Frequently Asked Questions

Everyone is affected by the District Plan because it helps shape how we live, work and play in Central Hawke’s Bay. 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.

To help explain the provisions of the Proposed District Plan, five key themes have been developed. Click here to read about the key themes.

We have worked closely with tangata whenua while preparing the plan, including partaking in hui, field trips and presentations, and having Taiwhenua o Tamatea representation on the plan sub-committee. The plan includes specific chapters addressing cultural values, sites of cultural significance, and papakāinga and kaumatua housing.

Your property may be shown on the planning maps as being in, or including, a significant natural area. This means you have a special area on all or part of your land that has high biodiversity value. Provisions in the Proposed District Plan will ensure these areas are protected for future generations.  There are some controls on vegetation clearance although many day to day activities will not require a resource consent.  The rules are contained in the ‘Natural Environment Values’ section of the Proposed District Plan.   Have a look at the plan review documents to read the technical reports that led to these provisions.

Check the Operative and Proposed District Plan to see how your activity is classified:

• Permitted - allowed if you follow the standards outlining how the activity must be done
• Controlled - requires resource consent but will be approved if meets standards
• Restricted discretionary - requires resource consent and Council has discretion over certain matters when deciding whether to grant a resource consent
• Discretionary - requires resource consent and effects will be assessed and resource consent granted or declined on a case by case basis
• Non-complying - resource consent granted only under exceptional circumstances
• 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.