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Otago Regional Policy Statement 2019
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Otago’s current Regional Policy Statement (RPS) became fully operative on 4 March 2024.
Since the RPS was made operative there has been one amendment made to insert updated housing bottom lines for the Queenstown tier 2 urban environment. The amendment was operative from 29 January 2026 with the public notice issued on 4 February 2026.
The Otago Regional Policy Statement provides high level direction for resource management in Otago and contains objectives, policies and methods to achieve integrated management of natural and physical resources. Regional and District Plans must give effect to it.
The Otago Regional Policy Statement 2019 can be read here:
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. While the Otago Regional Policy Statement 2019 is now fully operative, a new proposed Otago Regional Policy Statement 2021 is currently in development. Further information on this process can be found on the Otago Regional Policy Statement 2021 page.
The following review begins with the newest events and works backwards through the RPS development process.
January 2026
ORC adopted updated housing bottom lines for the Queenstown tier 2 urban environment. The housing bottom lines in Schedule 6 of the Operative Otago Regional Policy Statement 2019 were amended under sections 55(2)(c) and 55(2A) of the Resource Management Act 1991.
March 2024
ORC approved provisions related to port activities and added to the Partially Operative Regional Policy Statement 2019 on 4 March 2024. As a consequence, the Regional Policy Statement for Otago 2019 was made fully operative.
February 2024
In accordance with the National Policy Statement for Urban Development, ORC approved inserting housing bottom lines for Queenstown and Dunedin into the Partially Operative Regional Policy Statement 2019 on 21 February 2024.
August 2023
The Supreme Court released its decision regarding port activities at Port Chalmers and Dunedin. All appeal matters were now resolved
March 2021
With all proposed provisions finalised, except those relating to port activities, the ORC approved the finalised provisions to be made operative and added to the Partially Operative Regional Policy Statement 2019 on 15 March, 2021. As a consequence, the Regional Policy Statement for Otago 1998 was revoked in full. Provisions relating to port activities remained under appeal.
August 2020
A final court decision was reached regarding indigenous biodiversity offsetting, following a High Court hearing and further review by the Environment Court.
December 2018
A number of proposed provisions remained subject to ongoing appeals. Given the extended time taken to finalise appeals, Council resolved to make agreed provisions operative in January 2019, forming the Partially Operative Otago Regional Policy Statement 2019. Some provisions of the previous RPS (which became operative in 1998) remained operative.
February 2018
Two appeal points that were not resolved through mediation, concerning ports and indigenous biodiversity offsetting (largely in the context of mining), were heard by the Environment Court.
Early 2018
Mediated agreements were lodged with the Environment Court through the first half of 2018.
2017
Mediation of appeals took place throughout 2017.
October 2016–January 2017
The council released the decisions version of the RPS on 1 October 2016. The appeal period closed on 9 December 2016.
December 2015–September 2016
The hearings panel deliberated on submissions received.
November 2015
Hearings.
May 2015
The proposed Regional Policy Statement was publicly notified on 23 May 2015.
