Explore our freshwater policy development and give us feedback.
We have been on the journey to implementing central government's Essential Freshwater package, which would result in us notifying a change to the One Plan, our guide to managing natural resources in the Horizons Region.
The plan development process is an iterative one, as we weave together mātauranga, science, local knowledge, community and tangata whenua aspirations, and the requirements of national direction. On this page, we will put our draft objectives, policies and rules as they are developed following community engagement.
Our policy development process is informed by an evaluation of the current freshwater components of the One Plan, asking the questions:
- Are the One Plan’s anticipated environmental results and objectives being achieved?
- Is the One Plan being implemented efficiently?
- Does the One Plan give effect to the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM)?
You can read that evaluation here.
We were in the process of developing the outcomes that the One Plan change will seek to achieve. This involved setting long-term visions for freshwater, identifying values, and setting water quality targets.
There have been changes to the plan-making process since the Oranga Wai journey began. Most recently, central government passed legislation requiring most plan-making processes to be paused from August 2025 until after 31 December 2027 - including the Oranga Wai plan change. You can learn more about the pause here.
To date, we have developed a draft objective for Te Mana o te Wai, draft visions and values for freshwater, as well as draft environmental outcomes . You can learn more about those drafts below.
We welcome your feedback on our draft policy. Send us your thoughts via the feedback form.
