The proposed rules define a wider range of natural wetlands and require resource consent for activities that that are likely to permanently destroy them.

The activities that will require a restricted discretionary resource consent in this wider range of natural wetlands are: 

• all kinds of cultivation 
  
  
• herbicide spraying, other than spot-spraying with hand-held, non-motorised equipment 
  
  
• earthworks other than minor works such as installing fenceposts and utility lines 
  
  
• installing new sub-surface drainage and open drains. 

The natural wetlands included in the above controls are the full range of wetlands, but excludes constructed wetlands and wet pasture, areas where water temporarily ponds after rain, or pasture containing patches of rushes. 

Stock are not required to be excluded from this wider range of natural wetlands but are from natural inland wetlands (see row below). This wider range of natural wetlands are included in the definition of ‘critical source area’. This has two implications:  

• the natural wetlands, as critical source areas, are required to be specifically managed under Freshwater Farm Plans. 
  
  
• intensive winter grazing and sacrifice paddocks on them are restricted. 
  
  

The NES-F manages ‘natural inland wetlands’ only. The definition of ‘natural inland wetlands’ excludes any wetland that has more than 50% of exotic pasture species and is within an area of pasture used for grazing, unless the wetland is located with a habitat of a threatened species. Identifying and mapping wetlands under this definition has proven difficult and resource and time consuming.  

This leaves many wetlands unprotected, more so in advance of any on-site inspection and mapping. 

In addition to cattle, pigs and deer, other heavy livestock, such as horses, but not sheep or goats, are also required to be excluded from natural inland wetlands.  

A discretionary activity resource consent can be sought for access to natural inland wetlands by these additional livestock types. However, cattle, pigs and deer are managed by the Stock Exclusion Regulations and those regulations do not provide a resource consent option.   

There continue to be no stock exclusion requirements for sheep or goats. 

The existing Regionally Significant Wetlands will continue to be mapped, and the mapping will be updated as the mapping of wetlands that the Council is undertaking is completed. 

These existing Regionally Significant Wetlands will be managed under the NES-F and Stock Exclusion Regulations where they are natural inland wetlands, and under the rules restricting cultivation, herbicide spraying, earthworks and new drainage, along with Freshwater Farm Plans, for other natural wetlands.