Canterbury Regional Policy Statement

The Canterbury Regional Policy Statement 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. The policy statement became operative on 15 January 2013.

Changes to the policy statement

Update: May 2020

On 29 April 2020 the Minister for the Environment issued a direction to enter the streamlined planning process for a  proposed change to Chapter 6 of the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement. The Minister's direction, which sets out the planning process and timeframes, has been published in the New Zealand Gazette (PDF File, 38KB). This notice comes into force 20 working days after publication.

The proposed change to Chapter 6 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.

Update: July 2019

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.

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).

The insertion of these targets is a requirement of Policies PC5-6 and PC8 of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development Capacity 2016.

Update: December 2018

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:

  • change Chapter 6 Recovery and Rebuilding of Greater Christchurch (including Policy 6.3.1, Principal reasons and explanation, and the Anticipated environmental results) to provide for a metropolitan recreation facility at 466-482 Yaldhurst Road, Christchurch; and
  • insert a new definition of Metropolitan recreation facility in the Definitions for Greater Christchurch.

The Cranford Regeneration Plan came into effect on 31 August 2017 and made changes to Map A in Chapter 6 of the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement.  These changes included

  • removing the Projected Infrastructure Boundary from the full extent of the area of the Crandford Regeneration Plan, 
  • identifying the extent of the Grassmere Street and Croziers Road blocks as a Greenfield Priority Area, 
  • identifying the remaining areas of the Cranford Regeneration Plan as ‘Existing Urban Area; and 
  • amending the Map A legend to delete the words “pre-2011”.

Map A of Chapter 6 was updated on the Environment Canterbury website on 1 September 2017.  View the map before the amendments were made.

The Land Use Recovery Plan for Greater Christchurch took effect on 6 December 2013 and made changes to the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement.  These changes included inserting Chapter 6 - Recovery and Rebuilding of Greater Christchurch and adding a glossary/definitions.

Schedule of amendments made to the RPS
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

Documents: 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 RPS to provide for redevelopment of the Cranford Basin area in Christchurch.
Timing: came into effect on 31 August 2017
Document: Map A before amendments (PDF File, 2.85MB)
February 2017, RPS Republished
In February 2017 the RPS was republished to incorporate corrections of minor errors, and to include amendments described below which took effect in April 2016, November 2015, July 2015, and May 2015.
Timing: republished February 2017
April 2016, Map 4 of Appendix 5
In April 2016 a RPS map was amended to show the location of the Avon River Mouth and the Coastal Marine Area (CMA) Boundary, to reflect changes resulting from the Canterbury Earthquake Sequence.
Timing: came into effect on 16 April 2016
Document: Map 4 before amendments.
November 2015, Chapter 8
In November 2015 the Lyttelton Port Recovery Plan (LPRP) directed amendments to RPS to enable the port's recovery.
Timing: took legal effect from 19 November 2015
Document: Amendments directed by the LPRP
July 2015, Chapter 11
In July 2015, further changes were made to Chapter 11, Natural Hazards, of the RPS to support the amendments from May 2015.
Timing: took legal effect from the 12 June 2015.
Document: Amendments to the RPS under the Land Use Recovery Plan and the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act
May 2015, Chapter 11
In December 2013 the Land Use Recovery Plan for Greater Christchurch made substantial changes to the RPS to enable the recovery and rebuild of Greater Christchurch after the Canterbury Earthquake Sequence, including the insertion of new Chapter 6.
Timing: took effect on 6 December 2013
Document: Public notice and amendments
December 2013, Land Use Recovery Plan for Greater Christchurch
In December 2013 the Land Use Recovery Plan (LURP) for Greater Christchurch made substantial changesto throughout the RPS 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.

 

Documents: Land Use Recovery Plan: Appendix 1 and Schedule of amendments to the RPS directed by the LURP

Policy statement reprinted

The Canterbury Regional Policy Statement was reprinted in early 2017 to include corrections of minor errors under Clause 20A of Schedule 1 to the Resource Management Act 1991, as well as amendments under Sections 21, 24 and 27 of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act 2011.

Due to timing, the changes to Chapter 6 and the Definitions for Greater Christchurch which came into effect on 19 December 2018 have not yet been incorporated in the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement 2013 – Revised February 2017. The changes do however form part of the operative Regional Policy Statement and can be viewed separately below.

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. Please note: 

N.B. 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.