Plan Change 7 - Rosewood Terrace

• After the close of further submissions, a hearing will be held for anyone who has identified they wish to speak in support of their submissions and/or further submission. An independent hearings commissioner or hearing panel (two or more hearing commissioners) will be appointed.

The Council has not yet appointed a hearing commissioner or commissioners. Council will make this decision after the further submission process has closed. The RMA sets an accreditation requirement for persons to be appointed by Council to act as an independent hearing commissioner or as part of a hearing panel.

• The Hearings commissioner or panel will make a recommendation to the Council.
• Any submitter has the right to appeal the decision of Council to the Environment Court.

Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport have a help guide on appearing at a hearing - link here.

The Planning Act 2026 has received royal assent. What does this mean for the plan change process?

This does not affect the plan change process. The plan change will continue under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) process. While the Planning Act makes transitional changes to the RMA, no transitional changes affect the plan change process (Schedule 1 of the RMA).

If any updated national direction is issued during the process, the plan change proposal will need to be assessed against the relevant statutory documents at the time by decision makers.

The Planning Act will come into full force (and completely replace the RMA) when land use plans (replacing district plans) have effect. The Planning Act specifies the earliest date for this to occur is 31 December 2027, but it is more likely to be in 2030 (https://www.planning.govt.nz/planning-system-overview/key-milestones/). Until then we will be working within the RMA with any relevant transitional changes made by the Planning Act 2026.

What does this mean for a future subdivision consent?

This assumes the plan change is approved and made operative.

Any subdivision consent will need to be considered against the relevant statutory framework at the time it is lodged. The primary tool it will be assessed against is the Hurunui District Plan or a new land use plan made operative under the Planning Act. Assessment against any updated or new higher order documents would also be required.

There are no transitional changes made to the RMA by the Planning Act which affect what Council can consider through a subdivision consent.

Click here for the presentation and Q&A from the Rosewood Rezoning Public meeting held on 20 July 2026 and information in relation to the Amberley Beach Coastal Conversations project to date.