Proposed Change 5 (Kaituna River) to the Bay of Plenty Regional Policy Statement was notified for public submissions on 29 June 2021. Submissions closed on 10 August 2021 and 15 submissions were received. The further submission period closed on Tuesday 9th November 2021 and 8 further submissions were received.

All the submissions are available to view along with the Summary of Decisions Requested (and a guide on how to read this) here.

Proposed Change 5 (Kaituna River) will now transition from the Schedule 1 process to the Freshwater Planning Process (FPP). the Regional Council must provide the Chief Freshwater Commissioner with 'required documentation' in December 2021. The Chief Freshwater Commissioner will then convene a Freshwater Hearings Panel to hear this change.

Updates will be provided for Proposed Change 5 (Kaituna River) webpage.

What is Proposed Change 5 (Kaituna River)?

Proposed Change 5 (Kaituna River) to the Bay of Plenty Regional Policy Statement (RPS) has been prepared under the Resource Management Act 1991. It will be the second co-governance change to be included in the RPS and it is specific to the Kaituna River and its tributaries. It includes:

• 6 significant resource management issues for the Kaituna River7 Kaituna River objectives
• 9 Kaituna River policies
• 6 Kaituna River methods of implementation
• Expansion of 5 existing Rangitāiki River methods to also apply to the Kaituna River and;
• 2 new RPS definitions.

Each objective is supported by a policy framework to promote their achievement. Neither the RPS nor the Kaituna River Document contain rules.

The RPS must recognise and provide for the vision, objectives and desired outcomes of the Kaituna River Document to the extent that contents relate to resource management issues and, it is the most appropriate way to achieve the purpose of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) for the Kaituna River.

Further information including Proposed Change 5 (Kaituna River) and an overview of the Freshwater Planning Process (FPP) can be accessed here.

Proposed Change 5 (Kaituna River) and The Kaituna River Document

E ora ana te mauri o te Kaituna, e tiakina ana hoki mō ngā whakatupuranga ō nāianei, ō muri nei hoki

The Kaituna River is in a healthy state and protected for current and future generations.

The Kaituna River and its tributaries are considered taonga (treasures) by both iwi and the community, and are valued resources for the Bay of Plenty.

Kaituna, he taonga tuku iho - a treasure handed down (the Kaituna River Document) (PDF 5.86MB) is an outcome of the Tapuika Claims Settlement Act 2014. It is a statutory document that was launched by Te Maru o Kaituna River Authority on 22 June 2018, following consultation with iwi, hapū and the wider community.

The purpose of the Kaituna River Document is to promote the restoration, protection and enhancement of the environmental, cultural, and spiritual well-being of the Kaituna River and its tributaries.

A summary version is also available.