Council decision

There were two separate hearings – one for genetic engineering and genetically modified organisms (GE/GMO) and one for all other matters. This page has information about the hearings and council decision for all matters, excluding GE/GMO - Go to GE/GMO hearings information

  • September 2017
    Plan notified
  • March 2018
    Further submissions
  • August - October 2018
    Hearing
  • 4 May 2019
    Council decision
  • 17 June 2019
    Appeal period ends
  • September - November 2019
    Mediation
  • 2022 ongoing
    Appeals heard
  • To be confirmed
    Plan operative

Proposed Regional Plan for Northland – Appeals Version

The Council has now produced an Appeals Version of the Proposed Regional Plan for Northland. The shading within this version indicates which provisions are directly under appeal to the Environment Court. However, please note that additional provisions may be captured as a result of any consequential amendments arising from the outcome of an appeal’.

Go to the New Regional Plan page to download the Proposed Regional Plan for Northland – Appeals Version

Appeals

Any person who made a submission on the Proposed Regional Plan for Northland had the chance to appeal the council’s decision in respect of those matters noted. The last day for lodging appeals with the Environment Court was 17 June 2019.  A total of 23 appeals were received.

Read the appeals lodged with the Environment Court

More information on the appeals process can be found on the Environment Court’s website:
www.environmentcourt.govt.nz/court-process/lodge-appeal-or-application

Go to the Summary of Decisions Requested and Submissions and Further Submissions reports

Council decision

Submitters had an opportunity to speak to the hearing panel until the hearing closed in October 2018. The hearing panel then wrote a report that made recommendations to Council on the provisions and submissions on the plan.

At is meeting on 16 April 2019, council accepted and adopted the recommendations of the hearing panel on decisions on provisions and matters raised in submissions (excluding GMOs).

Go to the council's meeting agenda (16 April 2019) online to see the recommendations

From 4 May 2019, the decisions version of the plan replaces the version notified in September 2017. 

Proposed Regional Plan for Northland – Decisions Version

Read the Proposed Regional Plan for Northland – Decisions Version (PDF 6.4 MB)

Several minor amendments have been made to the Proposed Regional Plan - Decisions Version after its public notification, pursuant to Clause 16(2) of Schedule 1 of the RMA.

Read the Minor amendments to Proposed Regional Plan - Decisions Version (PDF, 535KB)

Online maps

Proposed Regional Plan Maps – Decisions version 

Hearing panel recommendations

The Council delegated to a Hearing Panel (Rob van Voortuysen, independent commissioner and chair, Joce Yeoman, NRC councillor and Miria Pomare, independent commissioner) the function of hearing the submissions on the Proposed Regional Plan and making recommendations to the council. The exception is the submissions seeking the addition of provisions for genetically modified organisms - the full council heard these submissions separately.

The hearings panel made recommendations in April 2019. 

Read the Report and Recommendations of the Hearing Panel for the Proposed Regional Plan (PDF, 1.25MB)

Proposed Regional Plan for Northland – Commissioners’ Recommendations Version (tracked changes) (PDF, 5.3MB)

Background information

Go to background information for the decision making process

Related information