Council decisions on submissions
Decisions on the Proposed District Plan (PDP)
The Far North District Council has made decisions on submissions for the Proposed District Plan. At the 11 June 2026 Extraordinary Council meeting the council adopted the Hearing Panel’s recommendations and reasoning, except for two amendments relating to:
- Amending the Infrastructure Chapter and Planning Maps to recognise and provide for district land drainage infrastructure within the Kaitāia, Waiharara, Kaikino and Motutangi drainage districts (S257.023, Te Hiku Community Board).
- Rezoning Section 25 SBRS of Kawakawa from Rural Residential Zone to General Residential Zone with the Te Mataora Precinct overlay (PREC-9) and associated provisions (S555.001, Ngā Kaingamaha o Ngāti Hine Charitable Trust).
On the 30 June 2026 pursuant to Clauses 10 and 11 of Schedule 1 of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA), Far North District Council advises that decisions on submissions to the Proposed District Plan have been released.
Proposed District Plan - Decisions Version Public Notice.
Right of appeal
Under Clause 14 of Schedule 1 of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA), submitters may appeal the council’s decisions to the Environment Court. Submitters have 30 working days from 30 June (until 12 August) to lodge an appeal with the Environment Court.
To lodge an appeal:
- Only submitters who have submitted on a provision may appeal that provision, and appeals must relate to matters raised in the submission
- Complete the prescribed notice of appeal form (Form 7 - available on the Environment Court website)
- Clearly identify the provisions you’re appealing, using the provision reference number from the Proposed District Plan - Decisions Version (rather than the hearing panel recommendation reports).
- Explain why you disagree with the decision.
- State the outcome you are seeking.
- File the appeal with the environment court and serve notice on Council by 12 August 2026.
Other parties may join an appeal through the section 274 process.
Following the close of the appeal period on 12 August 2026, Council will release an updated ‘Appeals Version’ of the Proposed District Plan that clearly identifies which provisions are under appeal and which can be treated as operative.
The Environment Court then will begin managing appeals. Mediation may be scheduled for some topics. The council will update the Appeals Version of the PDP as appeals are resolved and will publish further updates when provisions become operative.
Using the District Plan during the appeals period
During the appeal period, both the Operative District Plan 2009 (ODP) and the Proposed District Plan – Decisions Version (PDP-DV) will apply when assessing resource consent applications. In summary:
- All rules have legal effect from 30 June 2026 when council notifies its decisions on submissions (s86B(1) of the RMA).
- When the appeals period closes on 12 August 2026, the council will produce a Proposed District Plan – Appeals Version which will clearly identify the provisions that are subject to appeal. From this point, any unappealed rule in the PDP must be treated as operative and the equivalent ODP rule becomes inoperative (s86F(1) of the RMA).
- Appealed rules remain “proposed” until resolved; both PDP-DV and ODP provisions apply to the topic in parallel, with appropriate ‘weighting’ being applied by council planners during consideration of resource consent applications.
- PDP objectives and policies are relevant considerations for s104 assessments from notification of the PDP-DV and continue to be relevant through all stages.
The release of decisions does not make the entire PDP-DV formally operative, nor does it change the activity status of resource consent applications already lodged and accepted (under S88A(1) of the RMA). Appeals do not reopen the whole plan, only the specific provisions appealed, and only within scope of the relevant submission. The PDP-DV also does not override national direction or other statutory requirements.
Access the ePlan PDP-DV here.
Guidance on navigating the ePlan is available here
Guidance material
Topic based fact sheets explaining chapter changes and what the PDP-DV means for different users can be viewed here.
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Where to find more information and support
Printed copies of the PDP-DV and maps can be viewed at council service centres at Kaikohe, Kaitāia, and Kerikeri.
Council planning staff are available to help explain the decisions and navigate the PDP-DV and Appeals Versions. Contact them by emailing pdp@fndc.govt.nz or phone 0800 920 029 and ask for the District Plan Team.