Hearings information

Proposed Waikato Regional Coastal Plan

Hearings for the Proposed Waikato Regional Coastal Plan were held from 17 February to 30 April 2025, at the Distinction Hotel in Te Rapa, Hamilton. The Hearings Panel formally closed the hearings process on the 14 July 2025.

Information on the hearings, including hearings proceedings, Section 42A reports, evidence and expert conferencing can be found below.

Council adopted the Hearing Panel recommendations on submissions at their meeting on 25 September 2025 and Council’s decision was notified on 14 October 2025.

On this page:

Directions from the Hearing Panel •
Recommended changes to the Proposed Plan •
Section 42A reports and S42A addendums •
Evidence •
Expert conferencing •
About the Hearing Panel

Hearings proceedings - documents and audio recordings

Directions from the Hearing Panel

The Hearing Panel has issued directions regarding the hearing process and evidence exchange. These can be found below.

Recommended changes to the Proposed Plan

The Proposed Waikato Regional Coastal Plan document has been updated to include the changes recommended in the section 42A reports, S42A addendums and Council closing report:

Section 42A reports and S42A addendums

This suite of reports is prepared under the provisions of Section 42A of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). The reports summarise and evaluate submissions on the Proposed Waikato Regional Coastal Plan for the Hearing Panel and recommend possible amendments to the plan in response to those submissions.

Introduction, General and Definitions
IM – Integrated management | Whakahaere rawa pāhekoheko
- IM – Integrated Management | Whakahaere rawa pāhekoheko - S42A report
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- IM – Integrated Management | Whakahaere rawa pāhekoheko - S42 addendum
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AIR – Discharges to air | Ngā rukenga ki te rangi
- AIR – Discharges to air | Ngā rukenga ki te rangi - S42A report
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AQA – Aquaculture | Ahumoana
- AQA - Aquaculture| Ahumoana - S42A report
  
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- AQA - Aquaculture | Ahumoana – S42 addendum
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BIO – Biosecurity | Ārai taiao
- BIO - Biosecurity | Ārai taiao - S42A report
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- BIO –Biosecurity | Ārai taiao - Section 42A addendum:
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DD – Disturbances and deposition | Whakararutanga me ngā waipara
ECO – Ecosystems and indigenous biodiversity | Te mauri o te taiao me te rerenga rauropi
- ECO – Ecosystems and indigenous biodiversity | Te mauri o te taiao me te rerenga rauropi - S42A report
  
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- ECO – Ecosystems and indigenous biodiversity | Te mauri o te taiao me te rerenga rauropi - S42A addendum
  
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EI – Energy and infrastructure | Pūngao me ngā hanganga matua
- EI – Energy and infrastructure | Pūngao me ngā hanganga matua - S42A report
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- EI – Energy and infrastructure | Pūngao me ngā hanganga matua - S42A addendum
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HH – Historic heritage | Taonga onamata
- HH – Historic heritage | Taonga onamata - S42A report
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- HH – Historic heritage | Taonga onamata - S42A addendum
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MO – Moorings | Ngā pou herenga waka
- MO – Moorings | Ngā pou herenga waka - S42A report
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NATC – Natural character | Āhua tūturu
- NATC – Natural character | Āhua tūturu - S42A report
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- NATC – Natural character | Āhua tūturu - S42A addendum
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NFL – Natural features and landscapes (seascapes) | Ngā tirohanga whenua
- NFL – Natural features and landscapes (seascapes) | Ngā tirohanga whenua - S42A report
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- NFL – Natural features and landscapes (seascapes) | Ngā tirohanga whenua - S42A addendum
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NH – Natural hazards | Ngā mōrearea ao tū
- NH – Natural hazards | Ngā mōrearea ao tūroa - S42A report
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- NH – Natural hazards | Ngā mōrearea ao tūroa - S42A addendum
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NOISE – Noise and vibration | Harurutanga
- NOISE – Noise and vibration | Harurutanga - S42A report
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- NOISE – Noise and vibration | Harurutanga - S42A addendum
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PA – Public access and recreation | Ara tumatanui me ngā mahi ā rēhia
- PA – Public access and recreation | Ara tumatanui me ngā mahi ā rēhia - S42A report
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SASM – Ngā whenua tapu a te Māori | Sites and areas of significance to Māori
- SASM – Ngā whenua tapu a te Māori | Sites and areas of significance to Māori - S42A report
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SB – Surf breaks | Ngā ngaru moana
- SB – Surf breaks | Ngā ngaru moana - S42A report
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STR – Structure and occupation of space | Ngā hanganga i te takutai
WAQ – Water quality | Kounga wai
- WAQ – Water quality | Kounga wai -S42A report
  
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- WAQ – Water quality | Kounga wai -S42A addendum
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WD – Discharges to water | Rukenga ki te wai
- WD – Discharges to water | Rukenga ki te wai - S42A report
  
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- WD – Discharges to water | Rukenga ki te wai - S42A addendum
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WT – Water take, use, dam, divert | Herenga, whakamahinga, aukati me te kaupare ā-wai
- WT – Water take, use, dam, divert | Herenga, whakamahinga, aukati me te kaupare ā-wai - S42A report
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- WT – Water take, use, dam, divert | Herenga, whakamahinga, aukati me te kaupare ā-wai - S42A addendum
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Evidence and statements

Expert conferencing

The Hearings Panel has directed that expert conferencing be conducted on selected topics. The Joint Witness Statements from each expert conferencing session can be found below.

