The Canterbury Regional Policy Statement (PDF file, 3.56MB) provides an overview of the resource management issues in the Canterbury region, and the objectives, policies and methods to achieve integrated management of natural and physical resources. These methods include directions for provisions in district and regional plans. 

Change 1 to Chapter 6 of the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement

The Minister for the Environment has approved Proposed Change 1 to Chapter 6 of the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement (CRPS) under the streamlined planning process. Change 1 was made operative on 28 July 2021.

Change 1 now forms part of the operative Canterbury Regional Policy Statement.

View the public notice (PDF file, 40.59KB)

To view a copy of the Minister’s decision, the amended provisions and all related documents, and for information on the streamlined planning process visit the Change 1 to Chapter 6 CRPS page

Change 1 to Chapter 6 of the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement

This change to the CRPS was approved by the Minister for Environment on 28 May and became operative on 28 July 2021.

Operative Regional Policy Statement

The Regional Policy Statement (RPS) became operative on 15 January 2013. It was republished in October 2020 to incorporate changes made since 2013. You can view the Regional Policy Statement and associated documents below:

Please note: The Guidelines for the Application of Ecological Significance Criteria for Indigenous Vegetation and Habitats of Indigenous Fauna in Canterbury Region was prepared by Wildland Consultants under contract to Environment Canterbury and does not endorse this consultancy above any other for application of RPS criteria.

Schedule of changes to the Regional Policy Statement~~
16 September 2022, Insertion of housing bottom lines in Chapter 6 of the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement)

Environment Canterbury has amended the Operative Canterbury Regional Policy Statement (CRPS) to incorporate housing bottom lines in accordance with clause 3.6 of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020 (NPS-UD).
Specifically, Objective 6.2.1a in Chapter 6 of the CRPS has been amended.

The NPS-UD requires Tier 1 and 2 local authorities to set housing bottom lines for the short-medium term (next 10 years) and the long term (10 to 30 years) in their regional policy statements and district plans.

The housing bottom lines represent the amount of development capacity required to meet expected housing demand in the Greater Christchurch urban environment over the next 30 years plus an additional 15 to 20 per cent to allow a margin for competitive land markets. The housing bottom lines are based on information in the 2021 Greater Christchurch Housing Capacity Assessment.

Read the 2021 Housing Capacity Assessment report.

Clause 3.6(4) of the NPS-UD requires the housing bottom lines to be inserted into the CRPS without using a process in Schedule 1 of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). The amendment to the CRPS has been made under section 55(3) of the RMA.

The housing bottom lines replace the minimum targets previously set out in Objective 6.2.1a, which were inserted under the National Policy Statement on Urban Development Capacity 2016.

In addition to the insertion of the housing bottom lines, the Council has also amended Policy 6.3.12 to now refer to the housing bottom lines, rather than targets, pursuant to clause 20A of Schedule 1 to the RMA.

The amendments are effective from 16 September 2022.

July 2021, Change 1 to Chapter 6 incorporated

Proposed Change 1 to Chapter 6 of the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement (CRPS) was approved by the Minister for the Environment under the streamlined planning process on 28 May 2021. The changes became operative on 28 July 2021.

Change 1 identified future urban housing development areas in Rolleston, Rangiora and Kaiapoi on Map A, and inserted associated policy provisions. This supports the actions of the Our Space 2018–48 Greater Christchurch Settlement Pattern Update.

To view a copy of the Minister’s decision, the amended provisions and all related documents, and for information on the streamlined planning process, visit the Change 1 to Chapter 6 CRPS page.

2020-2021, Proposed Changes to Chapter 6

Following public notification of Proposed Change 1 to Chapter 6 of the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement in January 2021, the Council has now submitted its written recommendations report to the Minister for the Environment for consideration. The Minister can approve the Proposed Change, refer it back to Environment Canterbury for reconsideration (with or without recommended changes), or decline it.

The proposed change identifies future urban housing development areas in Rolleston, Rangiora and Kaiapoi and inserts associated policy provisions. This supports the actions of the Our Space 2018–48 Greater Christchurch Settlement Pattern Update.

