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). The Nelson City Council will consider these recommendations and decide how to proceed at its meeting on 5 June 2025. Below are six hearing panel reports that summarise the recommendations, outline decisions on submissions, and present the revised provisions.

The agenda for the Council meeting is available on the Nelson City Council website at www.nelson.govt.nz/meetings, and the meeting will be livestreamed on the Council’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/NelsonCouncil for anyone wishing to watch the discussion and decision-making process.

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 Topic	Report Author	Documents	Summary
Overview and Strategic	PC29 Hearing Panel	Hearing 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 1	PC29 Hearing Panel	Planning 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 1a	Attachment 1a - Chapter 7 Residential Zone and Chapter 8 Inner City Zone	Chapter 7 Residential Zone and Chapter 8 Inner City Zone	Attachment 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 1b	Attachment 1b - Chapter 9 Suburban Commercial Zone and Chapter 10 Industrial Zone	Chapter 9 Suburban Commercial Zone and Chapter 10 Industrial Zone	Attachment 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 1c	Attachment 1c - Chapter 11 Open Space and Recreation and Chapter 13 Coastal Marine Area	Chapter 11 Open Space and Recreation and Chapter 13 Coastal Marine Area	Attachment 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 1d	Attachment 1d - Appendices	Appendices	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 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 1e	Attachment 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 Panel	Hearing 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 Panel	Hearing 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 Panel	Hearing 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 Panel	Hearing 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 Panel	Hearing 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.