Kaikōura To Seek Exemption To Fix District Blueprint

Thursday, 14 August 2025, 3:25 pm
Article: David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter

The Kaikōura District Council will seek a Government exemption so it can "resolve" urgent issues with its outdated District Plan. 

Councillors agreed to a staff proposal at a council meeting on Wednesday, August 13, to prepare a report on the District Plan as it builds a case for an exemption. 

The Government announced last month it would halt changes to district and regional plans ahead of a major shake-up of the Resource Management Act (RMA). 

A District Plan, which is required under the RMA, creates a blueprint for land use and development within an area. 

Kaikōura Mayor Craig Mackle wrote to RMA Minister Chris Bishop after the announcement asking for an exemption so they could push ahead with their plan, but had yet to receive a response. 

But the council’s strategy, policy and district plan manager Matt Hoggard said an amendment introduced to Parliament on Tuesday, August 12, has clarified the process for seeking an exemption.

Under the amendment, grounds for an exemption includes rectifying provisions which have had ‘‘unintended consequences’’, are ‘‘unworkable’’ or ‘‘have led to inefficient outcomes’’. 

The shake-up of RMA is expected to come into effect in 2027, with councils required to have new district or regional plans operative by 2030. 

The existing Kaikōura District Plan was adopted in 2008. Council staff will complete a report ‘‘to see what changes we need to make and how they fit with the Government’s priorities’’, Mr Hoggard said.

‘‘If we stop and wait for the Government we will have to wait until 2030 to resolve the issues with our District Plan.

‘‘If we can show these issues are urgent and align with the Government’s priorities, the Minister should say ‘yes, go ahead and do it’.’’ 

The council adopted a spatial plan last year to identify future development opportunities, which requires changes to the District Plan. 

Council chief executive Will Doughty said the council had only recently appointed consultants to help it work on a District Plan review. 

‘‘We always knew reform was under way, but we took an approach to respond to the needs of our community, while being flexible to review and respond to changes,’’ Mr Doughty said following the plan halt announcement. 

He said the council faced criticism that the ‘‘rules are prohibitive’’, so it was keen to update the plan.

‘‘We have always said we need to control our own destiny, but they (Government) don’t want us to get into a situation where we spend the money and then have to go and do it all again,’’ he said during Wednesday’s meeting. 

While councils are unable to make changes to their plans, unless they get an exemption, they are required to notify private plan change requests from private developers. 

It means Cargill Station Ltd will be able to submit its private change to sub-divide sections in the Ocean Ridge development for notification. 

‘‘Without an exemption, a private plan change is the only way we can change the plan,’’ Mr Hoggard said. 

-LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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