SSttaattee ooff tthhee EEnnvviirroonnmmeenntt MMaannaawwaattuu 22000077 our district – our environment nō tātou te hau kāinga, nō tātou te taiao Welcome to the 2007 State of the Environment report for Manawatu District The State of the Environment report for Manawatu District provides a way of measuring the environment. It provides a ‘snapshot’ view of the state of our environment and key environmental issues facing us. Monitoring the state of the environment is an important part of our future. our district - our environment 2007 will enable us to continue to make informed decisions to meet the needs and aspirations of Manawatu communities. our district - our environment 2007 presents a number of environmental indicators and accompanying information that tell us about the state of Manawatu’s environment. This is the second report assessing how well we are meeting the resource management challenges our district faces. It also sets out what we need to do in the future to improve some areas. It provides an information base for a wide range of organisations, schools, residents and ratepayers. More than 28,000 now call Manawatu District home because they value its environment and the lifestyle it has to offer. This is our report to you. We hope you find the information interesting and useful. Ian McKelvie Rod Titcombe MAYOR CHIEF EXECUTIVE Contents Introduction 1 Land Use and Subdivision 19 Overview ................................................................................................................ 1 The Facts ............................................................................................................ 19 The Resource Management Act 1991 ................................................................... 1 Progress so Far ................................................................................................... 19 Relationship to District Plan ................................................................................... 1 Issues to Consider ............................................................................................... 19 Relationship to Community Outcomes ................................................................... 2 Land Uses ........................................................................................................... 20 Benefits of ‘State of the Environment’ Monitoring .................................................. 2 Residential Development .................................................................................... 24 Environmental Parameters and Monitoring Indicators ........................................... 2 Subdivision .......................................................................................................... 25 ‘Pressure – State – Response’ Model .................................................................... 2 Noise ................................................................................................................... 29 What is the Council Doing? ................................................................................. 30 The Manawatu District Profile 4 Natural and Cultural Heritage 32 The Facts ............................................................................................................... 4 Progress so Far ..................................................................................................... 4 The Facts ............................................................................................................ 32 Issues to Consider ................................................................................................. 4 Progress So Far .................................................................................................. 32 The Location .......................................................................................................... 5 Issues to Consider ............................................................................................... 32 The Climate............................................................................................................ 5 Heritage Sites and Buildings ............................................................................... 33 Natural Features .................................................................................................... 5 Trees with Heritage Value ................................................................................... 34 Infrastructure .......................................................................................................... 5 Archaeological Sites ............................................................................................ 34 Economy ................................................................................................................ 5 Heritage Precinct ................................................................................................. 35 Population Census ................................................................................................. 6 Heritage Incentive Strategies .............................................................................. 35 Population Estimates ............................................................................................. 6 What is the Council Doing? ................................................................................. 36 Population Projections ........................................................................................... 7 Concentration of People in Manawatu District ....................................................... 8 Biodiversity 37 Gender ................................................................................................................... 8 The Facts ............................................................................................................ 37 Age Distribution and Projections ............................................................................ 9 Progress So Far .................................................................................................. 37 Our Ethnic Profile ................................................................................................. 10 Issues to Consider ............................................................................................... 37 Tangata Whenua ................................................................................................. 10 Endangered Species ........................................................................................... 38 Birthplace ............................................................................................................. 11 Coastal Biodiversity ............................................................................................. 38 Languages Spoken .............................................................................................. 11 Rangitikei Estuary ............................................................................................... 38 Labour Force........................................................................................................ 11 Aquatic Biodiversity ............................................................................................. 39 Occupations ......................................................................................................... 12 Wetlands ............................................................................................................. 39 Industry ................................................................................................................ 12 Native Forests ..................................................................................................... 42 Income ................................................................................................................. 13 Protection of Areas of Indigenous Vegetation ..................................................... 42 Education ............................................................................................................. 14 What is the Council Doing? ................................................................................. 44 Housing ................................................................................................................ 15 Dwelling Numbers ................................................................................................ 15 Parks and Reserves 45 People per Household ......................................................................................... 16 Family Type ......................................................................................................... 16 The Facts ............................................................................................................ 45 Household Composition ....................................................................................... 16 Progress So Far .................................................................................................. 45 Satisfaction as a Place to Live ............................................................................. 17 Issues to Consider ............................................................................................... 45 What is the Council Doing? .................................................................................. 18 The District’s Parks and Reserves ...................................................................... 46 Esplanade Strips ................................................................................................