SUSTAINABLE OTAKIRI INCORPORATED v WHAKATĀNE DISTRICT COUNCIL [2025] NZSC 158

The Supreme Court of New Zealand dismissed appeals by Sustainable Otakiri Inc and Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa regarding the expansion of a spring water extraction and bottling operation. Key issues included whether the environmental effects of plastic bottle disposal should be considered under the Resource Management Act, the classification of the activity under the district plan, and the consideration of tikanga Māori and kaitiakitanga.