The Minister for the Environment has approved the use of the streamlined planning process for this proposed change. The streamlined planning process is different from the standard Schedule 1 Resource Management Act (RMA) process. The full statutory requirements are set out in the Minister's Direction (PDF File, 148.32KB) dated 23 April 2020 and notice of amendment (PDF File, 32.08KB) dated 6 August 2020.

To view a copy of the recommendations report, the summary of submissions, and other related documents, and for information on the streamlined planning process being followed for this proposed change, visit the CRPS Change page.

October 2020, Regional Policy Statement published

In October 2020 the Regional Policy Statement was revised to incorporate the amendments described below.

Timing: Revised October 2020

Document: Canterbury Regional Policy Statement, October 2020 (PDF File, 3.93MB)

October 2020, Chapter 6 and Definitions for Greater Christchurch

In September 2020 the Associate Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration approved a proposal to amend Chapter 6 of the Regional Policy Statement using section 71 of the Greater Christchurch Regeneration Act 2016, to provide for the development and operation of commercial film or video production facilities in Christchurch.

Timing: Came into effect on 13 October 2020

Document: Canterbury Regional Policy Statement - Amendments to Chapter 6 and Definitions for Greater Christchurch October 2020 (PDF File, 192.28KB)

July 2019, Chapter 6

On 25 July 2019 a new Objective 6.2.1a was inserted into the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement in accordance with sections 55(2) and 55(2A) of the Resource Management Act 1991 and as required by the National Policy Statement on Urban Development Capacity 2016. Objective 6.2.1a sets out minimum housing targets for the Greater Christchurch area over the medium (next 10 years) and long term (10 to 30 years).

Timing: Came into effect on 25 July 2019

Document: Public Notice (PDF File, 124.29KB)

December 2018, Chapter 6 and Definitions for Greater Christchurch

In December 2018 Hon Nanaia Mahuta, acting for the Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration approved a proposal to amend the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement using section 71 of the Greater Christchurch Regeneration Act 2016 to provide for a metropolitan recreation facility at 466-482 Yaldhurst Road, Christchurch.

Timing: Came into effect on 19 December 2018

Document: Canterbury Regional Policy Statement - Amendments to Chapter 6 and Definitions for Greater Christchurch December 2018

August 2017, Map A in Chapter 6
In August 2017 the Cranford Regeneration Plan directed amendments Chapter 6, Map A in ‘Greenfield Priority Areas’ in the Regional Policy Statement to provide for redevelopment of the Cranford Basin area in Christchurch.
Timing: Came into effect on 31 August 2017
February 2017, Regional Policy Statement Republished
In February 2017 the Regional Policy Statement was republished to incorporate corrections of minor errors, and to include the amendments described below. They came in effect in April 2016, November 2015, July 2015 and June 2015.
Timing: Republished February 2017
April 2016, Map 4 of Appendix 5
In April 2016 Map 4 in Appendix 5 of the Regional Policy Statement was amended to show the location of the Avon River Mouth and the Coastal Marine Area Boundary, to reflect changes resulting from the Canterbury Earthquake Sequence.
Timing: Came into effect on 16 April 2016
November 2015, Chapter 8
In November 2015 the Lyttelton Port Recovery Plan (LPRP) directed amendments to Regional Policy Statement to enable recovery of the Port.
Timing: Came into effect on 19 November 2015
July 2015, Chapter 11
In July 2015, further changes were made to Chapter 11, Natural Hazards, of the Regional Policy Statement to support the amendments from June 2015.
Timing: Came into effect on 23 July 2015.
June 2015, Chapter 11 and Appendix 6
In June 2015, changes were made to the Regional Policy Statement in accordance with Action 46 of the Land Use Recovery Plan (LURP) and sections 24(1)(c) and 24(3) of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act 2011, to enable and support recovery and rebuilding in accordance with the LURP. These changes related to the management of development within high hazard areas and the identification and management of coastal hazard areas.
Timing: Came into effect on 12 June 2015.
December 2013, Land Use Recovery Plan for Greater Christchurch
In December 2013 the Land Use Recovery Plan (LURP) for Greater Christchurch made substantial changes to the Regional Policy Statement to enable the recovery and rebuild of Greater Christchurch after the Canterbury Earthquake Sequence.  Changes included the insertion of new Chapter 6 and glossary/definitions.

Plan Development

Development materials for the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement have been archived. Please contact customer services if you wish to access any of this material.