Plan Change 8 (PC8) – Proposed changes to water management in Canterbury
Plan Change 8 (PC8) proposes changes to water management in Canterbury, including amendments to water consents, wetland construction rules and infrastructure activities that intercept groundwater.
Latest update: On 24 June 2026, Canterbury Regional Council decided to publicly notify the proposed plan changes through the Freshwater Planning Process. The proposed plan changes will be publicly notified on 4 July 2026, with submissions open from 4 July to 4 August 2026.
Key facts about Plan Change 8
- Water consents: Enables changes to how existing water consents are used (with conditions)
- Wetlands: Supports wetland construction for environmental and flood benefits
- Infrastructure: Removes barriers to infrastructure that intercepts groundwater
- Current plan stage: Public notification begins on 4 July 2026
About the proposed plan changes
Submissions will be open from 4 July to 4 August 2026 on three proposed plan changes to enable targeted changes in the use of water, and a reduction in regulatory barriers with respect to the construction, use, and maintenance of wetlands. These plan changes are:
- Proposed Plan Change 8 to the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan (PDF file, 593.29KB)
- Proposed Plan Change 2 to the Hurunui and Waiau Rivers Regional Plan (PDF file, 332.37KB)
- Proposed Plan Change 1 to the Waipara Catchment Environmental Flow and Water Allocation Plan (PDF file, 331.37KB)
Supporting information
- Section 32 Evaluation Report (PDF file, 4.1MB) Provides an overview of how the plan changes have been developed and assesses their costs, benefits and anticipated outcomes
Timeline
Development: Plan Change 8 has been developed
Exemption granted: 8 April 2026
Council approval: 24 June 2026 – Council approved Plan Change 8 for public notification through the Freshwater Planning Process
Public notification: 4 July 2026
Submissions: Open from 4 July to 4 August 2026
Hearings: Not started
Decision: Not started
Appeals: Not started
Plan operative: Not started
What happens after submissions close?
After submissions close, an independent Chief Freshwater Commissioner will convene a panel to hear submissions and make recommendations on the proposed plan changes.
The regional council will consider the panel's recommendations and make a decision to accept or reject them. It must provide further evaluation reports for any rejected recommendations.
Making a submission
Submissions open from 4 July to 4 August
To make a valid submission, please tell us:
- which provision you are submitting on
- what change you would like to see
- why you support that change
This information is required under the Resource Management Act 1991.
Submission documents
Before making a submission, review the proposed plan changes and supporting information below.
Proposed plan changes
The proposed plan change documents contain the specific provisions, rules and amendments that are open for submission.
- Proposed Plan Change 8 to the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan (PDF file, 593.29KB)
- Proposed Plan Change 2 to the Hurunui and Waiau Rivers Regional Plan (PDF file, 332.37KB)
- Proposed Plan Change 1 to the Waipara Catchment Environmental Flow and Water Allocation Plan (PDF file, 331.37KB)
Supporting information
- Section 32 Evaluation Report (PDF file, 4.1MB) plan changes have been developed and assesses their costs, benefits and anticipated outcomes
Background and development of PC8
Water-related changes to several regional plans are collectively known as PC8.
Papatipu Rūnanga provided input while PC8 was being scoped, and through two rounds of feedback. A shortlist of industry stakeholders, environmental agencies and some non-government organisations (NGOs) also had opportunities to provide feedback. The draft was further refined according to this collective input.
More on PC8, its development and rationale, can be found on pages 41-47 of the agenda for the December 10 Council meeting (PDF file, 1.67MB)