The Hearing Panel has released its reports and decisions on submissions to Plan Change 29 (PC29), which include recommended amendments to the proposed provisions.

The Panel has accepted some aspects of PC29 while rejecting others, resulting in changes across multiple chapters of the Nelson Resource Management Plan (NRMP).

At its meeting on 5 June 2025, the Council accepted the recommendations of the independent Hearing Panel in full. The decisions reflect the Hearing Panel’s findings and reasons as set out in their recommendation report. For anyone wishing to watch the discussion and decision-making process, the meeting can be viewed on the Council’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/NelsonCouncil.


Following the Council meeting, all submitters will be formally notified of the Council’s decision. At that time, we will provide information on the next steps, including appeal rights for those who made a submission or further submission. Submitters will have 30 working days from the date of notice to lodge any appeals with the Environment Court.

Report TopicReport Author DocumentsSummary
Overview and StrategicPC29 Hearing PanelHearing Panel's Overview and Strategic Report This Overview and Strategic Recommendation Report provides an overview of the Hearing Panel’s recommendations for the whole of PC29. It also sets out a summary of the process followed in relation to PC29; its notification, submissions, and the hearings, and provides the background and context to address the general and strategic submission points on PC29.
Overview and Strategic -Attachment 1PC29 Hearing PanelPlanning Maps, Meanings of Words and Chapter 5 (District wide objectives and policies) Attachment 1 contains the Hearing Panel’s recommendations on PC29 provisions to amend the Operative NRMP. These amendments relate to the following parts of the NRMP:
  • Planning Maps
  • Volume 1:
    • Chapter 2 – Meanings of Words
    • Chapter 3 – Administration
    • Chapter 5 – District Wide Objectives and Policies
Overview and Strategic -Attachment 1aAttachment 1a - Chapter 7 Residential Zone and Chapter 8 Inner City ZoneChapter 7 Residential Zone and Chapter 8 Inner City ZoneAttachment 1a contains the Hearing Panel’s recommendations on PC29 provisions to amend the Operative NRMP. These amendments relate to the following parts of the NRMP:
  • Volume 2 – Zones:
    • Chapter 7 – Residential Zone,
    • Chapter 8 – Inner City Zone
Overview and Strategic -Attachment 1bAttachment 1b - Chapter 9 Suburban Commercial Zone and Chapter 10 Industrial ZoneChapter 9 Suburban Commercial Zone and Chapter 10 Industrial ZoneAttachment 1b contains the Hearing Panel’s recommendations on PC29 provisions to amend the Operative NRMP. These amendments relate to the following parts of the NRMP:
  • Volume 2 – Zones:
    • Chapter 9 – Suburban Commercial Zone
    • Chapter 10 – Industrial Zone
Overview and Strategic -Attachment 1cAttachment 1c - Chapter 11 Open Space and Recreation and Chapter 13 Coastal Marine AreaChapter 11 Open Space and Recreation and Chapter 13 Coastal Marine AreaAttachment 1c contains the Hearing Panel’s recommendations on PC29 provisions to amend the Operative NRMP. These amendments relate to the following parts of the NRMP:
  • Volume 2 – Zones:
    • Chapter 11 Open Space and Recreation Zone
    • Chapter 13 Coastal Marine Area
Overview and Strategic -Attachment 1dAttachment 1d - AppendicesAppendicesAttachment 1d contains the Hearing Panel’s recommendations on PC29 provisions to amend the Operative NRMP. These amendments relate to the following parts of the NRMP:
  • Volume 3 – Appendices:
    • 1 Heritage Buildings, Places and Objects
    • 7 Guide for subdivision and structures in the landscape overlay
    • 8 Church Hill viewshaft
    • 9 Landscape components and views
    • 10 Standards and terms for parking and loading
    • 11 Access standards
    • 14 Residential subdivision design and information requirements
    • 15 Daylight Admission – residential
    • 17 Daylight admission – city centre
    • 19 Acoustic insulation requirements
    • 22 Guidelines for comprehensive housing development
    • 23 Design Guide and rules for Wakefield Quay
    • 30 Flood Path Table
    • 31 Nelson Airport natural hazard rules
Overview and Strategic -Attachment 1eAttachment 1e - Chapters 12 Rural Zone and 14 Conservation Zone (Minor corrections only)Chapters 12 Rural Zone and 14 Conservation Zone (Minor corrections only)Attachment 1d contains the Hearing Panel’s recommendations on PC29 provisions to amend the Operative NRMP. These amendments relate to the following parts of the NRMP:
  • Volume 2 – Zones
    • Chapter 12 Rural Zone
    • Chapter 14 Conservation
City Centre, Commercial &
Infrastructure

PC29 Hearing PanelHearing Panel’s City Centre, Commercial & Infrastructure Recommendation Report
The Panel have recommended that the majority of the PC29 provisions relating to the City Centre (including the proposed rezoning of the St Vincent Street/Vanguard Street Industrial Zone to Inner City – Fringe) be approved.
Residential and Subdivision

PC29 Hearing PanelHearing Panel’s Residential and Subdivision Recommendation Report
For the reasons set out in the Hearing Panel’s Overview and Strategic Report, and those in this Report, the Panel have recommended that the Council not approve the vast majority of Plan Change 29 (PC29) relating to the residential and subdivision provisions, including the proposed three new Residential zones; being the General Residential Zone (GRZ), the Medium Density Residential Zone (MDRZ) and the High Density Residential Zone (HDRZ), and their related provisions.
Transport and Papakāinga

PC29 Hearing PanelHearing Panel’s Transport and Papakāinga Recommendation Report

The panel has recommended that the majority of the provisions relating to transport be approved.

The panel has rejected papakāinga provisions as they relate to the residential zones (GRZ, MDRZ and the HDRZs.) as those were based on the ‘up-zoning’ of the residential areas.

They have however approved proposed papakāinga provisions relating to Inner City Zone and Suburban Commercial Zones.
Heritage and Church Hill
Viewshaft
PC29 Hearing PanelHearing Panel’s Heritage and Church Hill Viewshaft Recommendation Report
The Panel found that the criteria and methodology adopted by the Council is not the most appropriate in Section 32 terms and is not fully ‘fit for purpose’ for the plan change. The Panel is not confident that it will result in appropriate heritage outcomes for Nelson.
Natural Hazards
PC29 Hearing PanelHearing Panel’s Natural Hazards Recommendation Report

In response to the submissions and evidence received, The Panel make the following recommendations, based on the Council’s post-hearing consolidated amendments of the provisions: Approve, with further amendments, the natural hazard objectives and policies, the flood hazard overlays and approve, with further amendments, the associated rule framework, the Fault Deformation Overlay and Fault Awareness Overlay and approve, with further amendments, the associated rule framework and the Liquefaction Hazard Overlay and approve, with further amendments, the associated rule framework and reject the Slope Instability Hazard overlays and associated rule framework.