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Regional Plan: Water for Otago
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The Regional Plan: Water for Otago (Water Plan) manages water within the region’s boundaries.
The Water Plan became operative on 1 January 2004. It regulates the environmental effects created by using water, activities in waterbodies or discharges of contaminants into the environment where it may enter water. If you are doing activities involving water or land use activities that may affect water, you must comply with the rules in the plan.
The plan promotes the sustainable management of Otago’s water resources. It sets policies and methods (including rules) to address the use, development and protection of Otago’s freshwater resources, including the beds and margins of waterbodies.
The plan covers all freshwater in Otago, including lakes, rivers, groundwater and wetlands. The Water Plan does not cover coastal water except where activities on land may affect such water.
Under the Water Plan rules:
- you can carry out permitted activities
- you need a resource consent for some activities
- you cannot carry out prohibited activities.
You will need a resource consent for anything the Water Plan describes as a controlled, restricted discretionary, discretionary or non-complying activity.
On 21 August 2025, the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Act 2025 came into force. This Act extends the duration of short-term water permits in Otago, granted since March 2020, by 5 years and amends the operative Water Plan by:
- Deleting “where that water permit expires prior to 31 December 2025” in Rule 10A.3.1.1(b), Rule 10A.3.1A.1(b) and Rule 10A.3.2.1(b).
- Revoking Policy 7.D.2, Rule 12.C.1.1(g), Rule 12.C.1.1A and Rule 12.C.1.3.
These amendment to the Water Plan will ensure that water permits that are not eligible for a five-year extension can be replaced via a simpler consent pathway and that most farmers and growers in Otago no longer need to apply for a consent for rural diffuse discharges after 1 April 2026.
For more information about the amendments and their implications for farmers and growers and water permit holders in Otago visit our FAQ page:
If you have specific questions about your water permit replacement application, please get in touch with our Consent Enquiries team at consent.enquiries@orc.govt.nz
If you have any other questions, please contact the Policy Team at policy@orc.govt.nz
The plan below includes all operative plan changes and amendments that are operative as at 21 August 2025.
You can download the full Plan or individual Chapters below.
Note: Differing dates on page footers and maps show when each page or sheet was last updated.
2. Legislative and Policy Framework
4. Kai Tahu ki Otago: Water Perspective
5. Natural and Human Use Values of Lakes and Rivers
8. The Beds and Margins of Lakes and Rivers
10A. Objective, Policies & Rules for Replacement Water Take & Use Permits
12. Rules: Water Take, Use and Management
13. Rules: Land Use on Lake or River Beds or Regionally Significant Wetlands
Schedule 3, 3A, 3B: Schedule of human use values of Otago's aquifers
Schedule 4, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D: Schedule of the allocation and restriction regime for groundwater
Schedule 5, 5A, 5B: Schedule of limits to instantaneous take of groundwater
Schedule 6: Schedule of water bodies where damming is prohibited
Schedule 7: Schedule of water bodies sensitive to suction dredge mining
Schedule 8: Schedule of requirements for discharge of animal wastes
Schedule 9: Schedule of identified regionally significant wetlands and wetland management areas
Schedule 10: Repealed - 1 October 2013
Note: Schedule 10A.4 is found in Chapter 10A
Schedule 11: Repealed - 1 March 2012
Schedule 12: Schedule of coastal marine area boundaries
Schedule 13: Schedule of transitional provisions repealed by this Regional Plan: Water
Schedule 14: Repealed - 1 March 2012
Schedule 17: Schedule of rules applying to plantation forestry in Otago
Schedule 18: Schedule of pond drop test requirements and criteria
Schedule 20: Schedule defining Suitably Qualified Persons
The maps are an integral part of the Regional Plan: Water for Otago.
Approved for reproduction by the Otago Regional Council in terms of LINZ Map Licence No. 23732/002.
Note: There is no map section I.
Map A1 - Lakes subregion north west
Map A3 - Lakes and Central Otago subregions
Map A4 - Lakes and Central Otago subregions
Map A5 - Central Otago and North Otago subregions
Map A6 - Lakes and Central Otago subregions
Map A7 - Lakes, Central Otago, Roxburgh and Maniototo subregions
Map A8 - Central Otago, Maniototo, Strath Taieri and North Otago subregions
Map A9 - North Otago subregions
Map A10 - Lakes, Central Otago and Southwest Otago subregions
Map A14 - Southwest Otago, Taieri Clutha Plains, Waikouaiti Lammermoor and Coastal subregions
Map A15 - Southwest Otago, Catlins, Taieri Clutha Plains and Coastal subregions
