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Coastal Reserves Management Plan

About this project

Wellington City Council is commencing development of a new Coastal Reserves Management Plan to provide direction for the management, protection, and enhancement of Wellington’s coastal reserves, parks, and beaches.

The intention is to create an integrated coastal reserve management plan that will replace the existing South Coast Management Plan 2002.

Our coast is a taonga and a special sanctuary where we connect with nature and each other. It is critical that we have a plan in place for its future which balances leisure, access, climate adaptation, and recreation with environmentally sustainable outcomes.

The purpose of the management plan will be to:

  • Guide Council decision-making about how our coastal spaces are used, enjoyed, managed, and protected.
  • Set out a vision, objectives, and rules for the long-term management and enhancement of our urban coastal parks and beaches.


What is in scope?

The scope of the plan is proposed to cover the majority of Wellington City's urban coastline from Oriental Bay to Karori Stream, focusing on coastal reserves, beaches, rocky areas, and public parks, as well as recreational and nature-based assets in reserves and marine areas. The proposed scope also includes some areas of coastal road reserve (excluding the carriageway).

The areas of this map outlined in orange indicate the proposed scope of the new management plan. The areas in green are parks or reserves in scope.

For a comprehensive list of the areas included in the proposed scope, click here.

The public have the opportunity to share their ideas and tell us what we should include in the draft plan throughout our engagement period.

Please note: This project is not part of the 2024-34 Long-term Plan funding considerations.


Why are we developing a new plan?

We have a statutory obligation under section 41(4) of the Reserves Act 1977 to regularly review our reserve management plans to ensure they adapt to changing circumstances or increased knowledge.

Our existing South Coast Management Plan is more than 20 years old and in need of review.

The coast is a dynamic and changing area impacted by sea level rise, climate change, population growth, cultural expectations, and changing community needs. The challenges we face along our coastline have changed or progressed over the last 20 years, which impacts how we manage our reserves.

In order to create one integrated approach to how we manage our coast, the new plan is proposed to cover a broader coastal area than the existing South Coast Management Plan.

This means reserves by the coast which are currently managed under other management plans will likely be transferred to the new Coastal Reserves Management Plan. In order to achieve this, we will undertake the following reviews as we develop the new plan:


Have your say

To understand the needs and priorities of Wellingtonians, we want to know how you use, enjoy, and care for our coastal reserves, parks, and beaches.

We’re keen to hear a wide range of community views and ideas about coastal and ocean recreation, coastal adaptation, environmental protection, coastal accessibility, and the unique cultural context and histories of our coastline.

Our public engagement is open from 23 May - 20 June 2024, 5pm.

There are several ways you can dive in and share your thoughts:

Let's Talk tools

Share your ideas using our feedback tools below:

  • Map tool: Place your comments, questions, and ideas on a specific spot along the coast.
  • Ideas tool: Tell us what you love or don't love about our coast, what challenges we need to consider, your ideas for improving our coastal spaces, and what we should include in the draft plan.
  • Emoji-rate our priorities: Rate our draft priorities using our quick emoji survey.

If you have a burning question about the proposed plan, you can also use the Ask a question tool to reach our project team.

Feedback forms at Libraries

Feedback forms and summary documents are available at all Council Libraries.

Beachside chat

Come along to our drop-in beachside chat at Oriental Bay on Saturday, 8 June 2024, 10am - 12pm*.

*subject to weather conditions


What’s next?

Your contributions and feedback will help us shape the development of the draft Coastal Reserves Management Plan. We will provide a summary of what we've heard once the engagement period is complete.

To stay informed about this project, subscribe to the Let's Talk page for project updates.

Phase 2: Once the draft plan is developed, further public consultation on the draft will follow (in early 2025).

Phase 3: A final plan will be prepared and put to Council.


About this project

Wellington City Council is commencing development of a new Coastal Reserves Management Plan to provide direction for the management, protection, and enhancement of Wellington’s coastal reserves, parks, and beaches.

The intention is to create an integrated coastal reserve management plan that will replace the existing South Coast Management Plan 2002.

Our coast is a taonga and a special sanctuary where we connect with nature and each other. It is critical that we have a plan in place for its future which balances leisure, access, climate adaptation, and recreation with environmentally sustainable outcomes.

The purpose of the management plan will be to:

  • Guide Council decision-making about how our coastal spaces are used, enjoyed, managed, and protected.
  • Set out a vision, objectives, and rules for the long-term management and enhancement of our urban coastal parks and beaches.


What is in scope?

The scope of the plan is proposed to cover the majority of Wellington City's urban coastline from Oriental Bay to Karori Stream, focusing on coastal reserves, beaches, rocky areas, and public parks, as well as recreational and nature-based assets in reserves and marine areas. The proposed scope also includes some areas of coastal road reserve (excluding the carriageway).

The areas of this map outlined in orange indicate the proposed scope of the new management plan. The areas in green are parks or reserves in scope.

For a comprehensive list of the areas included in the proposed scope, click here.

The public have the opportunity to share their ideas and tell us what we should include in the draft plan throughout our engagement period.

Please note: This project is not part of the 2024-34 Long-term Plan funding considerations.


Why are we developing a new plan?

We have a statutory obligation under section 41(4) of the Reserves Act 1977 to regularly review our reserve management plans to ensure they adapt to changing circumstances or increased knowledge.

Our existing South Coast Management Plan is more than 20 years old and in need of review.

The coast is a dynamic and changing area impacted by sea level rise, climate change, population growth, cultural expectations, and changing community needs. The challenges we face along our coastline have changed or progressed over the last 20 years, which impacts how we manage our reserves.

In order to create one integrated approach to how we manage our coast, the new plan is proposed to cover a broader coastal area than the existing South Coast Management Plan.

This means reserves by the coast which are currently managed under other management plans will likely be transferred to the new Coastal Reserves Management Plan. In order to achieve this, we will undertake the following reviews as we develop the new plan:


Have your say

To understand the needs and priorities of Wellingtonians, we want to know how you use, enjoy, and care for our coastal reserves, parks, and beaches.

We’re keen to hear a wide range of community views and ideas about coastal and ocean recreation, coastal adaptation, environmental protection, coastal accessibility, and the unique cultural context and histories of our coastline.

Our public engagement is open from 23 May - 20 June 2024, 5pm.

There are several ways you can dive in and share your thoughts:

Let's Talk tools

Share your ideas using our feedback tools below:

  • Map tool: Place your comments, questions, and ideas on a specific spot along the coast.
  • Ideas tool: Tell us what you love or don't love about our coast, what challenges we need to consider, your ideas for improving our coastal spaces, and what we should include in the draft plan.
  • Emoji-rate our priorities: Rate our draft priorities using our quick emoji survey.

If you have a burning question about the proposed plan, you can also use the Ask a question tool to reach our project team.

Feedback forms at Libraries

Feedback forms and summary documents are available at all Council Libraries.

Beachside chat

Come along to our drop-in beachside chat at Oriental Bay on Saturday, 8 June 2024, 10am - 12pm*.

*subject to weather conditions


What’s next?

Your contributions and feedback will help us shape the development of the draft Coastal Reserves Management Plan. We will provide a summary of what we've heard once the engagement period is complete.

To stay informed about this project, subscribe to the Let's Talk page for project updates.

Phase 2: Once the draft plan is developed, further public consultation on the draft will follow (in early 2025).

Phase 3: A final plan will be prepared and put to Council.


Page last updated: 17 May 2024, 04:00 PM