Dear Landowner,
Our District is home to a range of unique landscapes, species and habitats, many of which are under threat.
Far North District Council is required to identify these habitats and to protect them through a District Plan.
While there are already rules in the current District Plan to manage these habitats, we are now required to
identify these areas and manage them more specifically in a new District Plan.
Last year, we collaborated with the other Northland councils on a project to map and identify Significant
Natural Areas (SNA) within each district. The new mapping has increased the accuracy and knowledge of
natural areas in Northland and has identified that approximately 42% of our district contains potentially
sensitive environments. This is an increase from around 30% when last mapped in the 1990s.
The new mapping project was undertaken by consultant ecologists, Wildland Consultants, using existing
information, inspection of new aerial photography and site visits. The mapped SNAs are included in the
Draft Proposed District Plan that will be released in early March 2021.
You are receiving this letter because a potential Significant Natural Area (SNA) has been identified on your
property.
We have enclosed an ecological report which details the plants and habitat within the SNA. Please note
that the report covers the whole SNA, which may overlap with a neighbouring property, and therefore all
species listed in the report may not be found on your property.
The inclusion of Significant Natural Areas in a new District Plan is a requirement under the Regional Policy
Statement for Northland. It is also likely to be required under the National Policy Statement for Indigenous
Biodiversity, which is scheduled to be published later in 2021. For more information on how this may affect
you, please read the questions and answers on the reverse side of this page.
To have your say, please fill in the feedback form enclosed in this envelope or visit our website at
fndc.govt.nz/sna to complete a detailed survey. You can also send feedback to
[email address]. Please note that this is not a formal submission process, and that formal submissions under the Resource
Management Act 1991 can be made when the Proposed District Plan is publicly notified later this year.
Kind regards,
Greg Wilson
Manager – District Planning
What is a Significant Natural Area?
A Significant Natural Area (SNA) is an area of native plants and habitat that has high ecological value. An
SNA is selected based on criteria contained in Appendix 5 of the Northland Regional Policy Statement.
How did we map SNAs?
In 2018, we engaged Wildland Consultants to undertake an assessment of SNAs in the Far North. This has
involved an analysis of existing information, including the Department of Conservation’s Protected Natural
Area maps, as well as using updated aerial imagery and site visits to ensure that our SNA mapping is
accurate.
Why do we need SNAs?
Council currently uses Department of Conservation Protected Natural Areas Programme maps. These
maps have not been updated since the 1990s. Far North District Council is required by Northland’s
Regional Policy Statement to identify SNAs. The Council also has a responsibility under the Resource
Management Act 1991 to protect areas of significant indigenous vegetation and significant habitats of
indigenous faunaas a matter of national importance.
How many SNAs are in the Far North District?
A total of 685 SNAs have been identified by Wildlands Consultants. This covers 282,696 hectares, which is
approximately 42% of the area of the Far North District. Of that 42%, approximately half of that area is
public land (already zoned as conservation land) and half is in private ownership.
I have an SNA on my property. What does that mean I can and can’t do?
If you are not planning on developing your land, then an SNA on your land means business as usual.
However, the proposed District Plan will have rules around SNAs in terms of vegetation clearance and
protection through the subdivision process. This means that you may need to apply for a resource consent
if you are planning on clearing vegetation or establishing new uses of land within a SNA.
Will I be required to fence or formally protect the SNA on my property?
No. If you are not planning on developing or subdividing your property, there will be no requirement to
formally protect the SNA through fencing, covenants or other methods. However, the proposed District Plan
will have land use and subdivision rules associated with SNAs that may require you to protect the SNA if
you plan to develop the land or clear vegetation. There may also be options for you to voluntarily protect the
SNA formally, either through a Council conservation covenant or a private covenant (i.e QEII).
Will I be compensated for having an SNA on my property?
No. However, there are a number of schemes that may incentivise protection; including rates remission for
conservation covenants that are voluntarily applied to natural areas with ecological values. More
information on conservation covenants:
https://www.fndc.govt.nz/District-Plan/Conservation-covenants
How is this managed under the operative District Plan?
• Rules around vegetation clearance are covered in Chapter 12.2 of the Operative District Plan. The
criteria relate to the amount of vegetation to be cleared, and the age of trees.
• Chapter 13 on Subdivision refers to the DOC Protected Natural Areas maps when assessing the
effects subdivision will have on indigenous flora and fauna. The new Indigenous Biodiversity chapter
will refer directly to the SNA maps, which are contained in the plan.
Tell us more about the plants and habitats on your property
Please visit our website at fndc.govt.nz/sna to complete a detailed survey. Make sure you include your
unique SNA reference number. This is not a formal submission process. You will have the opportunity to
make a formal submission under the Resource Management Act when the Proposed District Plan is publicly
notified later this year.
