Proposed district plan timeline
Timeline overview
The current District Plan review process was initiated in 2016. A key part of that review process was undertaken in 2022 when we formally notified the Proposed District Plan (PDP) and called for submissions. We received 580 submissions that raised thousands of requests to be considered.
We then provided an opportunity for landowners, tangata whenua, the wider community, and stakeholders to tell us whether they support or oppose what was requested in those original submissions. Before making the District Plan formally operative, the appeals process needs to be completed. The key steps involved are shown below.
Decisions on the PDP
At the 11 June 2026 Extraordinary Council meeting the Far North District Council made decisions on submissions for the Proposed District Plan. The council adopted the Hearings 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)
What happens next?
Now that the decisions version of the Proposed District Plan is notified, the process now moves to the ‘appeals period’.
- Appeals
After the notification of decisions (30 June 2026) there is a 30 working day period, during which submitters may lodge an appeal with the Environment Court. Appeals must be within the scope of a submission, and lodged using Form 7 (available on the Environment Court website) and must be submitted to the Environment Court by 12 August 2026.
Many appeals are resolved through Environment Court facilitated meditation. Only unresolved matters proceed to a formal hearing. The council will update the Appeals Version of the PDP as appeals are resolved.
Important things to know
- From 30 June 2026, the Decisions Version of the PDP (PDP-DV) has legal effect, although the weight given to each provision may vary depending on whether the provision is subject to appeal.
- Some parts of the Operative District Plan (ODP) will continue to apply, meaning both plans operate in tandem during the appeals period.
- Navigating between the two plans can be complex, and Council has provided guidance and tools to help plan users understand how the PDP-DV and ODP interact here.
- If you have any questions, please contact the District Plan Team on 0800 920 029 or pdp@fndc.govt.nz
Clause 10A timeframe extensions
In 2024 the council received a timeframe extension approval from the Minister for the Environment for the Proposed District Plan project. The public notice of the timeframe extension and supporting documents are available below:
- Public Notice of clause 10A timeframe extension application
- Clause 10A timeframe extension application
- Clause 10A timeframe extension approval
On the 27 May 2026, the council received a further timeframe extension approval from the Minister for the Environment for the Proposed District Plan project. The timeframe extension approval and application are available below: