Ruapehu, Whanganui, Rangitīkei, Manawatū, Tararua and Horowhenua districts and Palmerston North City are all contained within the Region, along with small parts of Waitomo, Stratford and Taupo districts. The Regional Council also shares boundaries with Greater Wellington Regional Council, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Taranaki Regional Council and Environment Waikato.

The environmental effects of some resource uses in the Region’s catchments and coastal marine area are experienced by more than one local authority. This can happen when:
  • a property* straddles a boundary between local authorities, for example, when a dairy shed located in one local authority discharges waste* into another, or
  • the effects of an activity cross district council boundaries – for example, when hill country erosion in one district adversely affects water quality in the district downstream, or
  • an activity crosses Regional Council boundaries – for example, water is taken and diverted from the Region for electricity generation and discharged into the Environment Waikato Region, or
  • a development such as a wind farm is visible across local authority boundaries within the Region or across Regional Council boundaries.

The Regional Council acknowledges that it needs to work with other organisations with resource management responsibilities or interests to achieve its objectives. These include:
  • iwi authorities, hapū* and iwi*
  • Department of Conservation
  • Ministry for the Environment
  • district health boards
  • Fish & Game New Zealand
  • Maritime Safety Authority
  • Ministry of Fisheries
  • Heritage New Zealand
  • Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand
  • non-governmental organisations including environmental, tourism and primary sector groups
  • other Government departments.

In general, the Regional Council will deal with cross-boundary issues through consultation, collaboration and continuing to build relationships with other resource management organisations. Specific approaches include:
  1. using the protocols for communication and coordination with Territorial Authorities outlined in the Triennial Agreement for the Manawatū - Whanganui Region
  2. clearly defining the responsibilities of the Regional Council and Territorial Authorities for:
    1. maintaining indigenous biological diversity (refer Policy 6-1)
    2. managing coastal resources (refer Policy 8-1)
    3. managing natural hazards (refer Policy 9-1)
    4. managing hazardous substances (refer Policy 3-12)
  3. with resource management organisations transferring functions to Territorial Authorities in the Region when this is agreed to be appropriate
  4. providing Regional Council resources to manage the relationship between the Regional Council and Territorial Authorities within the Region
  5. using the protocol for joint applications and hearings set out in the Horizons Regional Council Protocol Manual – Consents Section
  6. encouraging consultation and submissions from other resource management organisations to the Regional Council’s planning documents
  7. consulting with and making submissions to the planning documents of other resource management organisations
  8. participating in Regional Council peer group forums
  9. participating in other inter-agency forums where this will enhance relationships
  10. working with adjoining Regional Councils to identify, discuss and address cross-boundary issues.