Waikato Region Coastal Plan 2022
DECISION: APPROVED
Introduction
The Waikato Regional Council is reviewing its Coastal Plan that will apply for the next 10 years. The Coastal Plan covers waters on the west coast of the North Island from Franklin down to Mokau, and from the Firth of Thames down the Coromandel east coast to Homunga Bay, almost to Waihi.
More than 2 million Kiwis have easy access to these waters. For many of us, fishing is an important source of sustenance and a way to bond with our family and friends. So when the Regional Council called for feedback to identify cultural and historic heritage sites around the coastline that may need protection we responded.
In June 2021 the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council and Waikato-based fishing clubs submitted in response to the Coastal Plan review and Directions Paper issued by the Regional Council.
In November 2021 the Waikato Regional Council issued a discussion paper in anticipation of the release of a draft Coastal Plan in June 2022.
Submission
In June 2022 the Waikato Regional Council (WRC) advised it was seeking feedback on a draft policy paper: Further Marine Biodiversity Protection Options. The WRC identified multiple coastal areas around the Coromandel and west coast that may be subject to protection under the Resource Management Act. The public were invited to identify their own areas of significance.
In July 2022 the NZSFC worked with 11 affiliated clubs and LegaSea to raise public awareness about the draft Coastal Plan Options paper. The concerns were the outcomes could be significant in terms of losing access to popular fishing areas.
On 22 July the joint parties submitted that any controls applying to the marine environment ought to be applied under the Fisheries Act not the Resource Management Act.
Outcome
The WRC considered the feedback received during this process then issued a proposed Coastal Plan on 18 August 2023. Details related to that process is online here.
Relevant information
2022
Latest news
WRC Coastal plan update. Waikato Regional Council. 19 Aug 2022
Email update summarising Coastal Plan process to date, submissions received and formal consultation likely in early 2023. Waikato Regional Council. 19 August 2022.
Submission
WRC Draft Coastal Plan. NZSFC. 22 July 2022
Submission responding to the threats posed by regional councils using the Resource Management Act to displace fishing effort. Fisheries Act tools must apply in marine areas. NZSFC and clubs. 22 July 2022.
Proposals
Waikato Regional Draft Coastal Plan. WRC. June 2022
Consultative draft Coastal Plan issued by the Waikato Regional Council for public discussion. 8 June 2022. Submissions due by 22 July 2022.
WRC Coastal Plan Marine biodiversity protection options paper. May 2022
Discussion Paper: Further marine biodiversity protections options. Waikato Regional Council. May 2022.
2021
Proposals
WRC Coastal Plan Discussion document. Nov 2021
Coastal Plan review discussion document. Waikato Regional Council. November 2021.
WRC Coastal Plan review FAQs. Nov 2021
Waikato Regional Council summary of the Coastal Plan review and frequently asked questions. WRC. November 2021.
Submission
WRC Coastal Plan. NZSFC. June 2021
Submission in response to the Waikato Regional Coastal Plan review and Policy Directions Paper. It acknowledges the need to prevent trawling from disturbing the benthic environment but opposes the use of the Resource Management Act to control low impact fishing methods such as hook and line fishing. NZSFC and clubs. 18 June 2021.
Older documents
Baseline documents
Waikato Regional Coastal Plan 2012
Waikato Regional Coastal Plan covering the area from mean high water springs out to the 12 nautical mile limit of the Territorial Sea, west from Franklin to Mokau, east from Firth of Thames almost to Waihi. Published by the Waikato Regional Council. July 2012.
NZ Coastal Policy Statement. Government. 2010
New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement issued by the Government in 2010. Its purpose is to state policies to achieve the purpose of the Resource Management Act in relation to the coastal environment.