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Amberley Beach

The Amberley Beach community, together with Hurunui District Council, has developed a Coastal Adaptation Plan (CAP) that sets out how to adapt to changing risks over the next 100 years.

The CAP was adopted by Council in June 2023, with the focus now moving to implementation. This involves undertaking agreed upon actions and monitoring triggers identified in the Plan.

The first action implemented was the renourishment of the coastal bund. Council worked with Amberley Beach residents on the design of the bund, and renourishment works were completed in early 2025.

Around the same time, Council identified a piece of land (Rosewood) which fit within the criteria of a site for land banking and proactive relocation. The land was purchased in early 2025 and works have been carried out since then to prepare for rezoning, including geotechnical, infrastructure, economic studies and road access options.

Council is now consulting on a Plan Change to rezone part of the property from Rural Zone to Residential 1 Zone. For details of the consultation please see here: https://www.hurunui.govt.nz/have-your-say/consulta...

Amberley Beach Coastal Adaptation Plan

Past Engagement

Rosewood Rezoning Public Meeting - 20 July 2026

Rosewood Rezoning Presentation - July 2026

The submission form for Plan Change 7 is available on the Hurunui District Council website as part of the Plan Change 7 consultation information. The webpage contains the submission form, supporting documentation, important dates and instructions on how to lodge a submission.

Follow this link to head to the Plan Change 7 submission page - https://www.hurunui.govt.nz/have-your-say/consulta...

All technical reports prepared in support of Plan Change 7 are available on the Hurunui District Council website.

Follow this link to head to the Plan Change 7 submission page - https://www.hurunui.govt.nz/have-your-say/consulta...

Making a submission provides an opportunity for your views, concerns, support or suggested changes to be formally considered as part of the decision-making process. An independent commissioner will review all submissions received before the hearing. Whether you support or oppose the proposal, or simply wish to raise specific issues for consideration, a submission ensures your views are considered. If you indicate that you wish to be heard in support of your submission, you will be given an opportunity to speak at the hearing and explain your submission points. You don’t have to speak at the hearing to have your submission considered.

No. Anyone can make a submission. The submission process is designed to allow all members of the community to participate, regardless of their technical knowledge or planning experience.

Submissions on Plan Change 7 close at 5.00pm on 21 August 2026. Submissions received before the deadline will be considered as part of the statutory process.

The Council's Planning Team is available to assist people who may need guidance on the submission process or information about the Plan Change. Assistance can be obtained by contacting planning@hurunui.govt.nz

Additional guidance about resource management and submissions can also be found on the Quality Planning website, which provides practical information about planning processes and public participation.

https://www.qualityplanning.org.nz/

The Hurunui District Council Planning Team is responsible for receiving and collating all submissions. Once submissions have been reviewed, a summary of submissions will be prepared and notice provided to submitters that the summary is available on the Council's website. This summary allows participants to understand the range of views expressed through the submission process. A full copy of all submissions received will be published on the Council website.

Once the summary of submissions is released, there is an opportunity for eligible parties to make further submissions. The original submission will be on the Council website so that you can see the submission in full. This allows individuals or organisations to support or oppose points raised by others before the matter proceeds to a hearing. The ‘further submission’ process is an important part of the next stage of the statutory planning process.

Following the close of submissions and any ‘further submission’ period, the Council will appoint an accredited independent hearing commissioner. Before appointing the Commissioner, any potential Commissioner needs to check they do not have a conflict of interest. The Commissioner will issue directions (minuted) on the timetable for next steps. This will set out the timetable including when expert and Council evidence must be provided, prior to the hearing.

A Council officer will contact submitters that have indicated they wish to be heard to arrange a speaking time. It is usual practice that the hearing is livestreamed on the Council website and remains on the website for a few weeks. Submitters can attend by Zoom and supporting evidence is able to be shared via Zoom. Every effort is made to accommodate submitters to ensure that they can participate in the hearing process.

The Commissioner is appointed by Councillors at a Council meeting. The selected Commissioner will have the appropriate qualifications, experience and expertise required to independently assess the proposal, consider submissions, conduct hearings and make recommendations in accordance with the Resource Management Act. The RMA requires the Commissioner to be accredited.

Site selection involved consideration of a range of factors, including feedback received from Amberley Beach residents. One of the strongest themes emerging from previous discussions was the desire for any future relocation option to remain close to Amberley Beach. Maintaining that connection significantly influenced the area within which alternative sites were considered and limited the extent to which suitable sites could be located further inland or further away from the beach community.

Council's understanding is based on previous discussions and engagement with residents over a period of time. Feedback received indicated that remaining close to Amberley Beach was an important consideration for many residents when discussing potential future relocation options. This preference became one of the key factors informing site selection discussions and the evaluation of possible locations.

Council does not consider the process to be rushed. The land has already been acquired, and progressing the planning process ensures that suitable land is available if and when it is needed in the future. Should approval of The Plan Change be received, Councillors will then decide when the subdivision will happen. Approval of the plan change and/or subdivision does not create any obligation for existing Amberley Beach residents to relocate. Any future move will occur only if residents choose to do so and circumstances make relocation desirable. The Plan Change is intended to provide future options rather than require immediate action.

