Change 1 (Coastal Policy) was made operative and incorporated into the Regional Policy Statement (RPS) on 20 October 2015.
Change 1 (Coastal Policy) was notified as Proposed Variation 1 to the RPS in May 2012. The natural character maps and attributes for Motiti coastal waters and Okurei Point (Maketu) were still subject to appeal at the time the second generation RPS became operative. Change 1 includes maps identifying the coastal environment and areas with high natural character to meet the requirements of the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010 (NZCPS).
Decisions on Variation 1 were adopted by Council on 14 March 2013 with ten appeals to the Environment Court. An Environment Court decision dated 9 June 2014 granted an omnibus consent order resolving most appeals. Two remaining appeals by Ngati Makino Heritage Trust and Motiti Rohe Moana Trust were resolved by Environment Court decisions and consent orders dated 14 November 2014 and 26 April 2015.