Waitaki District Council has had its requested exemptions for parts of its proposed District plan approved by Resource Management Act (RMA) Reform Minister, Chris Bishop.
In August the Government passed legislation halting District Plans across New Zealand.
It then invited Councils to request exemptions in key areas, identified by the Minister in the letter.
Minister Bishop said, “I have taken this decision because the Proposed Waitaki District Plan will enable more flexible and responsive planning for residential, business, and infrastructure development across a range of zones, including those supporting major employment sectors and unique values that are important for tourism. The exemption would also facilitate updates to designations and infrastructure chapters to better meet
current and future needs.”
The exempt parts of the Proposed District Plan will now proceed to the next stage of the process in 2026, being further submissions followed by hearings.
The other parts of the Proposed District Plan will be withdrawn, and the Operative Waitaki District Plan will continue to apply.
A public notice of the withdrawl will be made before the 15 January 2026 deadline.
Waitaki District Council will publish the Minister’s letter on its website. The Proposed District Plan will also be amended to reflect these changes so that it is clear what parts will continue and what parts will not.
The Minister’s letter was received on Wednesday 3 December 2025, before the Minister announced the Government’s plans to replace the RMA on Tuesday 9 December 2025.
That announcement does not affect the approval to proceed with parts of Waitaki District’s Proposed District Plan.