Plan Change 47 – Maori Purpose Zone

Decision released

The decision on submissions to Plan Change 47 Māori Purpose Zone is now available (see drop-down section below).

Submitters can appeal the Council’s decision on their submission. Appeals must be on the prescribed form and lodged with the Environment Court by 5pm, 15 October 2026.

Background

The intent of the new Māori Purpose Zone (MPZ) is to recognise and provide for the relationship of Māori with their culture and traditions.

MPZ is a proposed new District Plan zone that supports the use and development of Māori land in alignment with the cultural, social, and economic needs of its owners. MPZ recognise the unique relationship Māori have with their ancestral lands and aims to empower landowners to develop their whenua in a way that reflects kaupapa Māori and tikanga.

MPZ better enable activities such as:

Papakāinga (communal housing)
Marae upgrades and associated facilities
Kaumātua housing
Small-scale commercial and agricultural ventures
Cultural, educational and community activities

Decision

Submitter evidence

Council Planning Report

Plan Change 47 Māori Purpose Zone - S42A Report (PDF, 2MB)

Plan Change 47 Māori Purpose Zone - S42A Report - Addendum 1 (PDF, 116KB)

Closing Statement - RMA Report - Plan Change 47 (PDF, 2MB)

Hearing Panel Minutes

Submissions

Copies of submissions, further submissions and a summary of submissions received are available below:

Submissions closed at 4.30pm Thursday 19 March 2026.
Further submissions closed at 5pm Thursday 30 April 2026.

Notification documents

Plan Change 47 – Maori Purpose Zone (PDF, 12MB)

Plan Change 47 – Section 32 Evaluation Report (PDF, 4MB)

Pre-consultation (May 2025)

Over 2023 and 2024, Taupō District Council talked to Iwi, hapu and Māori landowners about MPZ. We sought feedback on the type of activities that should occur in this zone and asked what landowners would like their lands zoned as a MPZ in the future plan change.

In early 2025, we drafted the MPZ Plan Change (Plan Change 47) and sought feedback from the community, including those who were interested in having their land zoned as MPZ.

Submissions on this pre-consultation for Plan Change 47 – Māori Purpose Zone closed on Friday 2 May 2025. Thank you for the feedback received.