RMA overhaul stalls coastal adaptation plan, but 2025 research remains

Author: Imogen Brophy,
Publish Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2026, 2:50pm

Wainui's coastal adaptation plan has been put on hold. Photo / Gisborne Herald

More than a year after the last community workshop, Gisborne District Council has paused work on the Wainui Coastal Adaptation Plan.

The plan was set to update the 2014 Wainui Erosion Management Strategy with a community-guided approach for coastal hazard risks at Wainui Beach.

The council gained community feedback last year to produce updated plans meant to be outlined last June, according to the council website.

Local Democracy Reporting asked the council for an update on August 7.

On Monday, the council shared a letter from acting director sustainable futures Awhina White in which she stated the plan was on hold.

With upcoming changes to the Resource Management Act, the Government’s “plan stop” legislation paused work that may need a review under a new system to avoid wasted effort.

The council received an exemption from plan stop for housing intensification plans earlier this year, but its request to progress land use changes for erosion-prone land was rejected this month.

“In Tairāwhiti, this pause meant stopping the Tairāwhiti Resource Management Plan review, the overarching plan that the Wainui Plan sits under,” White said.

“Continuing to write the Wainui Plan for a system being replaced could be a waste of time and money.”

Community feedback, the cultural value assessment and scientific reports collected in 2025 would be used once the new system was in place, she said.

The Government was introducing the Climate Change Response Amendment Bill, requiring councils to make plans for areas affected by climate change.

It was possible the Wainui Coastal Adaptation Plan could eventually be reworked to fit this bill.

White encouraged anyone with questions to contact the council.

In March 2025, the council held a community hui to identify values and priorities for the beach.

The hui found that maintaining surf breaks, protecting wildlife and affordability were important for attendees, while working within the current policy framework and acknowledging European history were not.

Feedback shaped options for managing hazards, which was presented at a meeting in June last year.

Participants said the current system was not ideal for safety, property risks and natural habitats.

Feedback on moving sand up the beach to support dune restoration said the work had potential but should be part of a broader approach.

A long-term option of replacing seawalls was viewed positively, but there was concern new walls could impact surf breaks.

Support was shown for managed retreat from the area in future and compensation for the move.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.