Water conservation orders
Water conservation orders provide recognition of the outstanding amenity or intrinsic values of water bodies.
A water conservation order may be applied over a water body to achieve any of the following:
- the preservation as far as possible of the water body’s natural state
- the protection of characteristics which the water body has or contributes to:
- as a habitat for terrestrial or aquatic organisms
- as a fishery
- for its wild, scenic, or other natural characteristics:
- for scientific and ecological values:
- for recreational, historical, spiritual, or cultural purposes:
- the protection of characteristics which any water body has or contributes to, and which are considered to be of outstanding significance in accordance with tikanga Māori.