Proposed Plan Change 4: Taraika Growth Area

Adopted Decision publicly notified on 4 July 2022

Taraika Master Plan thumbnail image - Artist impression of area.

Overview

Proposed Plan Change 4 focuses on rezoning an area of land to the east of Levin. The area in question totals over 420ha and is currently zoned Greenbelt Residential (Deferred). Greenbelt Residential zoning allows rural lifestyle development to occur.

In response to population growth, the Horowhenua Growth Strategy 2040 identified Taraika (formerly known as Gladstone Green) as a growth area. This means the area has been identified as potentially suitable to be rezoned from Greenbelt Residential to a residential/urban zoning to allow for residential development and associated non-residential development (eg supportive commercial activities). Under the proposed zoning, the area could contain approximately 2,500 dwellings, a commercial centre, public parks/reserves, and potentially a primary school.

In addition to the proposed rezoning, Council has prepared a Master Plan for the area in collaboration with a number of landowners within Taraika. The purpose of the master plan is to guide future growth to ensure that the area develops in a cohesive, connected way with provision for infrastructure and social amenities. This is important given the size of Taraika and the number of landowners involved.

Proposed Plan Change 4 seeks to give effect to this master plan.

Summary of Changes

The following amendments to the District Plan are proposed as part of Proposed Plan Change 4:

  • Remove Structure Plan 13 from the District Plan.
  • Introduce a new ‘Taraika Multi-Zone Precinct’ Chapter to the District Plan with a supporting structure plan and associated objectives, policies, and rules.
  • Rezone land within the Taraika Master Plan Area from Greenbelt Residential Deferred to Greenbelt Residential, Low Density Residential, Standard Residential, Medium Density Residential, Commercial and Open Space.
  • Introduce new subdivision rules within the Taraika Growth Area.
  • Introduce some new bulk and location rules within the Taraika Growth Area.
  • Introduce new rules relating to commercial activities within the Taraika Growth Area.
  • Update Planning Maps 7-8 and 30-33.

Decision

At its meeting on 29 June 2022, Council adopted the decision on Proposed Plan Change 4 to the Operative Horowhenua District Plan (June 2015). This decision was publicly notified on 4 July 2022. A full copy of the decision on the Proposed Plan Change is available below.

Plan Change 4: Tara-Ika Growth Area - Decision - 14 June 2022(PDF, 81MB)
Plan Change 4: Tara-Ika Growth Area - Chapter 6A - Tara-Ika - Objectives and Policies - Decision Version - 14 June 2022(PDF, 621KB)
Plan Change 4 Chapter 15A - Tara-Ika - Rules - Decision Version - 14 June 2022(PDF, 341KB)
Plan Change 4: Tara-Ika Growth Area - Structure Plan 013 - Decision Version - 14 June 2022(PDF, 4MB)
Plan Change 4: Tara-Ika Growth Area - Planning Maps - Decision Version - 14 June 2022(PDF, 13MB)

Appeals

Appeals closed on 15 August 2022. Three appeals were received. Copies of these appeals are available below.

Plan Change 4: Tara-Ika Growth Area - Notice of Appeal - James McDonnell Limited (JML)(PDF, 780KB)
Plan Change 4: Tara-Ika Growth Area - Notice of Appeal - James McDonnell Limited (JML) (with appendices)(PDF, 44MB)

Plan Change 4: Tara-Ika Growth Area - Notice of Appeal - Prouse Trust(PDF, 506KB)
Plan Change 4: Tara-Ika Growth Area - Notice of Appeal - Prouse Trust Appendices (Submissions)(PDF, 5MB)

