Appeals and Legal Effect of Decisions

From 30 January 2026, the Proposed District Plan was brought into legal effect. The was followed by an appeals period whereby those who submitted during the district plan process could appeal decisions made in the Decisions Version.

The appeals period closed on March 16th, 2026. Appeals are being processed with some having been resolved, Consent Orders will soon be made available on our website.

What does the Appeals Version mean?

Certain elements of the Proposed Plancan “go live” in stages. If some chapters or zones aren’t appealed, the Council can make those sections operative early, while the appealed parts continue through the process.

The appeals version of the Proposed Plan is now live, appeals still remain on the entirety of some chapters therefore the Operative District Plan remains in place.

Both plans are still considered in the planning context.

• You might need a resource consent under the Proposed Plan
• You might also need a resource consent under the Operative Plan
• This continues until the Proposed Plan becomes fully operative

Think of this as a transition period where the new rules are “live”, but the old ones aren’t fully switched off yet.

Appeals process and timeframes

• Decisions were publicly notified on 30 January 2026
• The appeal period ran until 5:00pm 16 March 2026
• Only people who made a submission were able to appeal, and only on matters they submitted on. They cannot request withdrawal of the entire Proposed District Plan.
• Some appeals have now been made to the Environment Court
• Other parties were able to join an appeal within 15 working days after the appeal period closes

More information about appeal requirements can be found via this link Clause 14 of the 1st Schedule of the Resource Management Act.

Any appeal to the Environment Court must be in the prescribed form, and a copy must also be sent to the Council and any other relevant submitters. The appeal forms can be found on the Environment Court website – here’s the link Forms & fees | Environment Court of New Zealand.

We will publish appeal notices and other information on this website.

When does the new plan fully take over?

Only after all appeals are finished. Once that happens:

• Council tidies up any final changes
• Council formally approves the plan
• A public notice is issued
• The Proposed Plan becomes “operative”

Appeal Period

Following public notification of the Gore Proposed District Plan Decisions Version on 30 January 2026, the period for lodging appeals closed on the 16 March 2026.