Resource Consents

View the District Plan

The District Plan contains rules, policies and objectives to manage the use and development of natural and physical resources in the Hurunui. The District Plan is a framework which shapes the way our district is developed. The District Plan seeks to balance, cultural, environmental and economic interests and make the Hurunui a great place to live.

You should review the District Plan before undertaking any building work or development of your property. This will help you find out whether you can proceed as a permitted activity (i.e. as of right) or whether you need resource consent.

The Council is required to have a district plan prepared under the Resource Management Act 1991. The Hurunui District Plan was made operative on 21 June 2018.

Click here for a how to guide on the ePlan.

Changes to the District Plan

Note the District Plan is not a static document. The Council is able to initiate plan changes to update, change, add or remove content. The Council is also able to receive and process plan changes from members of the public. These changes are publicly notified and you are able to take part and have your say through the submission process.

Plan changes and minor amendments

Land use

• Application form
• Affected persons approval
• Change or cancel existing condition

Subdivision

• Application form
• Affected persons approval
• Change or cancel existing condition

Boundary activities

A boundary activity can be applied for where a boundary rule (e.g. access to sunlight, setback from the boundary of the neighbours property) is breached and you have written approval from the relevant neighbour.

• Application for deemed permitted boundary activity
• Written approval for deemed permitted boundary activity

Completed application forms and supporting documents can be submitted by hand, post or email to planning@hurunui.govt.nz. Our preference is electronic applications.

Boundary activity application

Within 10 working days.

Non-notified resource consent

This is where officers determine no consultation is required. Officers have 10 working days to determine if an application should be notified.

Provided sufficient information is provided with the application (i.e. you provide us with everything we need in appropriate detail) a decision will be issued within 20 working days. If the information provided is not up to scratch, Officers can stop the clock to request further information or affected parties approval. This means it will take longer for you to receive a decision.

The best way to guarantee a decision within 20 working days is to provide us with good quality information from the start! If your application is complex you may need to engage the services of a planning consultant to prepare your application.

Notified resource consent

This is where Officers decide public consultation is required due to the effects of the proposal. Public consultation can be 'limited' i.e. to directly affected parties, or 'public' i.e. to everyone.

Notified consents take longer to gain a decision. Council's have up to 100 working days to issue a decision on a limited notified consent, and up to 130 working days for publicly notified consents.

Further information is available on the Ministry for Environment's website here, or you can speak to the duty planner.

Resource consent fees (from page 39)

Fees can be paid in person or into the Council bank account: 03-0802-0946666-00 Ref: RC*applicant name*

Development contributions

Development contributions are payable on new houses (except when replacing a demolished or removed house on the same site), business premises and subdivided lots.

Click here information on topics related to resource consents.