The FMU are based firstly on the catchments of the major rivers and interactions between surface and ground water - following where the water flows. Secondly catchments have been grouped together that flow to the same coastal environments, and then we have considered specific water management and local community needs.
We have also defined smaller sub-catchment areas within the FMU to consider water management in more detail. We can also consider smaller parts, such as individual waterbodies, where it is useful to do so.
We think these FMU and sub-catchment areas are a practical approach to managing freshwater across a region the size of Tasman and will allow rules and regulations to be applied to waterbodies in an integrated way 'from the mountains to the sea'.
The FMU and sub-catchment areas will be used to collate and assess information for the new draft freshwater plan. However, they are subject to change as we progress the plan development and seek further input from iwi and communities.
If you have any questions about the FMU or sub-catchment areas, please contact us at freshwaterplan@tasman.govt.nz.
The Wharepapa Arthur Marble Aquifer and Te Waikoropupū Springs is now subject to a Water Conservation Order. The Order is available on the NZ legislation website and takes effect on 19 October 2023.
The Water Conservation Order (WCO) applies to properties in the Wharepapa Arthur Marble Aquifer Recharge Area (WAMARA). This area is shown as a pink boundary over the Tākaka catchments – zoom in to see this layer.
Land and water use in this area has the potential to affect water flows and water quality at Te Waikoropupū Springs. Get more information on the WCO process.
The sub-catchment areas (currently called Water Management Zones) are three dimensional in nature as they relate to water at the surface, as well as groundwater aquifers at different depths. Where these areas overlap the groundwater areas (and the Deep Moutere Groundwater FMU) are shown on the map in different colours and hashed lines – zoom in to see these additional layers. These areas may have different rules in the new plan and some properties or water takes may be subject to more than one set of rules depending on which water they access, or how their land uses might affect different waterbodies.
Note: You can change the base map by clicking the box in the left bottom corner of the map.
