Resource Management Act 1991

Duties and restrictions under this Act - River and lake beds

13: Restriction on certain uses of beds of lakes and rivers

You could also call this:

"Rules for what you can and can't do in lake and river beds"

Illustration for Resource Management Act 1991

You cannot do certain things in or near a lake or river bed. You cannot build or change structures in, on, or under the bed. You also cannot dig or disturb the bed, or put plants or substances in it. You need permission to do these things, unless a national environmental standard, a wastewater environmental performance standard, a stormwater environmental performance standard, an infrastructure design solution, or a regional rule says you can. You can get permission with a resource consent. Some activities are not allowed in lake or river beds, like damaging plants or animals. You can enter a lake or river bed, but you must follow the rules. This rule does not apply to the coastal marine area. It also does not limit what section 9 says. You can also follow section 20A to do some activities.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM231970.


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14: Restrictions relating to water, or

"Rules about taking and using water from the coast and other sources"

Part 3Duties and restrictions under this Act
River and lake beds

13Restriction on certain uses of beds of lakes and rivers

  1. No person may, in relation to the bed of any lake or river,—

  2. use, erect, reconstruct, place, alter, extend, remove, or demolish any structure or part of any structure in, on, under, or over the bed; or
    1. excavate, drill, tunnel, or otherwise disturb the bed; or
      1. introduce or plant any plant or any part of any plant (whether exotic or indigenous) in, on, or under the bed; or
        1. deposit any substance in, on, or under the bed; or
          1. reclaim or drain the bed—
            1. unless expressly allowed by a national environmental standard, a wastewater environmental performance standard, a stormwater environmental performance standard, an infrastructure design solution, a rule in a regional plan as well as a rule in a proposed regional plan for the same region (if there is one), or a resource consent.

            2. No person may do an activity described in subsection (2A) in a manner that contravenes a national environmental standard, a wastewater environmental performance standard, a stormwater environmental performance standard, an infrastructure design solution, or a regional rule unless the activity—

            3. is expressly allowed by a resource consent; or
              1. is an activity allowed by section 20A.
                1. The activities are—

                2. to enter onto or pass across the bed of a lake or river:
                  1. to damage, destroy, disturb, or remove a plant or a part of a plant, whether exotic or indigenous, in, on, or under the bed of a lake or river:
                    1. to damage, destroy, disturb, or remove the habitats of plants or parts of plants, whether exotic or indigenous, in, on, or under the bed of a lake or river:
                      1. to damage, destroy, disturb, or remove the habitats of animals in, on, or under the bed of a lake or river.
                        1. This section does not apply to any use of land in the coastal marine area.

                        2. Nothing in this section limits section 9.

                        Notes
                        • Section 13 heading: amended, on , by section 11 of the Resource Management Amendment Act 1993 (1993 No 65).
                        • Section 13(1): replaced, on , by section 11 of the Resource Management Amendment Act 1993 (1993 No 65).
                        • Section 13(1): amended, on , by section 72(1) of the Local Government (Water Services) (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2025 (2025 No 43).
                        • Section 13(1): amended, on , by section 13(1) of the Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 31).
                        • Section 13(2): replaced, on , by section 13(2) of the Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 31).
                        • Section 13(2): amended, on , by section 72(2) of the Local Government (Water Services) (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2025 (2025 No 43).
                        • Section 13(2A): inserted, on , by section 13(2) of the Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 31).