Plan Change 4: Tara-Ika Growth Area - Notice of Appeal - Waka Kotahi(PDF, 179KB)
Plan Change 4: Tara-Ika Growth Area - Notice of Appeal - Waka Kotahi - Appendix B(PDF, 5MB)
Plan Change 4: Tara-Ika Growth Area - Notice of Appeal - Waka Kotahi - Appendix E(PDF, 3MB)
Plan Change 4: Tara-Ika Growth Area - Notice of Appeal - Waka Kotahi - Appendix F(PDF, 10MB)
Plan Change 4: Tara-Ika Growth Area - Notice of Appeal - Waka Kotahi - Appendix F - Appendix 2 Final Recommended Structure Plan(PDF, 4MB)
Plan Change 4: Tara-Ika Growth Area - Notice of Appeal - Waka Kotahi - Appendix F - Appendix 3 Final Recommended Planning Maps(PDF, 13MB)

Hearing

Hearing to reconvene for the Council’s Right of Reply was held at 9am on 17 December, in the Horowhenua District Council Chambers.

The hearing recording can be viewed on our YouTube Channel. Due to technical issues we were unable to record the entirety of the hearing. We apologise for the inconvenience.

Horowhenua District Council's Right of Reply for the reconvened Hearing on Friday 17 December 2021 is available below.

Proposed Plan Change 4: Tara-Ika Growth Area - Reporting Officer Right of Reply - 10 December 2021 (Part 1)(PDF, 25MB)
Proposed Plan Change 4: Tara-Ika Growth Area - Reporting Officer Right of Reply - 10 December 2021 (Part 2)(PDF, 11MB)
HDC Legal Advice - Ō2NL Infrastructure or Physical Resource(PDF, 213KB)

Submissions on Proposed Plan Change 4: Tara-Ika Growth Area were heard on 17-19 November 2021, by a panel of three accredited hearing commissioners:

  • Dean Chrystal (Chair)
  • David McMahon
  • Councillor Jo Mason (in her capacity as an accredited hearing commissioner).

While the hearing is open to the general public, only those who made a submission and indicated they wished to be heard are able to speak.

The hearing schedule is available below.

Proposed Plan Change 4: Tara-Ika Growth Area - Hearing Schedule (17-19 November)(PDF, 418KB)

Hearing Recordings

Submissions on Proposed Plan Change 4: Tara-Ika Growth Area were heard on Wednesday 17 November to Friday 19 November 2021.

The hearing recordings can be viewed on our YouTube channel.

Section 42A (s42A) Report

The Council Reporting Officer’s s42A Report (this report evaluates and makes recommendations on submissions) and supporting evidence are available below.

Proposed Plan Change 4: Tara-Ika Growth Area Section 42A Report(PDF, 4MB)
Proposed Plan Change 4: Tara-Ika Growth Area Section 42A Report Appendices(PDF, 17MB)

Any submitters intending to present expert evidence at the hearing needed to provide this to Council by 2 November 2021. This evidence is available below.

Proposed Plan Change 4: Tara-Ika Growth Area - Submitter Evidence(PDF, 14MB)
Proposed Plan Change 4: Tara-Ika Growth Area - Appendix 1 to Muaūpoko Tribal Authority Evidence(PDF, 7MB) (received 7 November 2021)

Hard copies of all plan change material are available for viewing at the Horowhenua District Council building, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, and the Shannon Library during standard opening hours.

Public Notification and Submissions

Proposed Plan Change 4 was publicly notified on 16 November 2020. Submissions closed at 5pm on Monday, 1 February 2021.

The Section 32 Report, technical reports and Proposed District Plan chapters are all available to view below.

Summary of Submissions

Council received 40 submissions on Plan Change 4 – Tara-Ika Growth Area during the original submission period from 16 November 2020 to 1 February 2021.

Horowhenua District Council now gives notice, as required by Clause 7 of the First Schedule of the Resource Management Act 1991, of the availability of a summary of decisions requested by people making submissions to Proposed Plan Change 4 – Tara-Ika Growth Area and invites further submissions on the plan change to support or oppose the points raised by other submitters.

