Council has received a government exemption to update Gisborne’s building zones and urban planning rules.

Minister responsible for RM Reform Chris Bishop has approved an exemption for Council’s Urban Plan Change (Plan change 6 of the Tairāwhiti Resource Management Plan) which means you'll be able to have your say on the new zoning rules very soon.

Land use in our region is managed by different zones that help us identify the nature of the area and what activities may be appropriate there. Each zone has specific rules appropriate to the activity, such as business, industry, or housing. Zoning rules keep Gisborne organised, safe and pleasant to live in.

These rules sit in the urban chapters of our combined Tairāwhiti Resource Management Plan. However, they’re out of date and don’t give residents the choices they want for modern living.

In August 2025 central government introduced a Plan Stop policy. This paused all work on Resource Management Act (RMA) plans in anticipation of a new resource management system. Council applied for an exemption from this policy for its Urban Plan Change in September 2025. That exemption has now been granted, allowing Council to move to formal notification and consultation on this plan change.

This will change the look of some of our urban areas.

Council’s Director of Sustainable Futures Jocelyne Allan says we need planning rules to better reflect how we live, work and play. “The changes are designed to give people more housing choices on the existing land that's available for housing, while at the same time building connected communities.

“The plan change aligns with the Government’s policy priorities for housing, intensification and urban development, so getting the green light is recognition of the commitment and resilience shown by the Council team. We’re really excited about showing this plan to the community”.

“The plan change enables two and three storey houses, terraced houses and low-rise apartment buildings. It introduces rules that enable medium density residential developments in the most accessible areas of Gisborne and provides for expansion of the existing urban area while avoiding urban sprawl onto productive land”.

The proposed Urban Plan Change 6 will be open for public submission on 25 March 2026.

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