Wetlands are important natural environments.

National policy directs much stronger protection of the remaining wetlands extents and values (as so much has been drained/ lost from New Zealand including the Bay of Plenty). Wetland provisions currently have their own chapter, activities addressed by other chapters also may affect wetlands. For example, groundwater must be managed to protect wetlands. Many of our current wetlands provisions have been superseded by national regulations so we need to remove a lot of material from the Regional Natural Resource Plan, and instead rely on these national provisions

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