About the Hearing Panel

The Hearings Panel is responsible for hearing and deliberating on submissions to the proposed coastal plan, and then making recommendations to the council.

Selection criteria for the panel included accreditation for decision making under the Resource Management Act and an understanding of the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement and Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act.

The independent commissioners appointed have a proven record of understanding complex resource management issues and a familiarity with coastal policy issues.

Hearing panel members

Greg Hill is an independent hearings commissioner and resource management planner/consultant. He has extensive experience chairing a wide range of plan making and resource consent hearings under the Resource Management Act. He was the General Manager Policy and Planning at the Auckland Regional Council (including the coastal function) and was the project manager and one of the principal authors of the first Auckland Coastal Plan. One of his most significant commissioner roles was with Waikato Regional Council’s Healthy Rivers/Wai Ora Plan Change 1.
Hugh Leersnyder is an independent hearings commissioner with extensive experience in applied environmental planning and resource management. He has technical expertise in biological and physical sciences as well as wide and varied experience in soil, water and coastal resource management. He held the position of Manager – Coastal Environment with Auckland Regional Council for 12 years, leading a team of coastal planners, scientists and other resource management professionals to manage the resources of the coastal environment in a balanced and integrated manner.
Of Ngāpuhi descent, Vicki Morrison-Shaw is an experienced Resource Management Act commissioner and senior environmental barrister who specialises in resource management and Māori law issues. She has broad experience across a range of different roles, including within law firms, a specialist iwi consultancy firm and for a local authority. She currently convenes the New Zealand Law Society Environmental Law Committee and is the interim convenor of Te Hunga Rōia Taiao Komiti.
Warren Maher is the Thames-Coromandel constituency member for the Waikato Regional Council. Warren is chair of the council’s Strategy and Policy Committee and Submissions Subcommittee and also sits on the risk and assurance, integrated catchment and CE employment and remuneration committees. He has lived and run an electrical contracting business in Tairua for 30 years. Warren has been President of the Tairua Pauanui Sports Fishing Club and Vice President of the NZ Sports Fishing Council. He is also the council representative on the Hauraki Gulf Forum.
Stuart Kneebone is a Waipā-King Country constituency member for the Waikato Regional Council and has been a councillor for the past 12 years. He is co-chair of the Waikato River Authority and Crown appointee as well as co-chair of the Te Nehenehenui Co-Governance Forum. Stu is also a local farmer involved in initiatives that contribute towards catchment health, water quality and biodiversity enhancement in the Waikato region. Over the years, he has spent a lot of time boating and diving in Mercury Bay.

Waikato Regional Council holds a register of interests for the Hearings Panel. Please email coastalplan@waikatoregion.govt.nz if you would like to view the register.

Directions from the Hearing Panel

Recommended changes to the Proposed Plan

Section 42A reports and S42A addendums

Introduction, General and Definitions

IM – Integrated management | Whakahaere rawa pāhekoheko

AIR – Discharges to air | Ngā rukenga ki te rangi

AQA – Aquaculture | Ahumoana

BIO – Biosecurity | Ārai taiao

DD – Disturbances and deposition | Whakararutanga me ngā waipara

ECO – Ecosystems and indigenous biodiversity | Te mauri o te taiao me te rerenga rauropi

EI – Energy and infrastructure | Pūngao me ngā hanganga matua

HH – Historic heritage | Taonga onamata

MO – Moorings | Ngā pou herenga waka

NATC – Natural character | Āhua tūturu

NFL – Natural features and landscapes (seascapes) | Ngā tirohanga whenua

NH – Natural hazards | Ngā mōrearea ao tū

NOISE – Noise and vibration | Harurutanga

PA – Public access and recreation | Ara tumatanui me ngā mahi ā rēhia

SASM – Ngā whenua tapu a te Māori | Sites and areas of significance to Māori

SB – Surf breaks | Ngā ngaru moana

STR – Structure and occupation of space | Ngā hanganga i te takutai

WAQ – Water quality | Kounga wai

WD – Discharges to water | Rukenga ki te wai

WT – Water take, use, dam, divert | Herenga, whakamahinga, aukati me te kaupare ā-wai

Evidence and statements

Expert conferencing

About the Hearing Panel

Hearing panel members