Coastal management principles
Beach at Whangapoua Harbour,
Coromandel Peninsula
These principles are a tool to guide the assessment of the Authority's role, its contribution to, and/or response to issues relating to coastal management. They recognise that the coast forms a continuum from the mountains to the open sea. These principles are consistent with and complementary to the Authority's existing marine and access principles.
Governance
- Our coastline is a treasured finite resource to be respected.
- A precautionary approach should be taken to coastal management.
- Coastal management should be integrated, encompassing the range of environments, values, functions and administrations.
- Coastal management must provide for recognition of tangata whenua mana, values, kaitiakitanga and protection of taonga.
- Coastal management regimes should provide for public and tangata whenua, participation in decision-making processes.
- There should be clear national policy to address competing values and uses.
- Authorised uses should generally be time-limited and reviewable.
- Decisions should be based on a comprehensive understanding of coastal processes and ecology and matauranga.
- Coastal management regimes must include monitoring of environmental outcomes with mechanisms for review of policy or operations and establish clear lines of responsibility for implementing such reviews and accountability for outcomes.
Protection
- Coastal management should provide for the protection of indigenous biodiversity, intrinsic values, natural landforms, historic and natural character, and wahi tapu.
- Coastal management should prevent the establishment of new pests and the containment/reduction/elimination of existing ones.
- Coastal management should provide for the protection of open space and access to the coast and beaches for the benefit, use and enjoyment of the public.
- Areas should be set aside for the appreciation of the natural quiet, peace and grandeur of the coastal setting.
Sustainability
- Coastal management should ensure that the use of the coastal margin is ecologically sustainable, and that some areas are set aside for non-extractive uses.
- Coastal management must address cumulative effects.
- Environmental outcomes for coastal areas must be based on the values of the particular site.
- Coastal management regimes should acknowledge the changes brought about by natural processes.
- Coastal management should address the adverse effects of human activities originating from outside the coastal zone.
Footnote: These principles should be read in conjunction with the other current NZCA principles (i.e. marine and access) and the template for section 4 of the Conservation Act (giving effect to the principles of the Treaty).
10 December 2003
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