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The Waikato Regional Coastal Plan (RCP) contains policy and methods to manage the allocation and use of coastal resources. The plan implements the Regional Policy Statement and the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement. This plan contains rules and actions that are implemented through our resource consent process and environmental education programmes.
What area does the RCP cover?
The plan applies across the Coastal Marine Area (CMA) of the Waikato region from the line of Mean High Water Spring (MHWS) out to 12 nautical miles (approximately 20 km). Where the line of MHWS crosses a river the landward boundary is determined by whichever is the lesser of one kilometre upstream from the mouth, or the point upstream calculated by multiplying the width of the river mouth by five. The CMA boundary has been fixed by agreement between the district council, Environment Waikato and the Minister of Conservation for some rivers – refer to Schedule 4.
Plan status
The Regional Coastal Plan was made operative on 27 October 2005 with the exception of the following variations:
The Marine Farming Variation was made operative in part on 26 January 2007 with the exception of those provisions that remain subject to appeal.
The affected provisions are listed below and shown in the plan in green text.
The Marinas Variation was made operative on 21 December 2007.
| 16.5.3 |
Rules 16.5.3 Current Marine Farm Structures |
| Appendix III |
Marine Farming Map 10
Schedule 5: Current Marine Farms in the Waikato Region |
Plan updates
Environment Waikato keeps a record of people holding an Operative Regional Coastal Plan and will provide these people with information of any updates to the plan.
Contact us, if you need to update any of the contact details which we hold for this purpose.
Contact us, if you would like to be notified by email of information about policy updates. Alternatively you should refer to this section of the website for any new notifications.
You can also find out about changes, variations and amendments affecting our other plans.
Variations and plan changes
The variation relating to marinas is now operative.
The Marine Farming Variation is operative in part with one matter remaining subject to appeal. The affected provisions are shown in green text in the plan.
Marine farming
The Marine Farming Variation was notified in October 1999, decisions were released in July 2000, and it became operative in part in January 2007. There is one outstanding appeal relating to marine farm MFP364.
The variation inserted an entirely new chapter 6 into the proposed RCP as well as provisions in chapters 16 and 17, and appendices 1, 2, 3 and 6.
Marinas
The Marinas Variation was notified in March 2003 and decisions were released in March 2004. The Marinas Variation became operative on 21 December 2007.
The variation affects provisions in chapters 3, 16 and 17, and appendices 1, 2 and 6.
Regional Coastal Plan (RCP) – Proposed Change No. 1 – minor changes
Proposed Change No. 1 was notified in June 2007. The purpose of the proposed plan change is to make minor changes to the Waikato Regional Coastal Plan to improve the workability of the plan, to provide for the installation of temporary structures for monitoring and research as a permitted activity subject to conditions, and to provide for associated vehicle use in relation to relevant existing permitted and controlled activities.
Submissions closed on Friday, 27 July 2007. A summary of submissions and a call for further submissions is likely to be advertised in early 2008. Check back here for details.
Download the plan change below.
Regional Coastal Plan: Proposed Change No. 1
(176 kb, 25 seconds to download, 56k modem)
Contact us for further information.
Coastal occupation charges
Environment Waikato is required by law to address the issue of coastal occupation charges by 1 July 2007, or in the first plan change after that date. As a result we are preparing a plan change to state that we will not be levying coastal occupation charges at this time.
See Charging for occupation of public space in the Coastal Marine Area
Aquaculture plan change for new species
The Waikato is one of the main regions for marine farming in New Zealand with 1500 hectares of water space allocated to aquaculture. Under the current provisions of the Regional Coastal Plan this space can only be used for shellfish farming. Environment Waikato is considering a plan change to allow other types of aquaculture, including fish farming, in the existing marine farms.
Read more about the aquaculture plan change for new species.
Policy and plan feedback forms
Help us improve our Regional Coastal Plan. As a user of our Policy and Plans we welcome your feedback.
Ordering the Regional Coastal Plan
The Regional Coastal Plan is available online. You can also download the document in PDF format below, or order a printed copy for $120.00 (order here or phone 0800 800 401). An invoice will be mailed to you along with any ordered material.
Note: Please see the note on plan updates above.
Download in PDF format
Regional Coastal Plan
(1399 kb, 199 seconds to download, 56k modem)
The remainder of the Appendix III maps are available as jpeg images through the index of the Regional Coastal Plan and as pdfs below.
Appendix III maps
Map Overview
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Map 1
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Map 2
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Map 3
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Map 4
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Map 5
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Map 6
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Map 7
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Map 8
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Map 9
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Map 10
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Map 11
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Map 12
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Map 13
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Map 14
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Map 15
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Map 16
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Map 17
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Map 18
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Map 19
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Map 20
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Map 21
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Map 22
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Map 23
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Map 24
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Map 25
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Map key
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