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Guiding you through changes

We'll provide expert advice and help to steer you through the paperwork as you grow your business.

Our small business coordinator

Call 04 570 6862, email smallbusiness@huttcity.govt.nz or come into the main Council building on Laings Road and ask to talk to our small business coordinator, who will:

explain what rules and regulations you'll need to consider as you change or grow
explain the order in which you should go about obtaining approvals (this will keep delays to a minimum)
act as your one point of contact as your applications are processed by different parts of Council
offer help and guidance along the way.

Building consents - when do I need one?

Almost everything you build needs to meet a number of standards and regulations, such as the Building Act 2004, the Building Regulations and the New Zealand Building Code. Find out if the building work you are planning needs a building consent.

Resource consents: what are they, and when do I need one?

If you want to do something new on your property which doesn’t meet the rules and standards in our District Plan, then you will need to apply for resource consent.

How Council can help you

We’re here to help you to do things the right way and get all the information you need, whether you’re moving to a new property, building or extending on your site, providing a new service or making any changes that affect the environment around you.

We can visit your site, give you advice on what you’ll need and put you touch with our team of engineers and inspectors who can work with to meet what’s needed.

Find out more in our consents, permits and licences section or get in touch with us to talk about what you need.

Success starts with a conversation

Get in touch with us and we'll be happy to talk with you about your specific business needs and discuss what you can expect during the consents process, and any permits you’ll require. We’re here to help make it happen.

You can ask us to complete a free preliminary check to ensure that you have all the necessary information to submit your application. This will minimise any delays when we process your application.

We worked with plastic sheet and packaging products manufacturer Flight Group when it moved from Rongotai in Wellington to Gracefield in Lower Hutt to enable its continued growth. It snapped up the old Griffin’s biscuit factory in Gracefield.

Director Derek Lander says we were “constructive and extraordinarily helpful”:

“There seems to be a very good appreciation with Council staff of what is required for an industrial type of business,” he says. “We’ve been made to feel welcome and we look forward to what I’m sure will be an excellent long-term relationship.”