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Plans, Policies, Reports

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

 

Otago Regional Policy Statement 2019

The Otago Regional Policy Statement 2019 (ORPS 2019) became fully operative on 4 March 2024, and you can download the ORPS 2019 below. 

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Doc Type: pdf

Size: 3 MB

Date: 4/3/24

Ref: ISBN 978-0-908324-88-0

Otago Regional Policy Statement 2019

Download

You can also find more information on our RPS 2019 page. 

Regional Policy Statement 2019

The RPS aims to ensure Otago’s natural and built resources are managed well, and to provide for Otago’s social, economic, cultural, and environmental wellbeing; community health and safety; and for future generations. Read more

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Proposed Otago Regional Policy Statement 2021

The proposed Otago Regional Policy Statement 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 decisions on submissions on the proposed Otago Regional Policy Statement on 30 March 2024. The report of the non-freshwater and freshwater hearings panels, more information about the review process can be found on these pages:

 

Decisions on Otago Regional Policy Statement 2021

Council decisions on the freshwater planning instrument and non-freshwater parts of the proposed Otago Regional Policy Statement 2021 Read more

Proposed Otago Regional Policy Statement 2021 (Non-freshwater parts)

Non-freshwater parts of the Proposed Otago Regional Policy Statement 2021 (Proposed RPS 21) sets the direction for future management of Otago's natural and physical resources. Read more

Freshwater Planning Instrument Parts of Proposed Otago Regional Policy Statement (PORPS) 2021

Freshwater parts of the Proposed Otago Regional Policy Statement 2021 (Proposed RPS 21) sets the direction for future management of Otago's natural and physical resources. Read more

 


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 policy@orc.govt.nz or call 0800 474 082 for further information.

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