Te Whakawhanake Papakaainga

There are costs associated with obtaining both resource and building consents from your local council. Usually a deposit fee is required and the remaining costs are assessed by charging for the actual and reasonable time taken and for any site visits or inspections required. You can find a link to the current fees and charges on this page.

See our Fees and charges page for more information.

Development contributions are required for papakaainga developments as a contribution towards infrastructure such as roads, and community facilities including parks and libraries.

See our Development contributions page for more information.

Please check with our development contributions team on 0800 492 452 for further information on development contributions.

They will be able to give you an estimate of what your development contributions may be once you have an idea of what you are wanting to develop.

The (proposed) Waikato District Plan (the plan) is currently under appeal, however, parts of it will soon become operative. New, more enabling rules regarding Maaori land, particularly in developing Papakaainga, are included.

The definition of Maaori land in the District Plan means Maaori freehold land, Maaori customary land, Maaori reservation or Treaty settlement land.

What do some of the plan changes mean?

• Instead of having Paa Zones – where maps identified where Papakaainga could be built, Maaori purpose activities are listed in the plan (which includes papakaainga development) and are permitted in any zone if the whenua is Maaori Land as per the above definitions in the Plan.
• There are now no limits on the size, building height or number of houses able to be built for papakaainga.
• However, while Maaori Purpose Activities are PERMITTED ACTIVITIES all buildings must still have a building consent, pay development contributions and some activities may require resource consent where underlying zone rules apply.

Learn more about the district planning rules for whenua Maaori here.

• Marae and associated facilities
• Papakaainga housing development
• Papakaainga buildings
• Cultural events
• Urupaa
• Tuaahu
• Waharoa
• Church
• Hauora
• Koohanga
• Conference centre and facilities
• Waananga
• Recreation facilities, and
• Papa taakaro

• Outfall structures located within an Identified Area
• Vehicle access for all activities
• On-site parking and loading
• On-site manoeuvring and queuing
• Number of residential units;
• Minor residential unit rules;
• Buildings and structures in Landscape and Natural Character Areas
• Building height; and
• Building coverage

 Building Consents

Almost all building construction and drainage work will require a building consent.

A building consent is a formal approval granted by your local council to show that your building work meets the requirements of the Building Code. This makes sure that your building is safe and meets the right technical standards.

The requirements of the Building Code (and building consents) are mainly to ensure buildings are constructed in a manner that provides for the wellbeing of occupants and guests.

Alongside a building consent, additional permits may also be required. For example if a new vehicle entrance is to be created onto a public road, or a connection is required to public utilities (if available).

Resource Consents

A resource consent may also be required for your papakaainga development.

A resource consent is a formal approval granted by your council to breach a rule in a plan. Each district and region have plans. These state what you can do on your whenua without a resource consent. The requirements of plan rules (and resource consents) is mainly to ensure buildings and site works are constructed in a manner that provides for the wellbeing of the wider community.

This makes sure that development does not adversely affect the environment, your neighbours and wider community.

Resource consents may be required from both our Council and Waikato Regional Council.