The feedback Northland Regional Council received during public consultation on the draft Freshwater Plan Change is now available.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to provide feedback – we received 577 responses representing a broad range of voices from across Te Taitokerau.

Council consulted the community on the draft Freshwater Plan Change from November 2023 to the end of March 2024.

With the consultation now wrapped up, we’ve put together a report summarising key themes in the public feedback and made it available on the consultation webpage, www.wai-it-matters.nz

On the Wai It Matters page, you can also view the feedback in full and sign up for our six-monthly pānui if you’d like to keep up to date with what’s happening on the Freshwater Plan Change.

Next steps

The Government has extended the deadline for councils across Aotearoa to release their proposed freshwater plans from 2024 to 2027 and signalled its intention to revise national policy on freshwater. We’re using the additional time to review your feedback and continue working with the primary sector and tāngata whenua to develop a balanced approach to freshwater management. This will ensure we’re well placed to meet the new deadline and adapt to any future changes the Government makes to national freshwater policy.

The next version of the plan, which will reflect your feedback on the draft plan, will be the proposed plan. When the proposed plan is released, you’ll have an opportunity to make a formal submission and present your views to an independent Freshwater Hearing Panel.

For more information about the Freshwater Plan Change, visit www.wai-it-matters.nz