The Canterbury Regional Policy Statement (PDF file, 3.56MB) provides an overview of the resource management issues in the Canterbury region, and the objectives, policies and methods to achieve integrated management of natural and physical resources. These methods include directions for provisions in district and regional plans.
Change 1 to Chapter 6 of the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement
The Minister for the Environment has approved Proposed Change 1 to Chapter 6 of the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement (CRPS) under the streamlined planning process. Change 1 was made operative on 28 July 2021.
Change 1 now forms part of the operative Canterbury Regional Policy Statement.
View the public notice (PDF file, 40.59KB).
To view a copy of the Minister’s decision, the amended provisions and all related documents, and for information on the streamlined planning process visit the Change 1 to Chapter 6 CRPS page.
Change 1 to Chapter 6 of the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement
This change to the CRPS was approved by the Minister for Environment on 28 May and became operative on 28 July 2021.
Operative Regional Policy Statement
The Regional Policy Statement (RPS) became operative on 15 January 2013. It was republished in October 2020 to incorporate changes made since 2013. You can view the Regional Policy Statement and associated documents below:
- Canterbury Regional Policy Statement - July 2021 (PDF File, 3.56MB)
- Map A, Chapter 6 – Revised July 2021 (PDF file, 109.62KB)
- Appendix 5 Maps – Revised February 2017 (PDF File, 20.95MB)
- Guidelines for the Application of Ecological Significance Criteria for Indigenous Vegetation and Habitats of Indigenous Fauna in Canterbury Region (PDF File, 10.81MB)
Please note: The Guidelines for the Application of Ecological Significance Criteria for Indigenous Vegetation and Habitats of Indigenous Fauna in Canterbury Region was prepared by Wildland Consultants under contract to Environment Canterbury and does not endorse this consultancy above any other for application of RPS criteria.
Environment Canterbury has amended the Operative Canterbury Regional Policy Statement (CRPS) to incorporate housing bottom lines in accordance with clause 3.6 of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020 (NPS-UD).
Specifically, Objective 6.2.1a in Chapter 6 of the CRPS has been amended.
The NPS-UD requires Tier 1 and 2 local authorities to set housing bottom lines for the short-medium term (next 10 years) and the long term (10 to 30 years) in their regional policy statements and district plans.
The housing bottom lines represent the amount of development capacity required to meet expected housing demand in the Greater Christchurch urban environment over the next 30 years plus an additional 15 to 20 per cent to allow a margin for competitive land markets. The housing bottom lines are based on information in the 2021 Greater Christchurch Housing Capacity Assessment.
Read the 2021 Housing Capacity Assessment report.
Clause 3.6(4) of the NPS-UD requires the housing bottom lines to be inserted into the CRPS without using a process in Schedule 1 of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). The amendment to the CRPS has been made under section 55(3) of the RMA.
The housing bottom lines replace the minimum targets previously set out in Objective 6.2.1a, which were inserted under the National Policy Statement on Urban Development Capacity 2016.
In addition to the insertion of the housing bottom lines, the Council has also amended Policy 6.3.12 to now refer to the housing bottom lines, rather than targets, pursuant to clause 20A of Schedule 1 to the RMA.
The amendments are effective from 16 September 2022.
Proposed Change 1 to Chapter 6 of the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement (CRPS) was approved by the Minister for the Environment under the streamlined planning process on 28 May 2021. The changes became operative on 28 July 2021.
Change 1 identified future urban housing development areas in Rolleston, Rangiora and Kaiapoi on Map A, and inserted associated policy provisions. This supports the actions of the Our Space 2018–48 Greater Christchurch Settlement Pattern Update.
To view a copy of the Minister’s decision, the amended provisions and all related documents, and for information on the streamlined planning process, visit the Change 1 to Chapter 6 CRPS page.
Following public notification of Proposed Change 1 to Chapter 6 of the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement in January 2021, the Council has now submitted its written recommendations report to the Minister for the Environment for consideration. The Minister can approve the Proposed Change, refer it back to Environment Canterbury for reconsideration (with or without recommended changes), or decline it.
The proposed change identifies future urban housing development areas in Rolleston, Rangiora and Kaiapoi and inserts associated policy provisions. This supports the actions of the Our Space 2018–48 Greater Christchurch Settlement Pattern Update.
The Minister for the Environment has approved the use of the streamlined planning process for this proposed change. The streamlined planning process is different from the standard Schedule 1 Resource Management Act (RMA) process. The full statutory requirements are set out in the Minister's Direction (PDF File, 148.32KB) dated 23 April 2020 and notice of amendment (PDF File, 32.08KB) dated 6 August 2020.
To view a copy of the recommendations report, the summary of submissions, and other related documents, and for information on the streamlined planning process being followed for this proposed change, visit the CRPS Change page.
In October 2020 the Regional Policy Statement was revised to incorporate the amendments described below.
Timing: Revised October 2020
Document: Canterbury Regional Policy Statement, October 2020 (PDF File, 3.93MB)
In September 2020 the Associate Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration approved a proposal to amend Chapter 6 of the Regional Policy Statement using section 71 of the Greater Christchurch Regeneration Act 2016, to provide for the development and operation of commercial film or video production facilities in Christchurch.
Timing: Came into effect on 13 October 2020
On 25 July 2019 a new Objective 6.2.1a was inserted into the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement in accordance with sections 55(2) and 55(2A) of the Resource Management Act 1991 and as required by the National Policy Statement on Urban Development Capacity 2016. Objective 6.2.1a sets out minimum housing targets for the Greater Christchurch area over the medium (next 10 years) and long term (10 to 30 years).
Timing: Came into effect on 25 July 2019
Document: Public Notice (PDF File, 124.29KB)
In December 2018 Hon Nanaia Mahuta, acting for the Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration approved a proposal to amend the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement using section 71 of the Greater Christchurch Regeneration Act 2016 to provide for a metropolitan recreation facility at 466-482 Yaldhurst Road, Christchurch.
Timing: Came into effect on 19 December 2018
Plan Development
Development materials for the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement have been archived. Please contact customer services if you wish to access any of this material.