Motueka is the second largest town in Tasman District. It is an important hub for tourism and horticulture. Motueka now has a population of around 8,200 people, and continues to increase. Around 620 people live in Riwaka. Motueka and Riwaka are low lying and development is constrained by inundation hazards and highly productive land.

Motueka Museum facade
  • Providing enough serviced land for housing and business in Motueka when there are significant restrictions from flooding, coastal hazards and productive land.
  • It is hard to manage stormwater on land that is flat, low lying, and prone to flooding and coastal inundation.
  • There is a risk of contamination of the Motueka groundwater resources from land use.
  • As Motueka grows and changes, there is a risk that it can:
    • Lack sufficient reserve, recreation and community facilities
    • Lose internal connectivity
    • Lose its distinctive sense of place, identity and character.
  • There is a risk that, if not consolidated, the shopping area will lose vibrancy due to its elongated form.
  • There is a risk that the town centre may not maintain its role as the focal precinct for pedestrian-orientated intensive retailing, administration, community services and interactions as Motueka grows.
  • The range of housing choice in Motueka is limited and for many residents is increasingly unaffordable.
  • Motueka and Riwaka are vulnerable to coastal hazards and sea level rise, and forms part of Council’s Coastal Management Project working with our coastal communities on our long-term adaptive planning response. More information is available here.
  • Implement the Future Development Strategy which consolidates urban growth west of High Street, Motueka.
  • Motueka town centre continues to develop as the central focus of retail and office development.
  • Retain a core pedestrian-orientated area for Motueka.
  • Allow new commercial development in the Motueka central business area up to three storeys high (or six storeys high, subject to resource consent).
  • Maintain and enhance the character of High Street shopping area where possible.
  • Continue to provide for small to medium-scale commercial activities in Riwaka.
  • As part of work towards long-term adaptive planning for sea level rise and coastal hazards, consider a range of land use-planning measures for discussion with the community mid-2023 (via the Coastal Management Project work programme). Measures may include controlling the types and densities of land uses (via zoning), subdivision and building restrictions, or identification of coastal setbacks or coastal risk areas.