Why we need to know
What is a coastal protection structure?
Seawall, rock revetment, groyne, breakwater, stop bank, retaining wall or comparable structure with the primary purpose of protection from a coastal hazard, including erosion.
Sea walls and other hard protection structures, while providing for protection against natural hazards including erosion, may have adverse effects on environmental, natural character amenity and landscape values within our coastal environment.
Design and location of the hard protection requires resource consent from Northland Regional Council to ensure that the type of structure or response to the natural hazard is appropriate for the location and its associated environment.
Council monitors these structures to ensure they are maintained in good state.
What you need to do
Building a sea wall
Should you wish to build a sea wall or other structure to protect your property from erosion or other coastal hazards, a Northland Regional Council resource consent is required before commencing any work.
Repairing or maintaining a sea wall
Should you wish to repair or maintain a sea wall on your property, there are some rules that you need to follow. Please contact us first.
Resource consents
Any placement of structures or reclamation of the foreshore or seabed in the Coastal Marine Area, including within private land, requires a Northland Regional Council resource consent and requires landowner authorisation before commencing any work.
Next steps
Before applying for a resource consent for your planned work, FIRST check with your local district council to confirm who owns the land.
If it is Council or Department of Conservation administered reserve, you will need to obtain authorisation to undertake works on their land.
Consequences
Those carrying out works illegally, i.e. without a resource consent or in contravention of the Proposed Regional Plan for Northland, may face potential prosecution and fines of up to $600,000 for a company, or $300,000 for an individual, as well as being ordered to reinstate an area.
Where can I find the rules?
The rules as they relate to coastal activities can be found in section C.1 of the Proposed Regional Plan for Northland. Any application for resource consent for a hard protection structure must address the policies identified in Natural Hazards - Section D.6.1 & D.6.2.
See our latest Proposed Regional Plan for Northland rules and policies at:
www.nrc.govt.nz/newregionalplan
Download - Information requirements for resource consent - minor coastal activity (PDF 249 KB)
Download the brochure
Published: 17 Feb 2025