A new law will have several implications for how we operate, and for the region’s communities, natural environment, resource users, consent holders.
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Setting the regulatory frameworks
Last updated: 17 November 2025
Reporting frequency: Quarterly
Core service: Environmental Regulation and Protection
Regional plans incorporate the aspirations of mana whenua and the communities of Waitaha Canterbury and reflect national direction, and set out requirements for resource users. They promote sustainable management of natural resources and contribute to the outcomes detailed in our Long-Term Plan. This service includes work to review resource consents.
Key plans are:
- Our integrated regulatory planning framework for Canterbury (in development) under the Resource Management Act 1991 and incorporating the Regional Policy Statement (RPS), Land and Water Regional Plan (LWRP), Regional Coastal Environment Plan (RCEP) and Canterbury Air Regional Plan (CARP).
- Canterbury Biodiversity Strategy, with a revised plan adopted in September 2025.
- Canterbury Regional Pest Management Plan, with a review to be initiated over the next year.
How are we tracking on our service measures?
Service measure 1: Notify Regional Policy Statement and targeted amendments to Land and Water Regional Plan
Notify and then make operative the Regional Policy Statement (RPS) and targeted amendments to Land and Water Regional Plan (LWRP), and undertake a review of the Regional Coastal Environment Plan (RCEP), as part of developing an integrated planning framework.
Target: Notify RPS and targeted amendments to the LWRP
How we are doing: Ability to achieve removed by legislation
Ability to achieve removed by legislation
More information
In August 2025, the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Act 2025 was enacted, bringing changes to pause councils’ work on review and change of their RMA plans until 31 December 2027. Given the legislative change, work has stopped on notifying the RPS and our ability to achieve this measure has been removed. Staff continue to explore options for progressing PC8 under the exemption pathway. To achieve service measure 1, both the RPS and PC8 have to be notified, therefore, service measure 1 will not be measured in 2025/26. Expenditure was also impacted, with spending coming in approximately $0.4 million below budget at the end of quarter one.
The planning team is now undertaking foundational work to prepare for the changes to planning signalled by central government as part of reforms to the Resource Management system. Work began in 2024 on a section 35 review of the efficiency and effectiveness our regional planning framework, which will also contribute to future planning work. A summary report was published in May 2025 and the full review is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
The Canterbury Biodiversity Strategy is part of the regulatory framework. It does not have a service measure. At the 19 November Council meeting, the Te Rautaki Rerenga Rauropi o Waitaha | Waitaha Canterbury Biodiversity Strategy 2025 was adopted, replacing the Canterbury Biodiversity Strategy 2008. It has been prepared by the regional council in partnership with mana whenua, local councils and in collaboration with stakeholders and will guide our work on indigenous biodiversity.
Find out more about developing an integrated regional planning framework, the Canterbury Biodiversity Strategy, and the Canterbury Regional Pest Management Plan.
Recent highlights and updates
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The development of the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement, our key planning document, is paused until January 2026.