Proposed District Plan Review 2024 - 2025

*    Changing the existing Residential Management Area to the General Residential Zone.

*    Separating the existing Rural Management Area to the General Rural Zone and the Rural Lifestyle Zone.

*    Changing the existing Industrial Management Area to the General Industrial Zone.

*    Changing the existing Commercial Management Area to the Town Centre Zone.

*    Establishing a new Māori Purpose Zone.

*    Rezoning existing Rural Management Area land to new General Residential Zone to provide for new residential Growth.

*    Rezoning existing Rural Management Area land to new General Industrial Zone to provide for new industrial Growth.

*    Enabling medium density development within the new General Residential Zone.

*    Converting existing open space and settlement areas into new Open Space Zone and Settlement Zone areas.

Yes. You may be able to undertake a residential subdivision or establish an industrial activity. What you are able to do will be set out in the new District Plan.

Rates are calculated from your district plan zoning and through your land use activity occurring on your piece of land.

No changes will be made to rating classifications until the after adoption of the District Plan Review in line with Council’s How Council Rates/Sector Rates adopted under the Long Term Plan and Annual Plan.

The proposed District Plan is currently being reviewed and Council is looking to publicly notify in May 2025. This will go through a Schedule 1 RMA process which means it is publicly notified and you will have another opportunity to submit and be a part of this process.

You will be able to formally submit through the District Plan Review process, and your submission will be considered by a hearing panel of three including a Councillor and two independent commissioners.

Everyone is affected by the District Plan because it helps shape how we live, work and play in Tararua. Its policies are designed to ensure the environment, and the things people love about living here are protected.

No-one can use land in a way that disregards the District Plan – even visitors need to follow rules relating to things like hazard management and noise.

A District Plan plays a big part in how we manage growth in the district, addressing a range of issues including character, amenity, heritage and landscape, open spaces, urban growth, subdivision and coastal management.

You may be interested in big picture aspects of the District Plan like outstanding landscapes, or just what you can and can’t do on your property – subdividing, building a new garage or deck, or starting a home business.

The District Plan affects the way you and your neighbours can use and develop your properties. It identifies a range of activities that are anticipated in the district, where they should occur and regulates these activities through the objectives, policies, rules, explanations and definitions.

The positive outcomes achieved through the District Plan generally go unnoticed for most people and it is often not until someone wants to start a new activity or redevelop their property that they become aware of the district plan regulations and the intended outcomes.

Some common ways the District Plan can affect property owners are:

• How close to the boundary you can build or extend your house, garage or other buildings.
• How many dwellings you can have on your property.
• Whether you can subdivide your property.
• Whether there are any 'special values' relating to your property such as cultural, historic or ecological.
• Whether you can operate a business from your home.
• The organisation of festivals and events.

The District Plan plays a big part in how the District develops, addressing such diverse issues as character, amenity, heritage and landscape, open spaces, urban growth, subdivision and coastal management.

The District Plan says how Council will manage significant resource management issues. This might include:

• Building development
• Land use activities such as residential, retail and industrial activities
• Subdivision of land and associated earthworks
• Protecting historic heritage and natural areas
• Managing natural hazards
• Hazardous substances
• Contaminated land
• Noise control
• Activities on the surface of water in rivers and lakes

It also manages more minor matters such as the minimum distance a garage should be located from a property boundary.

Under the Resource Management Act, the District Plan does not address the following matters. Manawatu-Whanganui Regional Council considers these matters in its Regional Policy Statement, Regional Coastal Policy Plan and Regional Plan.

• Soil conservation
• The maintenance and enhancement of the quality of water
• The maintenance of the quantity of water
• The maintenance and enhancement of ecosystems in water
• The taking, using, damming and diversion of water
• Discharges of contaminants into or onto land, air, or water and discharges of water into water
• Activities in the coastal marine area (below the high tide mark)

The Draft District Plan has been prepared for public comment and feedback through an informal pre-consultation period. The purpose of this pre-consultation is to enable Council to test the new Plan before it enters into the formal consultation processes.

Council welcomes feedback in order to help refine the draft Plan and inform any changes for the Proposed Plan is finalised.

The Draft District Plan covers many areas, including:

• Improved social and economic outcomes, and resilience.
• Enhancing and protecting our natural environment and landscapes.
• Mana whenua and tangata whenua values are protected and integrated for future generations.
• The plan is fit for purpose & future focused to help achieve good design and development outcomes.
• Partnering with mana whenua and the community, the District Plan will look to raise the bar for the future of the Tararua District. It will ensure TDC can manage the effects of growth while planning for the future. It will also ensure the environmental, social and economic needs of each community are provided for. The plan includes specific chapters addressing cultural values, sites of cultural significance, and papakāinga and kaumatua housing.

You will need to check the zoning classification and then go to that chapter of the District Plan.

One you have gone to the zone chapter you will need to check the Rules Overview Table for example if your zoning has changed to residential you will need to check the ‘General Residential Zone’ and the activity rules listed under ‘GRZ-R1 to GRZ-R15 – Activities Rules’

For example GRZ-R1 Residential Activities, including dwellings and minor dwellings is PER (permitted) subject to the conditions being met that are listed under the rule.

Check the Draft District Plan to see how your activity status is classified:

• PER (Permitted) - allowed if you follow the standards outlining how the activity must be done
• CON (Controlled) - requires resource consent but will be approved if meets standards
• RDIS (Restricted discretionary) - requires resource consent and Council has discretion over certain matters when deciding whether to grant a resource consent
• DIS - requires resource consent and effects will be assessed and resource consent granted or declined on a case by case basis
• NC - Non-complying - resource consent granted only under exceptional circumstances
• P - Prohibited - not allowed at all, even with a resource consent

Once you have approval you need to ensure your activity is undertaken within the plan’s rules and standards.

Activities not allowed as of right on your land may require a resource consent (authorisation) from Council to proceed.

The District Plan is of critical importance to the community as it sets the rules for what is allowed to happen in the district – how your land can be used and how others’ land can be used – it is the core statutory document that drives land use in the district. Community input will be needed along the way - both to shape the provisions of the Draft District Plan, and through the statutory consultation process that is required when the Proposed District Plan is officially notified. The website will be updated as we progress through the phases of the review and we will let you know when public consultation is required - stay tuned for more updates! If you want to know more or would like to sign up for further notifications, please email DistrictPlanReview@Tararuadc.govt.nz and request to be added to the District Plan Review mailing list.