Reviewing the River Gravel Extraction Code of Practice

This is your opportunity to give feedback on the draft River Gravel Extraction Code of Practice. Tell us if the revised code is practical and easy to use, or whether anything is unclear or missing.

Why we’ve updated the Code

The Code is a practical, non-statutory guide used by gravel extractors and our staff. It sets clear and consistent expectations for gravel extraction under gravel authorisations.

In 2025, we committed to a full review of the Code to reflect current practice and align with the recently updated Gravel Management Strategy (2025).

What’s changed

The updated Code includes some new material, alongside some small updates to how things are done.

A brief officers report has been prepared to describe the changes made and the reasons why.

📥 Download the brief officers report (PDF file, 508 KB) for more details.

Structure and content

• The Code now has four parts instead of three
• An extended section on permission process expectations
• A new section on specialised mitigation schedules
• Previous appendices (site form and LWRP Schedule 17) have been removed
• New river diagrams show where gravel authorisations are commonly used
• A new appendix shows how the Gravel Management Strategy has been applied.

Permissions and engagement

• Clearer explanation of gravel authorisations and resource consents, and how they differ.
• Expectations for engagement with Papatipu Rūnanga
• New guidance on assessment criteria, including ecological and coastal erosion.

Operational rules

• Earlier notification of works required, with clearer expectations for pre-start discussions
• Clearer vegetation clearance rules with stronger protection for indigenous riverbed vegetation in certain rivers
• Stockpiling and processing in the riverbed, can only occur when explicitly approved
• Stronger and clearer site rehabilitation requirements
• Simplified bird protection rules, with a preference to avoid works during nesting season.
• Pest hygiene requirements now apply to all pest species (not just didymo)
• New schedules with requirements for bird surveys, native braided riverbed vegetation and fish protection.

Tell us your thoughts

You can review the draft document and a brief officers report that describes key changes and why (including a side-by-side comparison of the extraction conditions).

📥Download the draft Code of Practice document (PDF file, 2.1MB)

📥Download the brief officers report (PDF file, 508 KB)

Your feedback will help ensure the information is clear and comprehensive, and nothing important has been missed.

What isn’t open for feedback

As a guide for extractors, the Code of Practice cannot change requirements set elsewhere, such as:

• Statutory rules or plan provisions
• Resource consent conditions
• Requirements set through legislation or existing policy.

Share your feedback

Please email your feedback to gravel@ecan.govt.nz. In your feedback, please identify which section of the Code of Practice you are providing feedback on and include:

• What is working
• What doesn’t work
• Any suggested changes

What happens next

After the feedback period closes, we will:

• Review and consider all comments received
• Share a summary of how the feedback was incorporated, and the final draft COP
• Publish the final document on our website.

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