Map A16 - Catlins, Taieri Clutha Plains and Coastal subregions
Map B1 - Mount Aspiring National Park North West
Map B2 - Mount Aspiring National Park North
Map B3 - Mount Aspiring National Park West
Map B4 - Luggate catchment. Lindis catchment and Manuherikia catchment upstream of Ophir
Map B5 - Manuherikia catchment upstream of Ophir
Map B9 - Welcome Creek catchment, Waianakarua catchment and Kakanui catchment
Map B15 - Pomahaka catchment, Waiwera catchment and Lake Tuakitoto catchment
Map B16 - Lake Tuakitoto catchment
Map C3 - Cardrona Alluvial Ribbon Aquifer
Map C4 - Wakatipu Basin Aquifer
Map C5 - Lindis Alluvial Ribbon Aquifer and Lower Tarras Aquifer
Map C7 - Lowburn Alluvial Ribbon Aquifer and Cromwell Terrace Aquifer
Map C10 - Maniototo Tertiary Aquifer
Map C11 - Maniototo Tertiary Aquifer
Map C12 - Maniototo Tertiary Aquifer
Map C13 - Maniototo Tertiary Aquifer
Map C14 - Maniototo Tertiary Aquifer
Map C19 - Shag Alluvium Aquifer and Groundwater Protection Zone
Map C20 - Roxburgh Basin Aquifer
Map C21 - Ettrick Basin Aquifer
Map C22 - Pomahaka Alluvial Ribbon Aquifer
Map C23 - Pomahaka Alluvial Ribbon Aquifer
Map C24 - Lower Taieri Aquifer and Groundwater Protection Zone
Map C25 - Lower Taieri Aquifer and Groundwater Protection Zone
Map C26 - Inch Clutha Gravel Aquifer
Map E1 - Lakes and Central Otago
Map E2 - Lakes and Central Otago
Map E3 - Lakes, Central Otago and Maniototo
Map E4 - Lakes and Central Otago
Map E5 - Lakes, Central Otago, Southwest Otago, Roxburgh, Maniototo and Strath Taieri
Map E6 - Central Otago, Maniototo, Strath Taieri, North Otago and Waikouaiti/Lammermoor
Map E8 - Strath Taieri, North Otago, Waikouaiti/Lammermoor, Taieri/Clutha Plains and Coastal
Map E9 - Southwest Otago, Taieri/Clutha Plains, Coastal and Catlins
Index map 1 – Queenstown Lakes District
Index map 2 – Central Otago District, Waitaki District, Dunedin City
Map F1 Big Boggy Swamp, Dingle Lagoon, Makarora Flat Swamp Complex, Minaret Bay Swamp
Map F3 Campbells Reserve Pond Margins, Diamond Lake Wetland, Kinloch Wetland, Lake Reid Wetland
Map F4 Matakauri Wetland, Moke Creek Swamp, Moke Lake Bog, Little Stoney Bog
Map F5 Matukituki Valley Wetland Management Area
Map F6 Church Hill Wetland Complex
Map F7 Mount Nicholas Lagoon, Lake Hayes Margins
Map F8 Glenorchy Lagoon Wetland, Shotover River Confluence Swamp, Signal Hill Swamp
Map F9 Von Valley Wetland Complex
Map F10 Von Valley Wetland Complex
Map F14 Cross Eden Creek Marsh Complex, Kirkwoods Creek Wetland Management Area
Map F15 Island Block Pond Marshes, Kirk Creek Headwaters Marsh Complex, Rigney Pond Margins
Map F17 Flat Top Hill Ephemeral Wetlands, Nevis Red Tussock Fen, Schoolhouse Flat Red Tussock Fen
Map F18 Hawkdun Runs Road Marsh, Hut Creek Swamps
Map F19 Upper Taieri Wetlands Complex
Map F20 Upper Taieri Wetlands Complex
Map F21 Upper Taieri Wetlands Complex
Map F23 Upper Taieri Wetlands Complex
Map F24 Upper Taieri Wetlands Complex
Map F25 Upper Taieri Wetlands Complex
Map F27 Boundary Creek Fen, Middle Swamp, Fortification Creek Wetland Management Area
Map F28 Blackcleugh Burn Swamp, Malones Dam Margins, Glendhu Swamp, John O'Groats Hill Fen
Map F30 Macfarlane Road Oxbow Swamp, Marana Swamp, Trig Y Bogs, Willowburn Bog
Map F33 Catlins River Wetland, Otanomomo Tuatiki Reserve, Ratanui Swamp
Map F34 Dunvegan Fen Complex, Wairepo Creek Marsh Complex
Map F36 Cannibal Bay Road Swamp, False Islet Wetland Management Area, Tahakopa Marsh Complex
Map F37 Clutha Matau Wetlands, Clutha River Mouth Lagoon, Molyneux Bay Swamp
Map F38 Cheetwood Road Wetlands, Culcairn Oxbow Marsh, Finegand Lagoon Marsh
Map F39 East Benhar Swamp, Lake Tuakitoto Wetland, Stirling Marsh Complex
Map F40 Camp Stream Swamp, Frasers Stream Headwaters Marsh Complex, Two Stone Hill Stream Swamp
Map F41 Measly Beach Wetland Complex
Map F42 Akatore Creek Swamp, Coutts Gully Swamp
Map F43 Governors Point Swamp, Rocky Hill Tidal Marshes, Takitoa Swamp
Map F44 Henley Swamp, Waipori Boot Swamp, Waipori/Waihola Wetland Complex
Map F45 Waipori Boot Swamp, Waipori/Waihola Wetland Complex
Map F46 Loch Loudon Fen Complex, Loch Luella Fen Complex
Map F47 Bungtown Bog, Loch Luella Fen Complex
Map F48 Tokomairiro River Swamp
Map F49 Hazeldale Fens, Kuriwao Saddle Fen Complex, Three Stones Fen Complex
Map F54 Lower Otokia Creek Marsh, McKays Triangle Wetland, Hoopers Inlet Swamp, Tomahawk Lagoon
Map F55 Peat Moss Hills Fen Complex, Sutton Salt Lake Wetland Management Area
Map F57 Kaikorai Lagoon Swamp, Braeside Swamp, Otokia Swamp
Map F58 Maungatua Summit Wetland Management Area, Office Creek Seepage
Map F60 All Day Bay Lagoon, Kakaho Creek Swamp, Kemp Road Lagoon, Waianakarua River Estuary Swamp
Map F61 Te Hua Taki Wetland, Upper Waiareka Creek Swamp, Tavora Wetland, Papanui Inlet Saltmarsh
Map F62 Pleasant River Estuary Wetland Complex, Red Bank Wetland Management Area
Map F63 Black Rock Marshes, Okia Flat Wetland Management Area, Te Matai Marsh Complex
Repealed 1 October 2013.
