to Wanganui District Council’s review of the
1992 Wanganui City Wastewater Scheme and its conclusion that a revised wastewater
scheme must be implemented in a manner which the community can sustain.
horizons.mw requested Plan Change No 2 to amend Schedule One to include
existing structures omitted at the time of notification of the Plan. The Change is an
essential a technical change to correct omissions.
C Lester
CHAIRMAN
Regional Coastal Plan
iii
(Change 1 and 2)
iv
Regional Coastal Plan
(Change 1 and 2)
CONTENTS
FOREWORD
i
PART ONE BACKGROUND
1
1.
Introduction and Reader's Guide
1
2.
The Coastal Marine Area
4
3.
Statutory Framework
4
3.1
Restrictions under the Act
4
3.2
Regional Council Coastal Management Functions Under
the Act
6
3.3
Coastal Permits
6
3.4
Present Regulatory Framework - The Transitional
Regional Coastal Plan
7
4.
Policy Framework
7
4.1
New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement
9
4.2
Regional Policy Statement
9
4.3
Other Regional Plans
9
4.4
District Plans
10
4.5
Iwi Management Plans
10
5.
Administrative Framework
10
5.1
Other Legislation
10
5.2
Coastal Functions of Other Authorities
11
5.2.1
Regional Council
11
5.2.2
Territorial Authorities
11
5.2.3
The Minister and Department of Conservation
11
5.2.4
The Maritime Safety Authority
12
5.2.5
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF)
12
5.2.6
The Historic Places Trust
12
PART TWO RESOURCE DESCRIPTION
13
6.
Description of the Region's Coastal Marine Area
13
6.1
West Coast (see Figure 3)
13
6.2
East Coast (see Figure 4)
16
7.
Land Tenure
18
8.
Existing Settlements and Developments in and adjacent to the
Coastal Marine Area
18
9.
Coastal Water Quality
19
PART THREE COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
21
10.
Introduction
21
11.
The Natural Character of the Coastal Environment
23
12.
Management Areas
25
12.1
Port Area
25
12.2
Protection Areas
27
12.2.1
Whanganui River Estuary (See Figure 6)
27
12.2.2
Whangaehu River Estuary (See Figure 7)
28
12.2.3
Turakina River Estuary (See Figure 8)
28
12.2.4
Rangitikei River Estuary (See Figure 9)
28
12.2.5
Manawatu River Estuary (See Figure 10)
28
12.2.6
Cape Turnagain Fur Seal Haulout Area
(See Figure 11)
29
12.3
General Coastal Area
36
Regional Coastal Plan
v
(Change 1 and 2)
Contents
SUMMARY OF RULES
37
13. He Ritenga I Nga Taonga Kei Te Akau Puta Atu Ki Waho Moana -
The Maori View of Coastal Resource Management
57
13.1
Te Ture - The Resource Management Act 1991
57
13.2
He taonga mai i tawhito rangi - An ancient relationship
57
13.3
Nga take e ngau ana i te waha o te ate - Matters of coastal
resource management significance to nga hapu and nga iwi
58
13.4
Treaty of Waitangi
58
13.4.1
Objective 1
58
13.4.2
Policies
59
13.4.3
Methods of Implementation
59
13.4.4
Explanation and Reasons for Adopting the
Objective, Policies and Methods of
Implementation
60
13.4.5
Alternatives
61
13.5
Characteristics of Special Significance to Nga Hapu
and Nga Iwi in the Coastal Marine Area
61
13.5.1
Objective 2
61
13.5.2
Policies
61
13.5.3
Methods of Implementation
62
13.5.4
Explanation and Reasons for Adopting the
Objective, Policies and Methods of
Implementation
63
13.5.5
Alternatives
64
13.6
Hapu and Iwi Kaitiakitanga of Significant Resources
in the Coastal Marine Area
64
13.6.1
Objective 3
64
13.6.2
Policies
64
13.6.3
Methods of Implementation
64
13.6.4
Explanation and Reasons for Adopting the
Objective, Policies and Methods of
Implementation
65
13.6.5
Alternatives
65
13.7
Nga Hapu and Nga Iwi Consultation
65
13.7.1
Objective 4
65
13.7.2
Policies
65
13.7.3
Methods of implementation
65
13.7.4
Explanation and Reasons for Adopting the
Objective, Policies and Methods of
Implementation
66
13.7.5
Alternatives
67
14.
