The Proposed Natural Resources Plan (PNRP) was made operative 28 July 2023, this operative version of the Natural Resources Plan is now available.

The Natural Resources Plan for the Wellington region is an integration and replacement of five regional plans for soil; fresh water; air; discharges to land; and the coastal marine area.

On 18 September 2019, appeals were filed with the Environment Court, and went through a Court assisted mediation process. The Court issued consent orders, as appeal matters are resolved.

The Proposed Natural Resources Plan (PNRP) process:

- The Proposed plan change of the Natural Resources Plan (Full Review / PNRP) was originally notified on 31 July 2015, it then went through the submissions and hearings process.

- The Decisions on the Proposed Natural Resources Plan (PNRP) were publicly notified on 31 July 2019. Appeals were filed with the Environment Court, on 18 September 2019. These appeals went through a Court assisted mediation process. The Court issued consent orders, as appeal matters were resolved. The PNRP appeals version of the plan shows all changes to the provisions since the Decisions Version as black underline/strikethrough.

- The Council adopted the Regional Coastal Plan part of the PNRP (under clause 18 of the First Schedule to the RMA) on 25 August 2022. Those coastal provisions were then referred to the Minister of Conservation (under clause 19 of the First Schedule to the RMA) who approved them on 9 June 2023. The Council approved the part of the PNRP that is not part of the Regional Coastal Plan (under clause 17 of the First Schedule to the RMA) on 29 June 2023.

- The plan was publicly notified and made operative on 28 July 2023.