OIR: 2425/1097 24 September 2024
Chris Matenga
[FYI request #28213 email]
Tēnā koe Chris,
Request for Information under the Local Government Official Information and
Meetings Act 1987 (the Act) (the LGOIMA)
Thank you for your email of
27 August 2024 requesting the following information:
1. I'm wanting to request any official information you have to understand:
a) when and how the 'ecological sites' overlay was created in the district
plan including private land on Motungarara and Kapiti (Waiorua Bay)
Islands,
I understand that:
• The ecological sites overlay was first created in the process of preparing
the Proposed Kapiti Coast District Plan, which was notified in 1995 and
made operative in 1999.
• The ecological sites were included as part of what was then called a
“Heritage Register” in that proposed district plan.
• In addition to other non-ecological sites, that Heritage Register comprised
over 130 ecological sites including “E113” on Motungarara Island and two
ecological sites on Kapiti Island being “E116” (Okupe Lagoon) and “E117”
(Kapiti Island).
For completeness, the ecological sites overlay in the current Operative Kapiti
Coast District Plan 2021 now has its own specific schedule (separate to non-
ecological sites), called “Schedule 1 (Ecological Sites)”. This schedule
includes:
• An ecological site on Motungarara Island (now called “K113”).
Please note that any information provided in response to your request may be published on the Council website, with
your personal details removed.
• Ecological sites on Kapiti Island (K116 Okupe Lagoon, and K117 Kapiti
Island).
I can confirm that the change to “K” rather than a “E” originates from Plan
Change 55A, which was publicly notified in 2005 ten years after the ecological
sites were originally introduced to the District Plan (and made operative in
2007). While Plan Change 55A did not create the ecological sites overlay,
some documents associated with that plan change provide useful insights into
the origins of the ecological sites previously included in the Proposed Kapiti
Coast District Plan back in 1995. While the information is not definitive about
the origins of the specific sites in question, I have included it on the basis it
should shed some light generally on when and how the 'ecological sites'
overlay (i.e. the ecological sites part of the Heritage Register) was created,
and what reports and survey information were relied upon at the time.
b) what reports or survey information were relied upon
I have been unable to find documentation to answer this question, in respect
of the three ecological sites in question. However, the documentation
attached clearly indicates that the Department of Conservation’s “Protected
Natural Areas Programme” surveys (which it undertook in the mid-1900s)
were the main reports and information relied upon to create the ecological
sites part of the Heritage Register in the Proposed Kapiti Coast District Plan
in 1995.
c) what communications occurred within council or with external
stakeholders over the matter particularly at the time or in the past year.
I'd like this to include any emails or files on the matter that might shed
some light
The information provided in my response relating to this matter includes (and
is attached):
• Proposed District Plan Discussion Paper 5 Heritage (1993)
• Excerpt from Heritage Register in Proposed District Plan (1997)
• Part I - Operative District Pla:- Heritage Register (extract from the Operative
Kapiti Coast District Plan 1999)
• Working document associated with PC55
• PC55 Ecological Sites section 32 report (2004)
• PC55 Council Report seeking public notification (2004)
• Hearing Presentation (undated, but associated with Plan Change 55A)
I am advised that all information relating to this matter dates back either to:
• The 1990s, in relation to the process of preparing and developing the
Proposed Kapiti Coast District Plan; or
Please note that any information provided in response to your request may be published on the Council website,
with your personal details removed.
• The 2000s, in relation to Plan Change 55A.
To clarify regarding your:
• Request for communications generally, we have not found any emails that
include or attach any information on this matter that is not already covered
by the information included in one or more of the attached documents.
• Specific reference to communications, emails or files in the past year, no
information has been found within that timeframe relating to the creation of
the ecological sites overlay, or reports or surveys relied upon in association
with that work.
Ngā mihi,
Kris Pervan
Group Manager Strategy and Growth
Te Kaihautū Rautaki me te Tupu
Please note that any information provided in response to your request may be published on the Council website,
with your personal details removed.
