Here's all the information about the rules around fish passages and structures in rivers and lakes. What are fish passages and structures in rivers/lakes?Fish passage is the ability for fish to move unobstructed through our waterways. Conversely, barriers to fish passage are any instream structures that may block or impede passage. This includes culverts, weirs, fords, dams and tide flood gates and, if not designed and implemented correctly, can hinder fish passage. Seventy-six per cent of our
contaminated water killed fish along a reach of 13km – the widest extent any such incident on record – and was of major concern to the local iwi, Ngāti Ruanui. The Company pleaded guilty to two charges brought by the Council, and appeared before Judge Dwyer in the Environment Court at Hāwera today. The decision was highly significant, says the TRC Director-Resource Management, Fred McLay. The Judge’s starting point for the sentencing was $450,000, the same as the starting point (before reductions for
Dams are regulated under both the Building Act 2004 and the RMA. The Council transferred many of its Building Act responsibilities to Waikato Regional Council, but retains responsibility for specific dam safety responsibilities and all RMA matters. Managing dam safety
The Building (Dam Safety) Regulations 2022 (the regulations) started on 13 May 2024. The regulations provide a nationally consistent approach to ensuring that dams are, and remain, safe, protecting people, property and the environment. The regulations only apply to classifiable dams. These are dams that are four or more metres in height and stores 20,000 or more cubic metres volume of water, or other fluid. Owners of classifiable dams can read about their responsibilities under the regulations on the Building Performance website. The key requirements for owners of existing dams in Taranaki are to: Submit a potential impact classification (PIC) to the Council by 13 August 2024. This classification must be done by a Recognised Engineer. A dam will be classified as a low, medium or high PIC. A dam must be recertified every five years.
Owners of medium PIC dams then must submit a dam safety assurance programme (DSAP) to the Council within two years of the Council approving the PIC. Owners of high PIC dams have 12 months. A DSAP must also be approved by a Recognised Engineer. A DSAP for a medium PIC dam must be reviewed within 10 years, and within five years for a high PIC dam. The relevant forms for submitting a PIC and DSAP to the Council can be found on the Waikato Regional Council website. The register of Recognised Engineers can be found on the Engineering New Zealand website. Beyond the regime set up by the regulations, the Taranaki Regional Council also has responsibility for managing dams that have been deemed dangerous, earthquake-prone or flood-prone. How we will work to address safety risks from these dams is set out in our Policy on Dangerous Dams, Earthquake-Prone Dams and Flood-Prone Dams (see below). The Council also maintains a register of all classifiable dams in Taranaki. TRC Dangerous Dams Policy (Approved 2 April 2024) Building consents
All dams must comply with the NZ Building Code, and all large dams (over 4m in height and retaining more than 20,000 cubic metres of water or other fluid) require a building consent. The Council has delegated the processing of building consents for dams to the Waikato Regional Council. Information on the building consent process, and all relevant forms, can be found on the Waikato Regional Council website. Resource consents
Medium to large dams are also likely to require a resource consent under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). Small farm dams, not designed for river or flood control or to drain land or wetlands, are generally allowed without a resource consent if certain conditions are met. An exception is the Stony River catchment, where any damming is prohibited. Conditions placed on any dam related resource consent are to protect the waterway ecology and the stability of the streambed. To not require a resource consent outside of the Stony River catchment, you need to ensure: The catchment area upstream of the dam is less than 25 hectares.
The dam is no more than three metres high.
You are not damming water outside of your own property or causing a build-up of water on neighbouring properties.
The dam can let floods pass, via a proper spillway, and does not alter the natural course of the river.
You are not restricting anyone else's water supply or resource consent.
No significant environmental effects, including scouring, erosion, or restriction of fish passage is occurring.
No contaminants from equipment are being allowed to enter the river (make sure you do not refuel any equipment in the riverbed).
The dam does not restrict fish passage.
Construction does not take place between 1 May and 31 October in areas covered by water, due to fish spawning during this time.
The Council is informed that you are going to dam the stream, at least two working days before you start work. If you cannot meet all of these requirements, you may still be able to construct the dam but you will need a resource consent. Please note a deposit of $123 (excluding GST) is required for lodging a PIC, DSAP and annual dam safety compliance certificate. Actual costs are based on the Council's standard hourly rates. Contact us
If you require further information, please get in touch. Email: consents@trc.govt.nz
Phone: 0800 736 222
Submission: Fish and Game Taranaki
Trustpower 25 Nov 2020 [PDF, 21 MB] Application Appendix H Fish Passage and Fish Screening Assessment 20 02053 4 0 + 5 other renewals Trustpower 25 Nov 2020 [PDF, 5.9 MB] Application Appendix I Terrestrial Ecology Assessment 20 02053 4 0 + 5 other renewals Trustpower 25 Nov 2020 [PDF, 2.5 MB] Application Appendix J Recreation Assessment 20 02053 4 0 + 5 other renewals Trustpower 25 Nov 2020 [PDF, 5.7 MB] Application Appendix K Proposed Consent Conditions 20 02053 4 0 + 5 other renewals Trustpower 25 Nov
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Making sense of the living world
Transactional writing
Making sense of the living world
How many freshwater fish can you name?
What do you know about their habitat, food, habits?
Which freshwater fish are native to New Zealand?
What major threats face our native fish?
What can we do to help them?
On a large sheet of paper record what you know about our
native freshwater fish. Also record ideas and
Subsidised rat and possum traps for urban residents, plus tips and trips for using them. Towards Predator-Free Taranaki can support you with a range of traps and devices that will help bring the birds back to your neighbourhood! We offer subsidised box-tunnel rat traps for $15 (Victor) and $20 (T-Rex). You can pick one up from: Hunting & Fishing Taranaki, 25 Ocean View Parade, New Plymouth
East Taranaki Environment Collective, 53 Rata St, Inglewood - info@etec.org.nz
Brooklands Enviro-Hub,
Here you will find the technical reports to provide further background information about freshwater in Taranaki. Technical Information Dissolved oxygen and Ecosystem metabolism TRC Interim technical memorandum Dissolved oxygen and Ecosystem metabolism NOF baseline state September 2023 [PDF, 1.3 MB] E. coli and cyanobacteria TRC Technical memorandum E. coli and cyanobacteria NOF baseline state September 2023 [PDF, 2.5 MB] Fish Index of Biotic Integrity TRC Technical memorandum Fish Index of
waterways, causing loss of habitat, poor fish passage, changes in the river flow and sediment discharges. The Council issued an abatement notice for Goodwin to take remedial action. All of the works including the removal of the dam, the filling in of the drainage channel and the work to reinstate the tributary was completed by 1 May 2023. Council Director-Resource Management Fred McLay says individuals taking it upon themselves to realign and reclaim streams and other waterways on or near their
The Taranaki Regional Council’s current Fresh Water and Soil Plans are being merged into a Regional Freshwater and Land Management Plan for Taranaki. Options for minimum flows & water allocation
The Council commissioned this scientific report analysing environmental impacts of different limits on freshwater flows and allowable water takes. It draws on long-term monitoring data to model the impacts of various flow and allocation limits on fish and invertebrate populations, and on the reliability