Change 1 to the Waikato Regional Policy Statement - National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020 and Future Proof Strategy update

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Current status •
What's happening? •
Understanding the changes •
FAQs •
Appeals •
Decisions •
Documents •
Hearing information •
Hearing recordings •
Hearing documents

Current status

The appeal processes for Waikato Regional Policy Statement Change 1 – National Policy Statement on Urban Development and Future Proof Strategy Update (WRPS Change 1) have concluded.

On 25 June 2026, Council passed a resolution to make WRPS Change 1 operative on 15 July 2026.

What's happening?

A change to the Waikato Regional Policy Statement (WRPS) was needed to incorporate the requirements of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020 (NPS-UD) and to reflect the updated Future Proof Strategy.

The NPS-UD requires councils to plan for growth and ensure well-functioning urban environments for all people, communities and future generations. The NPS-UD contains objectives and policies that councils must give effect to in their resource management decisions, policy statements and plans.

Also, the WRPS incorporates key components of the Future Proof Strategy which covers the areas of Waipā and Waikato districts and Hamilton City. The strategy was updated in July 2022 and this needed to be reflected in the WRPS.

Notification of operative date

Timeline

Public consultation - 18 October to 16 December 2022 (complete)
Further submissions - 31 January to 15 February 2023 (complete)
Hearings, decisions and appeals - 8 May to 9 May 2023 (hearings), 15 November 2023 (notification of decisions), 17 January 2024 (appeals period closed), 4 May 2026 (appeals process concluded) (complete)
Plan change operative - 15 July 2026 (complete)

Staff are available to discuss any questions about WRPS Change 1 with you. Please make contact via email at strategicandspatialplanning@waikatoregion.govt.nz

Understanding what changes have been made

The scope of the WRPS Change 1 was limited to changes to implement the NPS-UD and to update the Future Proof components in the WRPS. This included:

A revised urban form and development chapter, to ensure that the WRPS is giving effect to the NPS-UD.
Deleting the specific provisions relating to growth strategies prepared by territorial authorities outside of the Future Proof subregion. These have been replaced with generic provisions to guide preparation of, and give weight to, growth strategies.
Updating the provisions that relate to the Future Proof subregion to reflect the Future Proof Strategy 2022. This includes the outcomes of the Hamilton to Auckland Corridor Plan, the Hamilton-Waikato Metro Spatial Plan (MSP), the MSP Transport Programme Business Case, and the Three Waters Sub-Regional Study.

FAQs

The National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020 (NPS-UD) replaced the National Policy Statement on Urban Development Capacity 2016. The NPS-UD requires councils to plan for growth and ensure well-functioning urban environments for all people, communities and future generations. The NPS-UD contains objectives and policies that councils must give effect to in their resource management decisions. Policy statements and district plans need to be updated via a plan change process to implement the NPS-UD. 

Visit here for further information on the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020.
The Future Proof Strategy is a 30-year plan to manage growth for the Hamilton, Waipā and Waikato sub-region. It identifies where people will live and work, and how existing and new urban areas will change and grow over time. The strategy recognises that the area it covers sit in the broader Hamilton-Auckland Corridor and Hamilton-Waikato Metropolitan areas, which include important areas such as Pukekohe, Drury and Morrinsville. The strategy sets out how we work together to manage growth in a way that benefits the community and the environment. This sub-regional approach aims to make sure growth happens when and where needed together with the infrastructure and services needed to allow it to happen.
The Future Proof Strategy was updated and adopted by the Future Proof Implementation Committee in June 2022.
For further information on the Future Proof Strategy, visit https://www.futureproof.org.nz/
Some provisions will apply only to ‘urban environments’ as defined by the NPS-UD, and some will apply to the whole of a ‘tiered’ local authority.
An urban environment means any area of land (regardless of size, and irrespective of local authority or statistical boundaries) that:
- is, or is intended to be, predominantly urban in character; and
- is, or is intended to be, part of a housing and labour market of at least 10,000 people.
Hamilton City, Waipā District, Waikato District and Waikato Regional Council have been identified as Tier 1 local authorities. At this point in time, Taupō, South Waikato, and Matamata Piako districts qualify as Tier 3 local authorities. Other districts may qualify as Tier 3 local authorities in the future.
There are no Tier 2 urban environments in the Waikato region. Rotorua Lakes District Council is a Tier 2 local authority but its urban environments are outside of the Waikato region boundary.
The provisions in WRPS Change 1 clearly identify whether they apply to urban environments, Tier 1 local authorities or Tier 3 local authorities.
No, the change predominantly affects the UFD - Urban Form and Development chapter (previously Chapter 6: Built Environment). The change also includes some amendments to provisions and updates some cross-references under the following sections:
- 6 Definitions
- 9 Te Ture Whaimana o te Awa o Waikato – Vision and Strategy for the Waikato River
- 10 National policy statements and New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement
- SRMR – Significant resource management issues for the region
- IM - Integrated management
- CE – Coastal environment
- CE-CMA – Coastal marine area
- LF - Land and freshwater
- ECO – Ecosystems and indigenous biodiversity
- EIT – Energy transport and infrastructure
- HAZ – Hazards and risks
- HCV – Historical and cultural values
- NATC – Natural character
- Appendices and maps

Appeals

Separate appeals were lodged on WRPS Change 1 by Fonterra Ltd, Titanium Park Ltd and Rukuhia Properties Ltd, and Hamilton City Council.

The appeals by Fonterra Ltd andTitanium Park Ltd and Rukuhia Properties Ltd have been resolved and consent orders have been issued by the Environment Court. The Hamilton City Council appeal was withdrawn on 4 May 2026.

Decisions

The recommendations of the Hearing Panel was adopted by Council on 26 October 2023. Council’s decision on WRPS Change 1 is contained in two reports.

The Decisions version contains a clean copy of the WRPS Change 1.

The Recommendations of Hearing Committee report includes discussion of issues raised by submitters, reasons for accepting or rejecting submissions, and overall recommendations of the Hearing Panel and the reasons for them. It also includes marked up and clean versions of WRPS Change 1 in the appendices.

Change 1 - National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020 and Future Proof Strategy update

Current status

What's happening?

Notification of operative date

Timeline

Understanding what changes have been made

FAQs

Appeals

Decisions

Documents

WRPS Change 1

Submissions

Further submissions

Hearing information

Hearing recordings

Hearing documents