The national policy statement sets out to guide applicants and decision-makers in notifications and making decisions on resource consents for electricity generation.
Regional and district plans, including Waitaki's district plan, must incorporate the policy, affecting how new generation plants are built in its area.
At present two major schemes are proposed - the Meridian Energy north bank tunnel scheme on the lower Waitaki River and a wind farm on the Kakanui Mountains. Meridian already has resource consents for water for its scheme, but still needs land-use consents to build and operate it.
The policy and its effects on the Waitaki district plan were discussed at a council committee of the whole meetings last week.
Planning manager David Campbell said "minor tweaks" could be made to the district plan to cater for the policy, but major changes would need to be investigated with councillors.
He pointed out existing hydro-electric generation, such as Meridian's Waitaki system, were already covered in the present district plan and had resource consents.
Pointing to existing generation and planned projects within the district, Cr Hopkins said the new policy would have a major effect.
The Government policy statement reaffirms that 90% of electricity in New Zealand should be from renewable sources by 2025.
Waitaki planning staff are evaluating the provisions of the Waitaki district plan compared with Otago and Canterbury regional policies and the new national policy statement.
A paper will be presented to the council listing any changes required.
Minor changes could be made before a more significant review of the district plan.
The national policy statement sets deadlines of up to 24 months from April 14, when it took effect, for local authorities to make changes to their plans in line with it.
