Your feedback will guide the targets, limits and rules in the new Land and Freshwater Plan that ensure we manage freshwater effectively for the whole community.

We're developing a new plan for freshwater in Taranaki as part of the Government's Essential Freshwater reforms. The Land and Freshwater Plan for Taranaki will replace the Council's Regional Freshwater Plan and your feedback will guide the targets, limits and rules in the plan that aim to improve water quality and protect rivers and streams in the short, medium and long term.

As part of this process, we're looking to create six Freshwater Management Units (FMUs) in our region which group together waterbodies of similar type into geographically defined areas.

Key to this is a kōrero with our community about how we manage freshwater.

We are now seeking feedback on targets for E. coli, nutrients and sediment and limits and targets for how much water can be safely taken from rivers and streams. Your views are vital as they will help define the targets the Council develops in the Land and Freshwater Plan. This consultation opened on 10 June and will run to 2 August.

You can give feedback online or chat with us at drop-in sessions we’re holding across Taranaki.

We heard from our community in October to December 2022. The engagement asked people for their vision for freshwater, the values they thought as important in the six proposed Freshwater Management Units (FMUs) and whether the Council's approach in creating the FMUs was right.

Then we sought feedback in September and October 2023 on the vision for each FMU and the environmental outcomes we'll be aiming for in each of the six FMUs. This community feedback was vital as the vision and outcomes will shape how we plan to look after freshwater now and for the future.