Natural character study of the Waikato coastal environment

TR 2016/05
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Report: TR 2016/05

Authors: R Ryder, J Bentley, L Saunders and Dr S De Luca (Boffa Miskell Limited)

Abstract

When the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement (NZCPS) was released in December 2010, local authorities were tasked to map or otherwise identify (at least) areas of high natural character in their coastal environments.

Waikato Regional Council engaged Boffa Miskell Limited to undertake a natural character assessment within the mapped coastal environment of the Waikato region’s east and west coasts.

This study was undertaken in light of the 2010 NZCPD and the proposed Waikato Regional Policy Statement. Part of the report relating to the East Coast study was used to inform Sea Change Tai Timu Tai Pari – The Hauraki Gulf Marine Spatial Plan Project of which the council was a partner agency.

Furthermore, the East Coast study builds upon existing natural character related work undertaken by Vicky Froude using the QINNCE index of naturalness.