Plan Change 8 (PC8)
Plan Change 8 (PC8) proposes changes to how water can be used and managed in Canterbury. This includes enabling changes to some existing water consents, supporting wetland construction, and removing barriers to infrastructure works that intercept groundwater.
Latest update: On 8 April 2026, the Minister for RMA Reform granted an exemption for PC8. This means it can now be considered by the Regional Council and progressed to public notification, or not, as they direct.
Plan Change 8 – key facts
- 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: Early stage (not yet publicly notified)
Proposed changes under Plan Change 8
Plan Change 8 has two main parts:
Part A – Take and use of water
This would potentially enable people or organisations with an existing consent to take water to apply to use it for a different purpose (notably, this does not permit a change to water bottling), subject to strict conditions.
In the past, the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan had delayed some important infrastructure works because they involve intercepting groundwater. PC8 would seek to remove this unintended barrier to development.
Part B – Wetland construction
This is subject to strict criteria, but would remove some of the barriers to constructing wetlands. Wetlands can have multiple benefits for landowners, resource users and the environment, including:
- flood management
- enhanced groundwater recharge
- providing habitat for indigenous flora and fauna
- reducing nutrient loss to groundwater.
Timeline
Development: Plan Change 8 has been developed
Exemption granted: 8 April 2026
Public notification: A decision on whether to publicly notify all, part, or none of the proposed plan changes has not yet been made.
Submissions: Not started
Hearings: Not started
Decision: Not started
Appeals: Not started
Plan operative: Not started
Changes to other plans
PC8 would require consequential changes to two other plans, the Waipara Catchment Plan and the Hurunui Waiau River Regional Plan, both of which would form part of the request for an exemption.
Waipara Catchment Plan
Plan Change 1 to the plan proposes adding policies to the Waipara Catchment Environmental Flow and Water Allocation Regional Plan (WCE plan):
- guiding the consent process on the interception of groundwater (including hydraulically connected groundwater) for the operation of infrastructure critical to the community
- clarify the relationship between the Land and Water Regional Plan and the WCP in relation to constructed wetlands.
Hurunui Waiau River Regional Plan
Plan Change 2 to the Hurunui Waiau River Regional Plan (HWRRP) proposes to:
- add provisions to the HWRRP enabling the change of use of water
- clarify the relationship between the LWRP and the HWRRP in relation to constructed wetlands.
Technical reports and supporting documents
A Section 32 (s32) report is an evaluation of how the objectives, policies and methods of Plan Change 8 achieve the purpose of the RMA, and that the anticipated benefits of introducing new regulation outweigh the anticipated costs and risks. It explains what is proposed and the reasoning behind it.
The RMA requires us to consult with specified parties (Clause 3 consultation) as part of the development of any plan change. At the direction of Council, we consulted more widely, in order to gather a wide range of perspectives on the proposed provisions. After that initial consultation, the provisions were redrafted.
Next, the RMA requires us to give iwi authorities an opportunity to provide further feedback (Clause 4A). Changes to the provisions were also made to incorporate that input.
Key documents
- Download the draft Section 32 Report (29 April 2026) for:
- Proposed Plan Change 8 to the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan
- Proposed Plan Change 1 to the Waipara Catchment Environmental Flow and Water Allocation Regional Plan
- Proposed Plan Change 2 to the Hurunui and Waiau River Regional Plan (PDF file, 4.54MB)
Download Clause 3 feedback submissions
Download Clause 4 feedback submissions
Next steps
Councillors were briefed on Plan Change 8 and the next steps in the plan change process in late April 2026. A further briefing is scheduled for early June, specifically to discuss the section 32 report and the clause 3 and clause 4A feedback.
A paper outlining their options will be tabled for a Council decision in late June. They may decide not to notify, to notify all, or to notify either of the two parts of the proposed plan change.
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). The provisions in proposed PC8 were shared as an appendix (PDF file, 245KB) to the above council meeting agenda.
Why PC8 required an exemption
In September 2025, Central Government issued a “Plan Stop” directive to all local and regional councils to avoid spending time and money on plan changes that may not align with ongoing resource management reforms.
Councils could apply to the Minister for an exemption, and a request for PC8 was made in December 2025 and granted in April 2026. The reasons for granting the exemption can be found on the Ministry for the Environment website.