Go back to "Publications"

National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 – Amended January 2024

The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (NPS-FM) sets out the objectives and policies for freshwater management under the Resource Management Act 1991.

The NPS-FM came into effect on 3 September 2020 and replaced the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014 (amended 2017).

This version of the National Policy Statement incorporates amendments made by the Minister for the Environment under section 53(1) of the Resource Management Act 1991 and notified in the New Zealand Gazette on 8 December 2022 as the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 Amendment No 1. The amendments take effect from 5 January 2023.

This version of the National Policy Statement also incorporates minor amendments made by the Minister for the Environment under section 53(2)(a) of the Resource Management Act 1991, on 23 February 2023.

On 13 December 2023, the Court of Appeal in Muaūpoko Tribal Authority Incorporated v Minister for the Environment and Te Rūnanga o Raukawa Incorporated [2023] NZCA 641 quashed Clause 3.33 and Appendix 5 of the NPS-FM (Specified vegetable growing areas). This version of the National Policy Statement incorporates that change.

For more about the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 see the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management section on this website.

The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (NPS-FM) sets out the objectives and policies for freshwater management under the Resource Management Act 1991.

The NPS-FM came into effect on 3 September 2020 and replaced the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014 (amended 2017).

This version of the National Policy Statement incorporates amendments made by the Minister for the Environment under section 53(1) of the Resource Management Act 1991 and notified in the New Zealand Gazette on 8 December 2022 as the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 Amendment No 1. The amendments take effect from 5 January 2023.

This version of the National Policy Statement also incorporates minor amendments made by the Minister for the Environment under section 53(2)(a) of the Resource Management Act 1991, on 23 February 2023.

On 13 December 2023, the Court of Appeal in Muaūpoko Tribal Authority Incorporated v Minister for the Environment and Te Rūnanga o Raukawa Incorporated [2023] NZCA 641 quashed Clause 3.33 and Appendix 5 of the NPS-FM (Specified vegetable growing areas). This version of the National Policy Statement incorporates that change.

For more about the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 see the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management section on this website.

See more on...