2021 Otago Regional Policy Statement

The Otago Regional Policy Statement 2021 is operative as of 9 July 2026.

The proposed Otago Regional Policy Statement (pORPS 2021) was notified on 26 June 2021. Following a determination by the High Court, the pORPS 2021 was separated into two parts: a freshwater and a non-freshwater planning instrument. The non-freshwater instrument kept the original notification date, and the freshwater planning instrument part was notified on 30 September 2022.

ORC notified its decision on submissions on the pORPS 2021 on 30 March 2024 and appeals on the decisions were received. All appeals were resolved through mediation, and the High Court and Environment Court subsequently issued consent orders, which formally amended the pORPS based on mediation agreements.

At their meeting on 24 June 2026, Council approved making the pORPS operative as of 9 July 2026.

The housing bottom lines for Dunedin and Queenstown were inserted into the Otago Regional Policy Statement 2021 when it became operative, in accordance with the National Policy Statement for Urban Development 2020.

Public notice 27 June 2026:
Proposed Otago Regional Policy Statement 2021 to become operative

Public notice 15 July 2026:
Insertion of housing bottom lines into the Otago Regional Policy Statement 2021

Otago Regional Policy Statement 2021

July 2026

ISBN 978-0-908324-97-2

PDF | 5 MB

The Otago Regional Policy Statement 2021 became operative on 9 July 2026.

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The process

	Heading	Description
	Review and pre-notification consultation	In November 2019, Minister for the Environment David Parker recommended that the ORC prepare a new regional policy statement.
	Notification	The pORPS 2021 was notified on 26 June 2021
	Submission period	for the non-freshwater part of the pORPS 2021 (including further submissions)
	High Court Declaration	The High Court declared that the Council’s determination that the whole pORPS 2021 is a freshwater planning instrument was wrong and the pORPS 2021 was separated into two parts.
	Re-notification of freshwater parts	The parts of the pORPS 2021 that are a freshwater planning instrument were re-notified on 15 September 2022. Note: the original submissions to the non-freshwater parts were retained.
	Submission period	for the freshwater parts of the pORPS 2021 (including further submissions).
	Hearings	for the non-freshwater parts of the pORPS 2021.
	Hearings	for the freshwater part of the pORPS 2021.
	Decisions	Council made decisions on the Panels’ recommendations for both the freshwater planning instrument and non-freshwater planning instrument parts of the pORPS 2021.
	Appeals – High Court	The appeals period to the High Court for the freshwater parts of the pORPS 2021 closed on 24 April 2024.
	Appeals – Environment Court	The period for appeals to the Environment Court for the non-freshwater parts of the pORPS closed on 16 May 2024.
	Mediation – High Court	Mediation of appeals to the High Court for the freshwater part of the pORPS occurred during August 2024. All appeals were resolved, so there will be no High Court hearings.
	Mediation – Environment Court	Mediation of appeals to the Environment Court for the non-freshwater parts of the pORPS occurred from November 2024 to June 2025. All appeals were resolved, so there will be no Environment Court hearings.
	Consent orders	The Courts issued consent orders based on mediation agreements. These consent orders formally amended the pORPS. High Court consent orders: January to October 2025. Environment Court consent orders: April 2025 to March 2026.
	Council decision on whether to make the pORPS 2021 operative	On 24 June 2026, Council decided to make the pORPS 2021 operative as of 9 July 2026.
	Otago Regional Policy Statement 2021 operative	As of 9 July 2026 the Otago Regional Policy Statement 2021 is operative and the Otago Regional Policy Statement 2019 is no longer operative.
	Housing bottom lines inserted	In accordance with the National Policy Statement for Urban Development 2020, the housing bottom lines for Dunedin and Queenstown were inserted into the Otago Regional Policy Statement 2021 on 9 July 2026.