District Plan

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Significant Natural Areas

MT TARANAKI

Significant Natural Areas

Section 6(c) of the Resource Management Act (1991) requires the Council to recognise and provide for the protection of ‘significant indigenous vegetation and significant habitats of indigenous fauna’ as a matter of national importance. Natural heritage – indigenous plants and fauna, ecosystems and biodiversity – is also of value to the New Plymouth District community. 

In response to section 6c and community interests, the Council has identified Significant Natural Areas, or SNAs, in the New Plymouth District Plan. The District Plan ensures that SNAs will be sustainably managed into the future and enhanced where practical. 

How do we determine the significance of SNAs?

The criteria used to determine whether areas of indigenous vegetation and habitats of indigenous fauna are SNA’s are:
1.  Occurrence of an endemic species that is:
- Endangered;
- Vulnerable;
- Rare;
- Regionally threatened; or
- Of limited abundance throughout the country.

2.  Areas of important habitat for:
- Nationally vulnerable or rare species; or
- An internationally uncommon species (breeding and/or migratory).

3.  Ecosystems or examples of an original habitat type, sequence or mosaic
which are:
- Nationally rare or uncommon;
- Rare within the ecological region;
- Uncommon elsewhere in that ecological district or region but contain all or almost all species typical of that habitat type (for that region ordistrict); or
- Not well represented in protected areas.

4.  An area where any particular species is exceptional in terms of abundance or habitat.

5.  Buffering and connectivity is provided to, or by the area.

6.  Extent of management input required to ensure sustainability.

Types of SNA

The District Plan does not specifically categorize SNA types.  However in the field each SNA may present different species diversity and ecological characteristics. Various abiotic factors, such as climate, hydrology, geology, topography and soil, combine to affect assemblages of both rare and common indigenous species at any given site.

At a broad scale this is most evident when comparing the characteristics of the Ring Plain with the North Taranaki Hill Country.  However at the site level greater diversity may be evident. SNA and their diverse ecosystems identified in the District Plan include;

• coastal herb fields, turfs, cliff, dune and wetland systems;
• inland wetlands associated with topography, periodic flood inundation and past volcanic activity; and
• coastal, semi-coastal, lowland and hill country forest types.

Threats to SNA

The main threats to SNA include browsing domestic stock and pest animals, predatory pest animals and weed incursion. The wholesale clearance of indigenous vegetation for productive purposes, incentivised by government subsidy, is a thing of the past. Some clearance and development continues to occur, but at low rates. Small scale clearance presents a continuing threat to SNA.      

How does the District Plan protect SNA?

SNA are listed in appendix 21 of the District Plan, and are identified with symbols on District Plan maps.

Two rules relate specifically to SNA as follows;

Rule OL60 sets out that ‘Indigenous Vegetation Disturbance’ may only be carried out within legally unprotected SNA with resource consent, or within a legally protected SNA where allowable within the terms of a conservation covenant.  The rule seeks, not to prohibit development within SNA, but to ensure that any development within SNA is appropriately assessed and that it does not compromise long term sustainability of the SNA.  

Please Note: ‘Indigenous Vegetation Disturbance’ does not include;

• Actions necessary for the avoidance of imminent danger to human life,
• TREE trimming and selective removal of vegetation necessary for the current operation and maintenance of existing infrastructure, including ROADS, tracks, stream or RIVER access, fire water points, utilities, structures and fence lines,
• The collection of material for scientific purposes or propagation, and
• The collection of material by TANGATA WHENUA for maintaining traditional practices of rongoa (medical purposes), raranga (weaving) and mahhi whakairo (carving).

Rule OL59 acts as an incentive for SNA landowners to legally protect SNA by providing the potential for a (bonus) subdivision lot in addition to the number allowed by the underlying environment area.

What assistance can the Council provide if I have a SNA on my property?

The Council’s Heritage Protection Fund may be applied to for help with the significant cost of fencing, where a land owner is voluntarily covenanting their part of an SNA. The Council also provides rates remissions to all SNA landowners, and works with other agencies to help inform and support SNA landowners in management decision making and practical management activity.

For detailed information, refer to the New Plymouth District Plan or contact us.