Discharge of Contaminants to the Coastal Marine Area
69
14.1
Issues
69
14.2
Objective 5
73
14.3
Policies
73
14.4
Explanation and Reasons for Objective and Policies
74
14.5
Methods of Implementation
77
14.5.1
Rules
77
14.5.2
Other Methods of Implementation
85
14.6
Explanation and Reasons for Adopting the Methods of
Implementation
86
14.7
Alternatives
89
14.8
Environmental Results Anticipated
89
vi
Regional Coastal Plan
(Change 1 and 2)
Contents
15.
Taking, Use, Damming and Diversion of Coastal Water
91
15.1
Issues
91
15.2
Objective 6
92
15.3
Policies
92
15.4
Explanation and Reasons for Objective and Policies
93
15.5
Methods of Implementation
93
15.5.1
Rules
93
15.6
Explanation and Reasons for Adopting the Methods of
Implementation
95
15.7
Alternatives
95
15.8
Environmental Results Anticipated
96
16.
Activities in the Coastal Marine Area that Disturb the Foreshore
and Seabed, including deposition
97
16.1
Issues
97
16.2
Objective 7
99
16.3
Policies
99
16.4
Explanation and Reasons for Adopting the Objective
and Policies
99
16.5
Methods of Implementation
101
16.5.1
Rules
101
16.6
Explanation and Reasons for Adopting the Methods of
Implementation
106
16.7
Alternatives
107
16.8
Environmental Results Anticipated
107
17.
Activities in the Coastal Marine Area involving Structures
109
17.1
Issues
109
17.2
Objective 8
111
17.3
Policies
111
17.4
Reasons for Adopting the Objective and Policies
112
17.5
Methods of Implementation
113
17.5.1
Rules
113
17.6
Explanation and Reasons for Adopting the Methods of
Implementation
123
17.7
Alternatives
124
17.8
Environmental Results Anticipated
124
18.
Activities involving the Reclamation of the Foreshore or Seabed
125
18.1
Issues
125
18.2
Objective 9
126
18.3
Policies
126
18.4
Reasons for Adopting the Objective and Policies
127
18.5
Methods of Implementation
127
18.5.1
Rules
128
18.6
Explanations and Reasons for Adopting the Methods of
Implementation
128
18.7
Alternatives
129
18.8
Environmental Results Anticipated
129
19.
Activities on the Surface of the Water
131
19.1
Issues
131
19.2
Objective 10
132
19.3
Policies
132
19.4
Explanation and Reasons for Adopting the Objective
and Policies
132
19.5
Methods of Implementation
132
19.6
Explanation and Reasons for Adopting the Methods of
Implementation
133
Regional Coastal Plan
vii
(Change 1 and 2)
Contents
19.7
Alternatives
133
19.8
Environmental Results Anticipated
134
20.
Noise
135
20.1
Issues
135
20.2
Objective 11
136
20.3
Policies
136
20.4
Explanation and Reasons for Adopting Objective
and Policy
136
20.5
Methods of Implementation
137
20.5.1
Rules
137
20.5.2
Other Methods
137
20.6
Reasons for Adopting the Methods of Implementation
137
20.7
Alternatives
138
20.8
Environmental Results Anticipated
138
21.
Public Access
139
21.1
Issues
139
21.2
Objective 12
140
21.3
Policies
141
21.4
Explanation and Reasons for Adopting the Objective
and Policies
141
21.5
Methods of Implementation
142
21.5.1
Rules
142
21.5.2
Other Methods
146
21.6
Explanation and Reasons for Adopting the Methods of
Implementation
146
21.7
Alternatives
147
21.8
Environmental Results Anticipated
147
22.
Hazardous Substances
149
22.1
Issues
149
22.2
Objective 13
150
22.3
Policies
150
22.4
Explanation and Reasons for Adopting the Objective
and Policies
150
22.5
Methods of Implementation
150
22.5.1
Rules
151
22.5.2
Other Methods
152
22.6
Explanation and Reasons for Adopting the Methods of
Implementation
152
22.6.1
Alternatives
152
22.7
Environmental Results Anticipated
152
23.
Natural Hazards
153
23.1
Issues
153
23.2
Objective 14
154
23.3
Policies
155
23.4
Explanation and Reasons for Adopting the Objective
and Policies
155
23.5
Method of Implementation
155
23.6
Explanation and Reasons for Adopting the Method of
Implementation
155
23.7
Alternatives
155
23.8
Environmental Results Anticipated
156
24.
Protection of Heritage Sites
157
24.1
Issues
157
24.2
Objective 15
158
24.3
Policies
158
viii
Regional Coastal Plan
(Change 1 and 2)