Further Submissions closed

Further submissions opened on Friday, 26 February 2021 at 8am and closed on Monday 15 March 2021 at 4pm. A full copy of further submissions is now available below.

The following people/groups could make a further submission:

  • any person representing a relevant aspect of the public interest
  • any person who has an interest in the Proposed Plan Change that is greater than the interest that the general public has (for example, affected landowners are those who already made a submission)
  • Horowhenua District Council itself.

A further submission can only support or oppose submissions that have already been made, and cannot introduce additional matters. Any further submission must clearly state the number of the original submission to which the further submission relates.

IMPORTANT: Any person making a further submission to Plan Change 4 must send a copy of their further submission to the person who made the original submission within five (5) working days of lodging their further submission with the Council. The address for service for each submitter is included in the summary of submissions report.

A full copy and summary of the submissions are available for viewing below.

Full Submissions

Proposed Plan Change 4: Taraika Growth Area - Table of Contents (page 1)(PDF, 132KB)
Proposed Plan Change 4: Taraika Growth Area - Submissions 1 to 17 (pages 2-66)(PDF, 11MB)
Proposed Plan Change 4: Taraika Growth Area - Submissions 18 to 29 (pages 67-128)(PDF, 16MB)
Proposed Plan Change 4: Taraika Growth Area - Submissions 30 to 31 (pages 129-162)(PDF, 11MB)
Proposed Plan Change 4: Taraika Growth Area - Submissions 32 to 34 (pages 163-189)(PDF, 9MB)
Proposed Plan Change 4: Taraika Growth Area - Submissions 35 to 38 (pages 190-226)(PDF, 14MB)
Proposed Plan Change 4: Taraika Growth Area - Submissions 39 to 40 (pages 227-265)(PDF, 13MB)

Summary of Submissions

Proposed Plan Change 4: Taraika Growth Area - Summary of Submissions (ordered by submitter)(PDF, 1MB)
Proposed Plan Change 4: Taraika Growth Area - Summary of Submissions (ordered by submission point)(PDF, 1MB)

Further Submissions

Proposed Plan Change 4: Taraika Growth Area - Further Submissions Table of Contents (pages 1-3)(PDF, 222KB)
Proposed Plan Change 4: Taraika Growth Area - Further Submissions 1 to 22 (pages 4-161)(PDF, 19MB)
Proposed Plan Change 4: Taraika Growth Area - Further Submissions 23 to 43 (pages 162-321)(PDF, 18MB)
Proposed Plan Change 4: Taraika Growth Area - Further Submissions 44 to 66 (pages 322-482)(PDF, 22MB)
Proposed Plan Change 4: Taraika Growth Area - Further Submissions 67 to 93 (pages 483-649)(PDF, 13MB)
Proposed Plan Change 4: Taraika Growth Area - Further Submissions 27 & 94(PDF, 633KB)

Hearings

The Commissioners have issued the following memorandum:

Commissioner Minute 1 of Independent Hearing Panel - 10 May 2021(PDF, 108KB)
Commissioner Minute 2 of Independent Hearing Panel - 13 July 2021(PDF, 134KB)
Commissioner Minute 3 of Independent Hearing Panel - 16 August 2021(PDF, 118KB)
Commissioner Minute 4 of Independent Hearing Panel - 16 August 2021(PDF, 143KB)
Plan Change 4 - Tara-Ika - Legal Advice Scope of Submissions for Website(PDF, 660KB)
Commissioner Minute 5 of Independent Hearing Panel - 19 November 2021(PDF, 150KB) 
Commissioner Minute 6 of Independent Hearing Panel - 17 December 2021(PDF, 5MB)
Commissioner Minute 7 of Independent Hearing Panel - 21 March 2022(PDF, 21KB)
Commissioner Minute 8 of Independent Hearing Panel - 6 May 2022(PDF, 16KB)

Prehearing Reports

The following reports have been prepared as a summary of the discussions held at the prehearing meetings:

