Foreshore and Seabed

The Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004 and the Resource Management (Foreshore and Seabed) Amendment Act 2004 received royal assent on 24 November 2004.

Certain provisions of the Foreshore and Seabed Act came into force on 25 November 2004, with the remaining provisions coming into force on 17 January 2005. Further details are available in the background section.

The Foreshore and Seabed Act provides for Crown ownership of the public foreshore and seabed, on behalf of all New Zealanders. The Act is based on four main principles:

guaranteeing public access , now and in the future;
regulating the rights and interests of all New Zealanders;
protecting existing customary rights and interests; and
ensuring certainty in respect of rights and interests in the public foreshore and seabed.

The Resource Management (Foreshore and Seabed) Amendment Act 2004 relates to:

3.1 protection of customary rights orders

3.2 provision for management plans prepared in respect of foreshore and seabed reserves to be accommodated in policy statements and plans prepared under the RMA

3.3 subdivisions

3.4 reclamations

The Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004 and the Resource Management (Foreshore and Seabed) Amendment Act 2004 are available at www.legislation.govt.nz.