WRC Freshwater Policy Review engagement 2023

Over the next two years, changes are to be made to Waikato Regional Policy Statement (RPS) and Waikato Regional Plan. To do this, they are seeking input from tangata whenua, farmers, industry, rural professionals and the general public to identify and understand their issues, values and aspirations for fresh water, and to determine how they will measure progress. The views and feedback will help to inform changes to the RPS and the development of a new regional plan, which they anticipate will be notified for public submission in 2024 and operative by 2026. Jane Penton is representing LWAG on a community reference group.

For information regarding the current state of freshwater within the Waikato region, please refer to Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA) - Waikato region) and the Waikato Regional Council environmental data hub (Environmental data hub | Waikato Regional Council). 

As a part of WRC’s second round of Community Engagement, they are holding a series of ‘drop-in’ sessions where members of the public can provide their feedback on the policy drafted so far. Please encourage friends and family to attend a session near them (Freshwater policy review - Community and stakeholder involvement | Waikato Regional Council).  

If you have had any additional thoughts or questions since the previous workshop, please provide them via the forums available on your private group page (Lake Taupō FMU Citizen Reference Group | Your Voice Matters Waikato (waikatoregion.govt.nz)).