6.0 The District Plan Process

6.1. The review of the District Plan pursuant to the Resource Management Act 1991 began with a consultation programme in late 1994. The Council District Plan Review Team met with Iwi and hapu groups, community groups, central government agencies, rural sector groups, interest groups, environmental groups, network utility groups, and local business people. Some of these meetings were formal hui held on Marae in the district, and were attended by the Mayor, Councillors, and Council Officers.

6.2. The following indicates the development of the District Plan, describing the stages that led to the Operative Opotiki District Plan.

STAGE 1 Consultation and issues identification	Consultation with numerous parties to identify resource management issues. Discussion Papers produced to present the issues for discussion. Composite of the issues presented to elected members for discussion and debate Discussions identified the significant resource management issues for the District Plan.
STAGE 2 Definition of zones	Indication that the management of issues could be managed in a district wide and area specific manner. Proposed zones were presented for Council consideration, the zone boundaries were discussed and debated to ensure that they were an accurate representation of identifiable areas.
STAGE 3 Plan format and structure	A proposed structure of the plan was presented to elected members. The structure was analysed to see if it was practical, easy to use, and if it would be easy to understand. Format agreed upon.
STAGE 4 Establish resource management strategies	The establishment of objectives, policies, rules, and other methods for the district and zones of the district. The objectives, policies, rules, and other methods for the Plan were discussed and debated until decisions were made as to their appropriateness in achieving the purpose of the RMA.
STAGE 5 Draft Plans released and further consultation	Fine tuning stages of the Plan. Revisitation of the previous stages to ensure the most appropriate means are being implemented. Defining the District Plan Structure Evaluation and analysis of comments received on drafts and picking up on the submissions where they indicate better and more appropriate methods of managing issues.
STAGE 6 Proposed District Plan	Release of the Section 32 Analysis, which sets out a thorough analysis of the consultation process. Council decisions on submissions made to the Draft Plan. Release of the Proposed District Plan.
STAGE 7 Finalisation of the District Plan	Discussions and resolution of issues with 13 submitters who lodged references to the Environment Court on the Proposed District Plan. Amendments to the Proposed District Plan and Planning Maps.

6.3. The Operative District Plan is the product of extended public consultation and negotiation with individual submitters who lodged references to the Environment Court on the Proposed District Plan. It is important to remember that the District Plan is a living document and will change to meet the needs of the community as and when required.

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