Planning documents must evolve if they are to remain effective, and the One Plan (which has been fully in operation since December 2014) is no different. This can be prompted by a new or changed policy direction or standards from central government, or can follow an evaluation of how well the regional policy statement and regional plans are working. If an evaluation shows that something could be improved, a review is then carried out to work out what options will best deliver the Plan's objectives, and whether changing the Plan is sensible. Even if evaluations don't reveal any issues, the Resource Management Act requires that every part of every planning document has to be reviewed at least every 10 years. Amendments may also be made without a formal plan change process when required by a national policy statement or environmental standard, for example. Find out the latest information relating to the Overseer tool.
Horizons is working to implement central government's Essential Freshwater package through a programme called Oranga Wai Our Freshwater Future.
Proposed Plan Change 2 is focused on the One Plan's provisions that manage nutrient loss from existing intensive farming land uses (dairy farming, commercial vegetable growing, cropping, and intensive sheep and beef) in target water management sub-zones. To find out more about the plan change, click here. The focus of Proposed Plan Change 2 is to clarify and amend the nutrient management framework so it effectively works towards achieving the strategies for surface water quality set out in the One Plan. It will: update the cumulative nitrogen leaching maximums in Table 14.2 to reflect improvements in the nutrient modelling software tool Overseer; reinforce good management practices as part of intensive farming land use activities; and provide a workable pathway for landowners to apply for resource consent for intensive farming land use activities that cannot achieve Table 14.2 cumulative leaching maximums.
To find out more about Plan Change 2 click here
The One Plan was amended on 2 May 2025 to implement requirements from the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 and the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020. The correction of minor errors under Clause 20A of Schedule 1 to the RMA has also been undertaken as part of this Plan Amendment process.
To find out more about Plan Change 3 and Plan Amendment 5 click here
With effect from 16 December 2024, the purpose of Plan Change 3 is to give effect to the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020. Plan Change 3 sets out objectives and policies for the provision of sufficient development capacity to meet the expected demand for housing and business land, and for the planning of well-functioning urban developments. It also seeks to improve the responsiveness and competitiveness of land and development markets, improve resilience to climate change, and ensure planning decisions relating to urban environments take into account Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Plan change 3 will change the Part I – Introduction and general provisions and Part II-RPS-UFD – urban form and development chapters of the One Plan.
To find out more about Plan Change 3 click here
The One Plan was amended on 20 September 2024 to implement requirements from the National Policy Statement for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Industrial Process Heat 2023, the Resource Management (National Environmental Standards for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Industrial Process Heat Regulations) 2023, and consequential changes required by the National Planning Standards.
To view the public notice of Plan Amendment 4 click here
The One Plan was amended on 27 February 2024 to give effect to the National Planning Standards. The Standards set out requirements of a nationally consistent structure, format, definitions, mapping, noise and vibration metrics, and electronic functionality and accessibility for RMA planning documents. This means that the provisions of the One Plan have been restructured and renumbered, and some defined terms have been added or changed. For more information on Plan Amendment 3, including documents, click here.
To find out more about Plan Amendment 3 click here
The Manawatū-Whanganui Regional Council (Horizons) resolved on 14 December 2022 to make minor amendments to the One Plan – the consolidated Regional Policy Statement, Regional Plan and Regional Coastal Plan. These amendments (Plan Amendment 2 - 2022) have been made to comply with the Resource Management (National Environmental Standards for Freshwater) Regulations 2020, the Resource Management (National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry) Regulations 2017, the Resource Management (National Environmental Standards for Storing Tyres Outdoors) Regulations 2021, the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (NPS-FM 2020)(Clauses 3.22, 3.24 and 3.26) and the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020 (NPS-UD 2020)(Clause 3.6). These changes took effect on 14 December 2022. The insertion of clauses (c) to (f) of Policy 13-3A takes effect as of 5 January 2023.
This minor amendment to comply with the National Environmental Standard for Plantation Forestry took effect from 24 September 2018. Rule 13-3 and the definition of 'forestry' are amended by Plan Amendment 1. You can see the amendments in the report and Annexes A (Chapter 13) and B (Glossary) to the Strategy and Policy Committee meeting on 14 August 2018.
This plan change took effect on 28 April 2016. It inserted a new policy into Chapter 14 of the One Plan (required by the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management), consequential amendments and correction of some minor errors. You can see the amendments made and the reasons for them in the report to the Strategy and Policy Committee meeting on 12 April 2016 and its annex.
Section 35 of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) requires regional councils to monitor the state of the environment of the region and the efficiency and effectiveness of policy statements and regional plans. The following evaluations have been undertaken since the One Plan became operative in December 2014:
To find out more about Implementation Monitoring click here
Last updated 9 October 2024.