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Social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing
How to request official information from the Council
The Chathams Islands is a remote, awe-inspiring place
Information on the upcoming local election
Sets out our work and priorities for the next financial year
Our work and priorities for the next decade
Resource management framework summary
Dog Control Bylaw overview
An overview of the Council’s activity
Waitangi Beach vehicle bylaw
Transport priorities for 2021 – 2031
Managing boating and other activities on water
Understanding hazards and risks to build capability
A report on the Chatham Islands economy
The Essential Freshwater package is a new set of standards and regulations designed to achieve genuine freshwater improvements for our lakes, rivers, wetlands and other freshwater waterways within a generation.
The new rules apply to all farmers, in addition to the existing regional rules in the Chatham Islands Resource Management Document (CIRMD). They are being introduced in phases so you’ll be able to prepare and adapt to them over a period of time. Below you'll find a timeline that gives an overview of the dates the different regulations come into effect, and information about specific regulations.
On this page you’ll find information on the regulations that are relevant to current farming practices on the Islands. The other Essential Freshwater regulations cover synthetic nitrogen fertiliser use, intensive winter grazing, agricultural intensification, feedlots and stockholding areas, and metering for large water takes. This page will be updated if any of these regulations become relevant to the Islands.
Read more about the Essential Freshwater package(external link).
All farms with 20 hectares or more in arable or pastoral use, 5 hectares or more in horticultural use and/or 20 hectares or more of combined use will require a certified Freshwater Farm Plan.
Find out about the new requirement for a Freshwater Farm Plan for your farm.
Any activity which disturbs wetlands can only be carried out for certain reasons, such as restoration, clearing debris or scientific research, and may require consent.
Find out how the new rules might affect wetland management on your farm.
Stock on new pastoral systems need to be excluded from lakes and wide rivers (rivers with a bed wider than one metre) with a three metre minimum setback. Stock must be fully excluded from wetlands.
Find out how the new rules might affect stock exclusion on your farm.
Culverts, weirs, flap gates, fords and dams must meet minimum reporting and environmental requirements such as height, width and location and may require resource consent.
Find out how the new rules affect fish passage on your property.
Back to overview(external link)
Freshwater Farm Plans Find out about the new requirement for a Freshwater Farm Plan for your farm.