Under the Resource Management Act, it is a matter of national importance to recognise and provide for the relationship of Māori and their culture and traditions with their ancestral lands, water, sites, wāhi tapu, and other taonga.
The Proposed District Plan manages this by identifying and categorising sites to provide a level of recognition in line with their significance. The location of each site and area has been determined with the guidance and direction of Mana Whenua. The provisions of this chapter apply to the use, development and activities within the identified extent of these sites/areas.
The provisions also enable tangata whenua to carry out tikanga Māori and kaitiakitanga practices within sites and areas of significance to Māori. This could be activities like as the customary gathering of food and natural materials, or being able to undertake a karakia to bless a site in the event of an archaeological discovery. It is important to note that these allowances do not override private property rights and can only be carried out at a site with the permission of the landowner.
Please note: this chapter contains some provisions that have immediate legal effect. These are identified in the Proposed District Plan with a red outline and a gavel icon.
Read the Information Sheet on Sites and Areas of Significance to Māori (PDF 72 KB)
Read the Sites and Areas of Significance to Māori s32 Evaluation Report (PDF 1.7 MB)
SASM-R4: Additions, alterations or new buildings or structures within a Site or Area of Significance to Māori
The Proposed District Plan includes a rule that applies to additions, alterations or new buildings or structures within a Site or Area of Significance to Māori (Rule SASM-R4).
A number of people have told us that it is not clear how this rule would apply in practice for properties in Category 1 and 2 Sites and Areas of Significance to Māori.
Our officers agree that the rule is not clear enough. In response, Council officers are preparing a neutral submission on the Proposed District Plan that will request an amendment to clarify the building permissions for properties in Category 1 and 2:
- Any new building with a footprint up to 200m2 would be permitted in any zone.
- Additions and alterations to an existing house would be permitted with no limit on the size of the total building footprint.
- Additions and alterations up to 200m2 to any building within an Industrial, Commercial or Mixed Use Zone would be permitted.
- Any other additions or alterations would be permitted where the total footprint of the extended building would not exceed 200m2.
This submission will be considered by the independent hearing panel for the Proposed District Plan alongside all the other submissions on Sites and Areas of Significance to Māori.
Please note, resource consent may still be required under other rules of the plan, such as rules on natural hazards and the height (as is the case under the current District Plan).
How can I find out whether my property is Category 1, 2 or 3?
You can search the Proposed District Plan maps https://eplan.huttcity.govt.nz/review. These maps include a search tool that enables you to search for the parts of the Proposed District Plan that are relevant for your property. If your property is in a Site or Area of Significance to Māori, it will be listed on the left side of the screen, with the name of the site/area and its category.
What does it mean if a planned building project doesn’t fit within the permitted parameters that are proposed?
If proposed additions, alterations or new buildings or structures don’t meet these permitted activity rules, you would need to apply to the Council for a resource consent to undertake the work.