Yes. Caravan and tiny home living options are anticipated to be able to be accommodated within the proposed development, subject to compliance with the relevant planning, infrastructure and building requirements that apply at the time. Residents considering those options should review the applicable rules and standards as the project progresses

Yes. The Jacobs report remains a valid technical assessment. Climate change planning commonly uses a range of scenarios, including high-impact scenarios such as SSP5-8.5, to assess long-term risks and test the resilience of communities and infrastructure under different future conditions.

The use of a higher-emissions scenario does not mean it is assumed to be the most likely outcome. Rather, it helps decision-makers understand the potential consequences of more severe future conditions and allows risks to be evaluated across a range of possible futures.

The Amberley Beach Coastal Adaptation Plan (CAP) is based on triggers and pathways. If triggers are reached, this requires a conversation with the community to decide what to do next if anything.

Council has considered the Ministry for the Environment Coastal hazards and climate change guidance released in July 2024. This recommends a risk-based approach rather than planning to a single sea-level-rise value and is supported by the Dynamic Adaptive Pathway Approach. This supports the Council approach to the CAP.

Public, Ratepayer and Interested Parties questions received prior to the July 20 meeting.

Question

It is understood that developments like this require later resource consents, although if consenting standards are met, many resource consent applications are non-notified or have limited notification to affected persons only. Plan Change 7 and the appended reports are complex. Does this limited 20 working-day window for Plan Change 7 written submissions represent the Council's preferred one substantive opportunity for the public, ratepayers and interested parties to be consulted and to indicate that they wish to contribute to the processes ahead?

Answer

Yes. The current Plan Change 7 submission period is likely to be the most significant formal opportunity for public participation in the decision-making process. If the Plan Change is approved, future subdivision applications may not require public notification where they comply with the planning framework established through the Plan Change. In some circumstances, notification may be limited to directly affected parties only.

For that reason, anyone wishing to have their views considered is strongly encouraged to make a submission during the current consultation period. All submissions will be considered by the independent commissioner before a decision is made.

Please note that since this answer was given at the meeting the submission period has been extended by a further 10 working days - submissions now close on Friday 21 August.

Question 2(a)

Will the Council be commissioning and then publishing a separate financial viability assessment of Plan Change 7 and the development by a suitably qualified development expert? The Economic Assessment prepared by Formative appears to recommend this step and states that the report should not be relied upon as a financial viability assessment.

Question 2(b)

If such a financial viability report is commissioned, will there then be opportunity for review and submission on that report by the public, ratepayers or interested parties?

Answer

The Council recognises the importance of ensuring that any future development is financially viable and does not place unnecessary costs on existing ratepayers.

Additional financial and development analysis will be required before any subdivision proceeds. The scope and level of that analysis are still being determined. Further assessment will help ensure that the costs of infrastructure, development staging, funding arrangements and project delivery are fully understood before final decisions are made.

Council remains committed to undertaking an appropriate level of due diligence throughout the development process and complying with all statutory requirements that apply to any future decisions.

Question

Are you going to address the letter from the MP regarding concerns about the use of SSP5-8.5 and RCP8.5 climate scenarios and the potential cost implications for ratepayers, businesses and communities? How does the Council respond to concerns that the evidence has not been properly tested and that Council may not be reflecting the wishes of residents and ratepayers?

Answer

Council is aware of the Minister's comments regarding climate-change planning and the importance of ensuring decisions are proportionate, evidence-based and represent value for money.

Plan Change 7 is intended to create a planning framework that provides options for the future. The supporting technical reports have been prepared by qualified specialists and are available for public review. These reports form part of the evidence that will be tested through the statutory planning process and considered by the independent commissioner.

The Council's objective is to achieve a financially responsible outcome that minimises impacts on existing ratepayers. Community feedback remains an essential component of the process, and the independent hearing process exists to ensure all viewpoints are heard and considered before decisions are made.

Question

Why build more than 200 homes so far from Amberley? How will wastewater, stormwater and other infrastructure work, who will pay for it, and how will nearby rural landowners be protected from future complaints? Also, how will access to State Highway 1 be managed?

Answer

The proposed site was identified after considering a range of factors, including feedback from Amberley Beach residents who consistently expressed a desire to remain close to their existing community while moving to a safer long-term location. Maintaining proximity to Amberley Beach was therefore a significant factor in the site selection process.

Specialist engineering assessments indicate that the necessary infrastructure, including wastewater, stormwater, water supply and other essential services, can be provided to support the development. The costs of providing this infrastructure are intended to be met through the development itself.

The planning process also considers the importance of protecting neighbouring rural activities. Matters relating to reverse sensitivity, rural operations and land-use compatibility will continue to be assessed as the project progresses.

Access to State Highway 1 has been reviewed through transport assessments, and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has provided approval in principle for the proposed connection. Detailed design, safety assessments and regulatory approvals will continue through future stages of the project.

Amberley Beach CAP Workshop - 27 January 2026

Amberley Beach CAP Workshop Presentation 27 January 2026

Previous Presentations

Resources and technical information

We'll update and share information as it becomes available but if you need to get in touch or want to join our emailing list, please use the following contacts.

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