Water Conservation Orders

Water conservation orders

Water conservation orders provide recognition of the outstanding amenity or intrinsic values of water bodies.

Why we have water conservation orders

A water conservation order may be applied over a water body to achieve any of the following:

  • the preservation as far as possible of the water body’s natural state
  • the protection of characteristics which the water body has or contributes to:
    • as a habitat for terrestrial or aquatic organisms
    • as a fishery
    • for its wild, scenic, or other natural characteristics:
    • for scientific and ecological values:
    • for recreational, historical, spiritual, or cultural purposes:
  • the protection of characteristics which any water body has or contributes to, and which are considered to be of outstanding significance in accordance with tikanga Māori.

Water conservation orders under the RMA

Water conservation orders pre RMA