Auckland Council Regional Plan: Coastal

Mangroves

Plan Change 4 – Mangrove Management

In response to issues that have arisen from the rapid spread of mangroves in some parts of the region, and to address the need for a balanced policy and rule framework to manage mangroves, a plan change (Plan Change 4 – Mangrove Management) has been made to the Auckland Regional Plan: Coastal (coastal plan).   Plan Change 4 amends Chapter 16 (Disturbance of Foreshore and Seabed III: Other than Dredging or Extraction), adds new definitions relating to mangrove management activities to the Definition chapter and introduces a new set of maps identifying significant areas for wading birds (Map Series 8). (A copy of Chapter 16, and Map Series 8 can be viewed below).

Map Series 8:

Plan Change 4 was notified in October 2007, hearings were held in September 2008 and decisions were notified in February 2009.  Two appeals were lodged to the plan change and these have both been settled by consent.

The ARC adopted Plan Change 4 in September 2010 and on 27 October 2010 Plan Change 4 was approved by the Minister of Conservation.

Plan Change 4 was publicly notified as operative on 1 March 2011.

Brief Overview of new provisions relating to mangrove management (Chapter 16)

A number of new policies and rules have been added to Chapter 16 relating to mangrove management.  Some of the main changes introduced include;

Policies that recognise that in some areas careful consideration needs to be given to the effects of undertaking mangrove removal and that;

• mangrove removal should be avoided where it will threaten the viability or significance of areas identified as having significant ecological or geological values (Coastal Protection 1 Areas (highest value and most vulnerable areas) and Coastal Protection 2 Areas (generally more robust but still highly valued areas) (Policy 16.4.4)
• mangrove removal in Coastal Protection Area 1 areas  is inappropriate unless it is for the purpose of maintaining or enhancing;
• the values identified for the area
• the open nature of wading bird feeding and roosting areas (identified in Table 16.1 or Map 8 – attached above)
• the values of areas scheduled in Cultural Heritage Schedule 1 (historic and/or archaeological value)
• public access (consistent with the value of the area e.g boardwalks)

or where the purpose of removal is to enable the operation, maintenance and use of lawful structures and the functioning of drainage systems, and the provision and use of public infrastructure (such as roads) (Policy 16.4.5) Policies that recognise that in some areas and circumstances, mangrove removal may be appropriate, namely;

• Mangrove seedling (less than 60 cm tall) removal to control mangrove spread outside of Coastal Protection Area 1 areas that have been identified for their ecological values (the Coastal Protection Area 1 areas where seedling removal can be undertaken are identified in Table 16.1 and Map Series 8 – refer to interpretative maps attached above); (Policy 16.4.5A)
• In areas outside of Coastal Protection Area 1 where mangroves are adversely affecting use and value of the coast including where mangroves can be shown to be having an adverse effect on;
• heritage, archaeological or ecological values
• areas with high public amenity or use (e.g access, recreation and navigation) and where the removal is in the overall public benefit
• the open nature of wading bird feeding and roosting areas (Identified on Map Series 8)
• the operation and use on structures and infrastructure (e.g roads, walkways and drainage systems) (Policy  16.4.6)
• where mangrove removal is in accordance with a Comprehensive Coastal Management Plan and where removal will not have a significant adverse effect on ecological values (Policy 16.4.7 and 16.4.8)

Rules which reflect the policies by providing for;

• 30 square metres of mangrove removal in Coastal Protection Area 2 areas, and 200 square metres of removal in the General Management Area (to identify these management areas refer to the coastal plan maps)  to enable the use of lawful structures and infrastructure or the functioning of drainage systems outside of areas of highest value (Coastal Protection Area 1) as a permitted activity subject to conditions (Rule 16.5.2)
• Mangrove seedling removal outside of areas with significant ecological values associated with mangrove habitat values (identified) as a permitted activity subject to conditions (Rule 16.5.3).
• A fact sheet on seedling removal under this new rule has been prepared to provide advice on this rule and on undertaking seedling removal activities. Take the link below to access the fact sheet on-line:

• Coastal Protection Area 1 areas where seedling removal is a permitted activity (i.e. those areas listed in Table 16.1 or include areas that have beenidentified as significant wading bird areas outside of marine reserves) have been identified on a series of interpretative maps attached below  (map numbering follows that used in Map Series 1 of the ARP:C)

• More extensive areas of mangrove removal than provided for as a permitted activity (in Rule 16.5.2) and 30 square metres of removal in Coastal Protection Area 1 (for specified purposes) can be undertaken as a controlled activity
• mangrove removal that is necessary to maintain or restore the open nature of the identified significant wading bird areas (Identified in Map Series 8) can be undertaken as a controlled activity
• mangrove removal for specified purposes in areas of significant ecological/geological value (Coastal Protection Area 1) and removal in more robust areas of significant ecological/geological value (Coastal; Protection Area 2) for activities not specified in other rules are provided for as discretionary activities.
• mangrove removal in Coastal Protection Area 1 areas not provided for in other rules is a non-complying activity.

NOTE: The above summary of policies and rules  only provides a very simplified overview of some of the amendments made by Plan Change 4 and reference needs to be made to Chapter 16 to understand the complete policies and rule framework relating to mangrove management.

A permitted activity does not require a resource consent if all the conditions of the rule are complied with.  Other categories of activities (eg controlled, restricted discretionary, discretionary activities) require a resource consent.  You can contact the Auckland Council if you need more advice on the rules of Chapter 16 or advice on applying for a resource consent.

Background information on mangroves:

What do we know about New Zealand's mangroves?

Scientists recently expanded on the ARC’s earlier commissioned work (see below) and have published review of mangroves very relevant to New Zealand.

To support development of Plan Change 4 the ARC commissioned a detailed technical review of what was currently known about New Zealand mangroves. Key findings of this review have been summarised in an easily understandable booklet called 'New Zealand's Mangroves' which can be downloaded here:
 

The detailed review has been produced as a 156 page ARC technical publication;

Morrisey, D. et al (2007) 'The New Zealand Mangrove: Review of the Current State of Knowledge'. ARCTP No. 325.

You can download a copy of ARC TP325

or obtain a hard copy from the ARC publications department ($20.00 excluding postage) by emailing publications@arc.govt.nz or phone 09 366 2000.

Main conclusions from the review:

There is considerable local and wider scale variability in; mangrove productivity, their role in local food-webs, the diversity of animals and plants that they support, and their response to the changing conditions in the estuaries and harbours in which they live.

There are important gaps in our knowledge of mangroves and their ecological role in New Zealand.

Mangrove management needs to be considered on a case-by-case basis because of the remaining gaps in our knowledge, and because mangroves characteristics and ecological roles differ from location to location.

Mangrove management options need to be reviewed as research fills the outstanding knowledge gaps.

This page was last updated October 2010.

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