17 July 2025

To the Department of Conservation,

Dear Sir or Madam,

Official information request: The response of regional and district councils to the Department of Conservation’s review of the effect of the NZCPS 2010 on RMA decision-making

I am seeking information regarding the Department of Conservation’s report for the Minister of Conservation Review of the effect of the NZCPS 2010 on RMA decision-making.

This report is a consequence of Policy 28(1) of the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010 (NZCPS). The provision requires the Minister of Conservation to collaborate with local authorities, collect data, and assess the impact of the NZCPS on regional policy statements, plans, resource consents, and other decision-making, and publish a report and a conclusion on these matters.

The provision is rendered in full below:

Policy 28: Monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness of the NZCPS

1. To monitor and review the effectiveness of the NZCPS in achieving the purpose of the Act, the Minister of Conservation should:
a. in collaboration with local authorities collect data for, and, as far as practicable, incorporate district and regional monitoring information into a nationally consistent monitoring and reporting programme;
b. undertake other information gathering or monitoring that assists in providing a national perspective on coastal resource management trends, emerging issues and outcomes;
c. within six years of its gazettal, assess the effect of the NZCPS on regional policy statements, plans, and resource consents, and other decision-making; and
d. publish a report and conclusions on matters (a) to (c) above.

In Part 2 of the Report (“Background information”), the Department of Conservation sent out requests to local government bodies, asking them to complete surveys on coastal issues and the work that council had done to uphold NZCPS. This was to be completed by Friday 4 November 2016. A blank copy of the survey, and further context provided by DOC can be found in Part 2J of the Report.

Part 2K of the Report subsequently lists the councils that responded to the survey, and those who did not.

Links to the reports can be found below:

DOC NZCPS page, also containing the Report: https://www.doc.govt.nz/nzcps

Part One of the Report: https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/doc...

Part Two of the Report: https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/doc...

My requests:

1. Please provide copies of the completed local government surveys (found in Part 2J) by the councils who responded to DOC’s request.

2. Please provide any associated documents that said councils attached to the survey, relating to Policy 11 of the NZCPS (“Protect significant indigenous biodiversity”).

3. If a council did not complete the survey, but did respond to DOC’s request with some reason or justification for why they would not complete the survey, then I request a copy of those responses as well.

4. If any of those responses in (3.) contained attached information about Policy 11, or indigenous biodiversity, then I would also request that information be sent to me.

If you need any more information from me please let me know as soon as possible.

I look forward to hearing your reply within 20 working days of receiving this request.

Yours faithfully,

Isabelle Douglas