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Otago Regional Policy Statement 2021
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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 Proposed Otago Regional Policy Statement on 30 March 2024 and appeals on the decisions were received by the High Court and the Environment Court. All appeals were resolved through mediation and the Courts issued consent orders, which formally amended the pORPS based on mediation agreements.
May 2026
PDF | 6 MB
This version of the pORPS2021 is maintained as per the outcomes of the appeals process.
May 2026
PDF | 7 MB
This version of the pORPS2021 is maintained as per the outcomes of the appeals process.
Updates to pORPS 2021
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14 May 2026 |
Minor corrections pursuant to Clause 16(2) of Schedule 1 to the Resource Management Act 1991 – Memorandum |
Refer to Cl 16(2) Memorandum |
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20 March 2026 |
Environment Court Consent Order |
UFD Refer to Environment Court Consent Order 20 March 2026 Decision No. 51 |
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9 December 2025 |
Environment Court Consent Order |
NFL Refer to Environment Court Consent Order 9 December 2025 Decision No. 397 |
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9 December 2025 |
Environment Court Consent Order |
ECO Refer to Environment Court Consent Order 9 December 2025 Decision No. 396 |
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9 December 2025 |
Environment Court Consent Order |
HCV Refer to Environment Court Consent Order 9 December 2025 Decision No. 395 |
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7 November 2025 and 9 December |
Environment Court Consent Order |
CE Refer to Environment Court Consent Order 7 November 2025 Decision No. 366 |
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22 October 2025 |
Order of the High Court sealed 22 October 2025: CIV-2024-412-000041 |
LF-WAI-O1 – Te Mana o te Wai |
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17 October 2025 |
Environment Court Consent Order sealed 17 October 2025: Decision No. [2025] NZEnvC 333 |
LF Refer to Environment Court Consent Order sealed 17 October 2025 |
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14 October 2025 |
Minor corrections pursuant to Clause 16(2) of Schedule 1 to the Resource Management Act 1991 – Memorandum |
Refer to Cl 16(2) Memorandum |
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2 October 2025 |
Environment Court Consent Order sealed 2 October 2025: Decision No. [2025] NZEnvC 323 |
EIT Refer to Environment Court Consent Order sealed 2 October 2025 |
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12 September 2025 |
Environment Court Consent Order sealed 12 September 2025: Decision No. [2025] NZEnvC 307 |
HAZ Refer to Environment Court Consent Order sealed 12 September 2025 |
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9 September 2025 |
Environment Court Consent Order sealed 9 September 2025: Decision No. [2025] NZEnvC 296 |
IM Refer to Environment Court Consent Order sealed 9 September 2025 |
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24 June 2025 |
Environment Court Consent Order sealed 24 June 2025: Decision No. [2025] NZEnvC 208 |
SRMR Refer to Environment Court Consent Order sealed 24 June 2025 |
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24 June 2025 |
Environment Court Consent Order sealed 24 June 2025: Decision No. [2025] NZEnvC 206 |
AIR Refer to Environment Court Consent Order sealed 24 June 2025 |
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07 May 2025 |
Minor corrections pursuant to Clause 16(2) of Schedule 1 to the Resource Management Act 1991 – Memorandum |
Refer to Cl 16(2) Memorandum |
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03 April 2025 |
Environment Court Consent Order sealed 3 April 2025: Decision No. [2025] NZEnvC 107 |
MW - Mana Whenua |
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24 March 2025 |
Minor corrections pursuant to Clause 16(2) of Schedule 1 to the Resource Management Act 1991 – Memorandum |
Refer to Cl 16(2) Memorandum |
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8 January 2025 |
Order of the High Court sealed 8 January 2025: CIV-2024-412-000037 / 000038 / 000040 / 000041 / 000042 |
All freshwater provisions resolved except for LF-WAI-O1 – Te Mana o te Wai Order of the High Court sealed 8 January 2025
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5 December 2024 |
Minor corrections pursuant to Clause 16(2) of Schedule 1 to the Resource Management Act 1991 – Memorandum |
Refer to Cl 16(2) Memorandum |
Where we are in the process
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Heading |
Description |
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Review and pre-notification consultation |
In November 2019, Minister for the Environment David Parker recommended that the ORC prepare a new regional policy statement. |
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Notification |
The pORPS 2021 was notified on 26 June 2021 |
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Submission period |
for the non-freshwater part of the pORPS 2021 (including further submissions) |
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High Court Declaration |
The High Court declared that the Council’s determination that the whole pORP 2021 is a freshwater planning instrument was wrong and the pORPS 2021 was separated into two parts. |
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Re-notification of freshwater parts |
The parts of the pORPS 2021 that are a freshwater planning instrument were re-notified on 15 September 2022.
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Submission period |
for the freshwater parts of the pORPS 2021 (including further submissions). |
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Hearings |
for the non-freshwater parts of the pORPS 2021. |
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Hearings |
for the freshwater part of the pORPS 2021. |
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Decisions |
Council made decisions on the Panels’ recommendations for both the freshwater planning instrument and non-freshwater planning instrument parts of the pORPS 2021. |
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Appeals – High Court |
The appeals period to the High Court for the freshwater parts of the pORPS 2021 closed on 24 April 2024. |
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Appeals – Environment Court |
The period for appeals to the Environment Court for the non-freshwater parts of the pORPS closed on 16 May 2024. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Council decision on whether to make the pORPS 2021 operative |
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pORPS 2021 becomes operative |
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Process - pORPS 2021
Information on the process of developing the proposed Otago Regional Policy Statement 2021.
Submissions - pORPS 2021
Information on submissions for both freshwater and non-freshwater parts of proposed Otago Regional Policy Statement 2021.
Hearings - pORPS 2021
Information on the hearings for both freshwater and non-freshwater parts of proposed Otago Regional Policy Statement 2021.
Decisions - pORPS 2021
Council decisions on the freshwater planning instrument and non-freshwater parts of the proposed Otago Regional Policy Statement 2021
Appeals - pORPS 2021
High Court and Environment Court appeals related to the proposed Otago Regional Policy Statement 2021