Proposed Plan Change 4: Tara-Ika Growth Area - Structure Plan, Zoning and Stormwater(PDF, 775KB)
Proposed Plan Change 4: Tara-Ika Growth Area - Ōtaki to North of Levin(PDF, 792KB)
Proposed Plan Change 4: Tara-Ika Growth Area - Summary of Discussions (Density and Zoning, Stormwater and Servicing, and Transport and Ō2NL)(PDF, 1003KB)

Proposed Plan Change 4 - Taraika Growth Area - Section 32 Report(PDF, 1MB)

Proposed Plan Change 4 - Taraika Growth Area - Section 32 Report Appendices(PDF, 19MB)

Proposed Plan Change 4 - 6A Objectives & Policies: Taraika Multi-Zone Precinct(PDF, 123KB)

Proposed Plan Change 4 - 15A Rules: Taraika Multi-Zone Precinct(PDF, 185KB)

Proposed Plan Change 4 - Taraika Structure Plan 013(PDF, 4MB)

Proposed Plan Change 4 - Taraika Growth Area - Planning Maps(PDF, 14MB)

Hard copies of these documents are available to view at the following locations:

  • Horowhenua District Council office: 126 Oxford Street. Hours: 8am to 5pm on Monday to Friday.
  • Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō: 10 Bath Street, Levin. Hours: 9am to 5.30pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 10am to 9pm on Wednesday, 10am to 4pm on Saturday and 1pm to 4pm on Sunday.
  • Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom: 92 Main Street, Foxton. Hours: 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday.
  • Shannon Library: Plimmer Terrace. Hours: 10am to 12 noon, 1pm to 5pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 12 noon Saturday.

What is a Plan Change?

A plan change is a change to a District Plan, which is a public process requiring research, evaluation and consultation. A plan change can be initiated by us or by members of the public (private plan change). Examples of possible plan changes include:

  • Rezoning of land.
  • Addition of a building to the schedule of heritage buildings.
  • Amendments to rules.

What is the Plan Change process?

The RMA outlines the plan change process that we are required to follow. Consultation and community involvement, including pre-consultation, notification, submission and hearing processes, are important steps in the plan change process.

  1. Initial issue identification and pre-consultation process. 
  2. Plan change drafting (eg preparing proposed rules, objectives and policies) and assessment of the proposal (s32 evaluation report).
  3. Plan change approved by the Council for public notification.
  4. Plan change publicly notified for submissions.
  5. Submissions summarised.
  6. Summary of submissions publicly notified for further submissions (cross submissions).
  7. Public notification of summary of submissions for further submissions (10 working days).
  8. Submissions and further submissions analysed. In some cases further technical information may be needed. Preparation of s42a report (recommendations on the submissions).
  9. Hearings.
  10. Public notification of decisions.

Once decisions are notified, any party who made a submission has the opportunity to appeal all or part of the decision to the Environment Court.

What is a Hearing?

Plan Changes are heard by a Hearings Panel. The role of the Hearings Panel is to make a decision on the proposed plan change, including making decisions on points raised in submissions. Members of the Hearings Panel must be accredited Hearings Commissioners and can include Elected Members of the Council as well as independent commissioners. Often Plan Change Hearings Panels will include both.

Anyone can attend a hearing, but only some people can speak. The following people can speak at a Plan Change hearing:

  • the applicant (if relevant) and anyone presenting evidence on their behalf
  • submitters who have requested to be heard and anyone presenting evidence on their behalf
  • the Planner on behalf of the Council
  • any other experts presenting evidence on behalf of the council who had a report circulated before the hearing
  • any committee member or commissioner(s).

You can find further information about the hearings process on the Ministry for the Environment website.

If you have any questions about Proposed Plan Change 4 then you can email them to districtplan@horowhenua.govt.nz or call us on 06 366 0999 and ask to speak to a member of the Strategic Planning Team.