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Air Quality - Plan Change 13 Air Quality - Plan Change 13

Air Quality - Plan Change 13

The Air Quality chapter of the Regional Natural Resources Plan has been updated to include provisions to control discharges of PM10 from unsealed yards within the Mount Maunganui Airshed (MMA), and two new policies relating to greenhouse gases. These provisions become operative on 29 August 2025.

The unsealed yards provisions were directed by the Environment Court under s293 of the Resource Management Act 1991. The two greenhouse gases policies were required by National Policy Statement for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Industrial Process Heat (2023).

The Environment Court also directed the Regional Council to notify a new policy (AREA2-P3, formerly Policy 12) for the iterative management of air quality within the MMA.  This policy and the policies and rules of PC 13 relating to log handling and bulk solid material handling all apply within the coastal marine area of the Bay of Plenty region.  As such, while they must be treated as operative, they require approval from the Minister for Conservation before they can be made operative and included in the Air Quality chapter.

Key Contact

Mark Hamilton  0800 884 881 ex 8511, or mark.hamilton@boprc.govt.nz

Relevant information

Hearing schedules

Documents and evidence submitted at hearings

The appellants

The appeals are being dealt with by the Environment Court, which has grouped the appeals into six topics:

  • Topic 1 – Appeals proposed to be resolved by direct negotiation
  • Topic 2 – Handling of bulk solids material
  • Topic 3 – Reverse sensitivity
  • Topic 4 – Objectives, Policies, Rule AQ R1 and new Method and Definitions
  • Topic 5 – Open Burning
  • Topic 6 – Agrichemical Spraying

Topics 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 were resolved through Court-assisted mediation. The consent orders are available on this page and the provisions are now operative and incorporated into the AIR chapter of the Regional Natural Resources Plan.

Topic 2 has been through an extensive Environment Court Hearing and three interim decisions have been issued on this matter. Some provisions have had final rulings from the Environment Court and are deemed operative.

Topic 2 has been extended under s293 of the Resource Management Act. The Court has directed Regional Council to notify further provisions to manage air quality in the Mount Maunganui Airshed. More information is available on this page.

The Case Manager for the appeals is:

Diana Wolfgramm 
diana.wolfgramm@justice.govt.nz

If you have any questions about the Air Plan, please contact Mark Hamilton on 0800 884 ex 8511.