May 2025 Newsletter: Proposed Kaipara District Plan Update

The Kairpara District Plan was released on April 28th and the team at Horizon have reviewed and analysed it and there are some interesting findings.

The rural lifestyle zone is here but not in all the locations anticipated. Now is the time to have your say, make a submission or get the team at Horizon to help you before it's too late.

The plan is very different to the Council’s previously released Exposure Draft District Plan, so we encourage you to take some time to have a look at it.

👉 The introduction of the Mangawhai/Hakaru Managed Growth Area, which limits subdivision on properties in this area.

👉 The introduction of the Rural Lifestyle Zone (min 4,000m² lots) around Kaiwaka, Oneriri, Maungaturoto, Paparoa, Matakohe and Dargaville.

👉Small lot subdivision on Rural Zoned properties located outside of the Managed Growth Area and Rural Lifestyle Zone of up to 5 lots.

👉 Minor Residential Units (max size 90m²) have been introduced as a permitted activity under the plan on both Rural and Residential zoned land.

So what does this all mean?

The plan is still proposed and except for a few rules such as Historic Heritage, Sites and Areas of Significance to Maori and Coastal Marine setbacks, the remainder of the proposed district plan has no legal weight.

The plan is open for submissions, and we are working on these now. We encourage people to make submissions or get in touch with the team who can help.

Going forward you should consider what the current district plan allows you to do. If you have been thinking about subdividing and are located in the Managed Growth Area, now might be the time to secure a subdivision consent under the current rules.

In other areas the proposed rules are more favorable, so submitting in support and waiting until the plan is in place might be your best option.

Get in touch with us to get site specific strategic advice.