Otago Regional Policy Statements  

Purpose

The Otago Regional Policy Statement (ORPS) provides an overarching policy framework that identifies and drives progress on significant resource management issues facing the region.

The ORPS aims to achieve long-term environmental sustainability by integrating the protection, restoration, enhancement, and use of Otago’s natural and physical resources at a region-wide level.

It also gives effect to statutory requirements set out in the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA), as well as various other statutes, national direction instruments, and iwi authority planning documents.

District and regional plans in Otago need to give effect to an operative ORPS when setting objectives, policies, methods, and rules for managing activities and resources. If there is a proposed RPS being developed, district and regional Plans need to have regard to that document too.


Area covered by the policy statement

An RPS must cover the entire Otago region, including the coastal marine environment out to 12 nautical miles.

Status of Otago’s policy statements

Partially Operative Otago Regional Policy Statement 2019

The Partially Operative Otago Regional Policy Statement 2019 (POORPS2019) was declared partially operative on 15 March 2021. Further information about the POORPS2019 development and refinement process and the parts that remain under appeal can be found here:


Proposed Otago Regional Policy Statement 2021

We notified a reviewed Regional Policy Statement on 26 June 2021. Submissions closed on 3 September 2021.

ORC staff are now summarising the decisions sought by submitters. The summary will be available when this process is complete and submitters will have the opportunity to make further submissions.

Further information about the RPS review process can be found here.


Regional Policy Statement for Otago 1998

The Regional Policy Statement for Otago 1998 was revoked on 15 March, 2021, and information on it has been removed from this site.

Any questions?

Email us at RPS@orc.govt.nz or call 0800 474 082 for further information.

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