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Resource use. It's what we do.

In 2023/24, we managed 2646 consents across 875 sites and took 86 actions against consent non-compliance. We also received and responded to 1675 reports of environmental incidents.

  • Regional councils are responsible for regulating the use of natural resources, such as water, soil, air, geothermal areas and the coastal marine area. We also seek ways to sustainably manage the adverse effects to people, property and the environment that arise from resource use. This work is done through a mix of statutory regulatory functions and education, guided by compliance strategies and working with other organisations and our communities. It includes:

    • providing consents to use natural resources in the Waikato region
    • providing building consents for large dams for the whole of the North Island
    • checking people comply with their consents as well as other environmental rules
    • working alongside primary sector stakeholders to support farmers and growers to meet their regulatory obligations
    • supporting schools with educational programmes Enviroschools and Kura Waitī Ki Kura Waitā
    • investigating potential breaches of the law and take appropriate enforcement actions when breaches are found
    • responding to reported pollution incidents or complaints 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

    Did you know?

    We are required to produce a regional policy statement (RPS), which gives an overview of the resource management issues for the region and ways in which integrated management of the region’s natural and physical resources will be achieved. We are also responsible for producing the Waikato Regional Plan and the Waikato Regional Coastal Plan, which contain policy and methods to manage the natural and physical resources of the region and the coastal marine area respectively. All these plans are currently under review to give effect to national direction.

    Proposed Waikato Regional Plan Change 1: Waikato and Waipā river catchments (PC1) is before the Environment Court. PC1 introduces new rules for managing the farm activities that may adversely affect freshwater quality in the Waikato and Waipā river catchments. A significant number of new resource consents are likely to be required over the coming years as PC1 becomes operative and urban growth across the region continues.

Stories about resource use

More information on resource use

Local elections are in October

Get ready to participate in local elections 2025 for the Waikato region.

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