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Natural Environment Bill

Enforcement and other matters - Enforcement - Water shortage direction

272: Water shortage direction

You could also call this:

"What to do during a temporary water shortage"

Illustration for Natural Environment Bill

If a regional council thinks there is a serious temporary water shortage, they can issue a direction. You will be told what to do with the water, like using less or not using it at all. The council can also tell you to stop putting bad things into the water. The direction can be about a specific area or body of water. It can last for up to 14 days, but the council can change or cancel it. When the council makes a direction, it starts straight away and lasts until it ends or is cancelled. The council will tell you about the direction as soon as they can. They can do this by giving you a notice or by putting it in the newspaper. This way, you will know what you need to do about the water shortage. The council wants to make sure you know what is happening, so they will try to tell you as soon as possible.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1529065.

This page was last updated on 14 December 2025 — View changes

Topics:

Environment and resources > ConservationEnvironment and resources > Water managementGovernment and voting > Local councilsHousing and property > Home safety and repairs

271: Cancellation of abatement notice, or

"Stopping a notice to fix an environmental problem"

273: Restrictions on certain applications for enforcement orders and abatement notices, or

"Rules about who can ask the court to stop pollution from certain ships"

Part 6Enforcement and other matters
Enforcement: Water shortage direction

272Water shortage direction

If a regional council considers that at any time there is a serious temporary shortage of water in its region or any part of its region, the regional council may issue a direction for either or both of the following:
that the taking, use, damming, or diversion of water is to be apportioned, restricted, or suspended to the extent and in the manner set out in the direction:
that the discharge of any contaminant into water is to be apportioned, restricted, or suspended to the extent and in the manner set out in the direction.

A direction may relate to any specified water, to water in any specified area, or to water in any specified water body.
A direction must not last for more than 14 days but may be amended, revoked, or renewed by the regional council by a subsequent direction.
A direction comes into force on its issue and continues in force until it expires or is revoked.
A direction may be issued by any means the regional council thinks appropriate, but notice of the particulars of the direction must be given to all persons required to apportion, restrict, or suspend—
the taking, use, damming, or diversion of water as far as they can be ascertained, as soon as practicable after the direction is issued; or
the discharge of any contaminant into water as far as it can be ascertained, as soon as practicable after the direction is issued.

For the purpose of this section, notice may be given to a person by serving it on the person or by publishing the notice in 1 or more daily newspapers circulating in the area where the person takes, uses, dams, or diverts the water, or discharges a contaminant into water.