(Clause 10A(6), Schedule 1, RMA)
The Minister for the Environment has granted Waikato District Council (WDC) a four-month extension of time to give a decision on the Proposed Waikato District Plan (PDP), under clause 10A(4)(a) of Schedule 1 of the Resource Management Act. This means that the decision must be made on or before 17 January 2022.
WDC requested an additional four months to translate the notified PDP into the National Planning Standards format, allow time to fully integrate the provisions across the PDP, and to release a single, integrated decision.
The Minister for the Environment has given reasons for his decision, including that granting this extension provides a clear statutory basis for WDC to make a decision on the PDP after 17 September 2021 and by 17 January 2022. While the four-month delay will result in some additional uncertainty for some stakeholders, the benefits of a well-integrated decision on the PDP that incorporates national direction will lead to greater plan certainty for all parties.
The Minister’s decision can be viewed on the council website at
If you have any questions about the PDP, please email districtplan@waidc.govt.nz.
Gavin Ion,
Chief Executive
24 September 2021