The TANK Plan change

The TANK Plan change

The TANK Plan change introduces new provisions to manage the land and waterways of the Tūtaekurī, Ahuriri, Ngaruroro and Karamū (TANK) catchments.

The TANK Plan change includes:

• objectives for how to manage TANK’s water bodies
• the policies and rules needed to achieve the objectives.

The TANK Plan change was first notified on 2 May 2020. Submissions were called for and hearings held before an Independent Hearing Panel concluded in September 2021. A reserved decision was made by the Independent Hearing Panel and notified on 9 September 2022.

Legal effect

The TANK Plan change took immediate legal effect upon notification on 2 May 2020.

The rules in the decision version of the TANK Plan change, issued 9 September 2022, are now the rules with legal effect. 

More information on the TANK plan change and resource consents is available on our Heretaunga Plains Groundwater Quantity Area page.

Recent Updates

On 26 February 2025, the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council resolved to withdraw part of the Proposed TANK Plan for Heretaunga Plains Waterways – Plan Change 9 to the Hawke’s Bay Regional Resource Management Plan.

The parts being withdrawn are changes proposed to Rule 71, and Rule 71A. These two rules relate to control of planting in or close to rivers, lakes or artificial watercourses within the Heretaunga Plains Flood Control and Drainage Scheme.

The reason for the withdrawal of these provisions is to avoid regulatory duplication of planting controls, as the Regional Council has just resolved to prepare a flood protection bylaw which is expected to control such planting.

These minor amendments have been made to Appendix 2 and 3 on the decisions webpage here.

What’s next?

The TANK Plan is currently subject to an Environment Court appeal process. Mediation hearings have commenced and will continue into 2024.  

Find more information on the TANK Decision and appeal process here.