Reserve Management Plans
Reserves are much-loved features of our district, providing opportunities for recreation, protecting and preserving our natural spaces, as well as a general sense of open space where we can enjoy the simple things such as a picnic with family and friends.
Reserve Management Plans (RMP)
Reserve Management Plans are a legal requirement under the Reserves Act 1977 and it is generally recommended that plans are reviewed at least once every 10 years.
We adopted a new General Policies(PDF, 3MB) in May 2019 that sets out aims, objectives and policies which will apply to all Council reserves in the district. Reserve Management Plans for each Community Board area were then reviewed between 2019-2022.
The plans by area comprise the individual reserve plans in each community board area. Where there is any inconsistency between this document and the individual reserve management plans, the policies relating to the individual reserve management plans will apply.
The Reserve Management Plans by area are below:
What is the purpose of a Reserve Management Plan?
The Reserves Act 1977 requires (s 41(3)) that a management plan "provides for and ensures" the following:
- the principles set out in sections 17 to 23 that apply to a reserve of the relevant classification;
- compliance with those principles;
- use, enjoyment, maintenance, protection, and preservation of the reserve(s) as the case may require;
- development (as appropriate) of the reserve(s) to the extent that the administering body’s resources permit, for the purpose for which each reserve is classified.
Management planning is intended to enable the administering body to establish the desired mix of use and protection for each reserve or group of reserves and set in place policy to guide day to day management. Determining community preferences, and establishing the best means to provide for them are essential ingredients for good management planning.
A management plan provides the community with certainty about the function and management of each reserve or grouping. A management plan also provides the administering body with efficiency gains in management of the reserve, by allowing exemptions from public notification in certain cases.
Learn more about management planning for reserves.
Please note that the guidance document that opens from this link has not been updated for a number of years. It does not accurately reflect the 2013 delegations from the Minister of Conservation to local authorities who administer Crown-owned reserve land. However, it still provides useful general guidance for management of reserves.
All types of reserves, except local purpose reserves, under the control of or vested in an administering body (the Council) must be covered by an approved management plan, or plans, under s41 of the Reserves Act 1977.