Although the Matakana Whole of Island Plan in the proposed District Plan has been appealed by some parties, the Environment Court has directed a timeframe and process to complete the Plan.

It’s important to note that while the Matakana Whole of Island Plan will be a stand-alone document that identifies Council’s policies and principles on land use and development on the Island, it will not have legal power in its own right. In this context the Plan will provide specific direction regarding land use and address, at a high level, the following:

• Ongoing use of forestry.
• Cultural values and constraints, including archaeological/historic heritage matters.
• Natural and ecological values.
• Appropriate subdivision, dwellings, other development, and infrastructure, and the need for a specific development code that takes into account the high water table, freshwater ecological links, stormwater and sewerage management, and rules around fencing.
• Roading and access (including for cultural purposes, also pig hunting and kai moana).
• Esplanade requirements, landscape provisions, natural hazards including tsunami, fire hazard and responses.
• Funding, management and legal arrangements necessary to ensure ongoing protection of s6 RMA (Resource Management Act) matters and to give effect to s8 matters.
• Papakainga (Maori housing)
• Legislative and District Plan matters, including relevant regional and national plans.

What’s happening now and in the immediate future?
A number of specialist studies have been completed, for example cultural values, archaeology, ecological, landscape and social and economic analysis, and further work is underway (as work is completed it will become available on this webpage).

At the heart of this work is the development of a Hapu management Plan prepared by tangata whenua to capture their vision for the Island and how it can be achieved. This is currently being undertaken by tangata whenua.

In parallel with this Council is engaging with other stakeholders and landowners associated with the Island to build further understanding of their interests, aspirations and concerns as they relate to land use and development.

This engagement process started just prior to Christmas and ran throughout January 2012.  Following completion of the Hapu Management Plan Council will work to finalise the Whole of Island Plan in draft form prior to seeking feedback.  Details of how this will be done will be released closer to the time.

Questionnaire for Landowners - PDF version
Questionnaire for Landowners - Word Version

What’s happening over the medium term?
Once all the feedback is received Council will make final decisions and publish the Whole of Island Plan.  Any subsequent changes to the District Plan required to meet the intentions of the Whole of Island Plan will then be worked through in a full RMA statutory process.