Council provides clarity on Proposed District Plan

Gore District Council is offering clarification on aspects of the Proposed District Plan following public discussion about how cultural values are considered in the resource consent process.

General Manager Operations David Bainbridge-Zafar says the organisation understands there are genuine questions in the community and is keen to ensure people have clear, accurate information.

“We know the Proposed District Plan has generated conversation, and we want to ensure everyone has access to accurate, straightforward information,” he said.

How cultural values are taken into account

Mr Bainbridge-Zafar said cultural considerations within the resource consent process have not fundamentally changed from the current District Plan.

“There is no blanket requirement for landowners to obtain cultural assessments,” he explained.

“As with the current plan, Council may seek input from mana whenua only where the Resource Management Act requires it — usually in situations where a proposal may have potential effects on recognised cultural or heritage values. For most everyday activities, this does not apply.”

Key points include:

• Most routine farming and land‑use activities remain permitted, including silage pits under 2,500 m².
• All resource consents continue to be processed and determined by Council planning staff, not iwi, and no decision‑making powers have been delegated.
• Only one consent application this year has required a cultural impact assessment, and that was for a large mining proposal.
  Mr Bainbridge-Zafar said the Council is committed to helping the community navigate the plan with confidence.
• The fact sheet is available at:
  https://www.goredc.govt.nz/council/proposed-distri...

“Our priority is to ensure people feel supported and understand how the rules apply in practice,” he said.

“To help with this, we have published a fact sheet explaining how mana whenua values are incorporated into the Proposed District Plan, and we encourage people to refer to it if they have questions.”

Working within the statutory framework

If appeals to the Environment Court are lodged, Council will be limited in what it can publicly discuss about specific matters.

“We will continue to provide general information about the plan and the resource consent process, but cannot comment on any matters under appeal,” he said.

“Ultimately, this is about ensuring our community has reliable information and feels well supported throughout the process.”

ENDS

For media enquiries, please contact:

Gore District Council: Graham McKerracher

Cell: 021 190 6071

Email: [email protected]