Proposed Plan Overview & Decisions

The public notification of the Proposed District Plan decisions on 30 January 2026 is the culmination of a thorough, five-year process designed to ensure the Gore District has a plan that is robust, future-focused and legally sound.

The Hearings Panel’s decision papers include:

reasons for accepting or rejecting submissions
evaluation of changes to provisions
recommendations on designations from the requiring authorities

The notification of decisions was delayed in late 2025 to give the Panel sufficient time to consider all evidence and submissions carefully and ensure the public’s voice was heard.

The diligence taken throughout the process gives the community confidence that the Plan is balanced, evidence-based and future-proofed.

Details about the review, hearing process and background information, including supporting documents, reports and maps, can be found by clicking on this link to the Council’s Let’s Talk website.

What’s happened and what’s changing

Why the Gore District Plan was reviewed

The Gore District Plan is the community’s planning rulebook. It shapes how land can be used and developed, while protecting the environment, infrastructure, heritage and community values.

A full review of the existing Operative District Plan was undertaken as it no longer fully reflected:

How land is actually being used in Gore, Mataura and the rural area
National planning requirements, including the National Planning Standards
Future growth needs for housing, business and infrastructure

Key milestones in the review process

2022 - Community consultation on the Draft District Plan

31 August 2023- The Proposed District Plan (PDP) was formally notified

Submissions received:

130 submissions covering 5542 submission points
26 further submissions

June 2024 – April 2025

An independent hearings panel heard submissions and evidence from technical experts and the community
Hearings were held over multiple tranches, reflecting the size and complexity of the Plan

19 December 2025

Requiring Authorities accept the Hearing Panel’s recommendations.

What is in the Proposed District Plan?

The Proposed District Plan contains 42 chapters, made up of:

District-wide chapters (24)

These apply across the entire District, regardless of zoning, and cover matters such as:

Infrastructure and transport
Subdivision
Natural hazards
Noise, signs and earthworks
Ecosystems and indigenous biodiversity
Natural features and landscapes
Mana whenua and Māori cultural values
Historic heritage

Zone chapters (18)

These replace the five zones in the current plan and align with the National Planning Standards.
They include zones such as:

General Rural
Rural Lifestyle
Settlement
Mixed Use
Town Centre and Local Centre
General Industrial and Light Industrial
Residential zones at different densities

The zoning framework generally reflects existing activities. It will enable future growth in Gore, Mataura and townships, and reduce unnecessary resource consents by better matching zones to reality

Overview of key decisions in the Proposed District Plan

The hearings panel's decisions have largely supported the notified Plan, with refinements. Key outcomes include:

Urban and commercial areas

Mixed Use Zones in Gore and Mataura, which recognise the broad mix of activities already occurring
Town Centre Zone (Gore) and Local Centre Zone (Mataura) to support vibrant commercial hubs
Neighbourhood Centre Zones in East and West Gore, and Mataura

Residential growth and housing choice

Three residential zones providing a range of densities:

General Residential Zone – most homes in Gore and Mataura (400m² per unit)
Medium Density Residential Zone – around neighbourhood centres (150m² per unit)
Large Lot Residential Zone – urban–rural transition areas (2000m² per unit)

Rural and settlement areas

Rural Lifestyle Zones providing for existing lifestyle blocks and new blocks with a minimum size of 1 hectare
Settlement Zones in Mandeville, Waikaka and Pukerau that allow subdivision down to 2000m²
General Rural Zone with an 8-hectare minimum lot size to protect productive rural land

Special purpose and bespoke zones

Provision for:

Marae and Māori cultural needs (including O Te Ika Rama, Mataura, Hokonui Marae and the Hokonui Rūnanga site)
Gore Airport
Open space, sport and recreation facilities
Regionally significant activities such as the Southern Field Days site and Camp Columba

Greenfield development areas

Gore West Residential Development Area
Gore South Light / Industrial Development Area

Key changes arising from decisions

The decisions also include some notable refinements:

Bespoke landscape and biodiversity controls for the Hokonui Hills, allowing farming to continue while protecting key values
A new McNab Development Area, providing for light industrial, rural industry and rural lifestyle uses, and relocating the Māori Purpose Zone away from flood risk
Removal of the buffer overlay around Gore East and Mataura water treatment plants
A new Rural Lifestyle Zone west of the Gore Golf Club
Removal of the proposed Rural Lifestyle Zone in north Mataura
Replacement of the Sites and Areas of Significance to Māori chapter with a broader Māori Cultural Values chapter
Inclusion of a Natural Character chapter
A precinct overlay enabling the New Vale Mine activity

The release of the Proposed District Plan decisions was publicly notified in The Ensign on Wednesday 28 January 2026.

Here is the public notice.

Proposed District Plan Decisions

The independent hearing panel has made decisions on the Proposed District Plan addressing submissions provided by the community. The following sections include: