Types of Resource Consents

Land Use Consent

The term 'land use' covers how land is used and includes:

Any activity done on the land (e.g. retail, vegetation removal, erection of a sign or a wind turbine).
New buildings, additions and alterations to buildings.
Land modification (such as earthworks).

Subdivision Consent

The term 'subdivision' covers how land is divided. You will need to obtain Resource Consent for subdivision activities, including:

Creation of a new freehold title.
Creation of a right of way.
Creation of a cross lease.
Creation of a unit title development (e.g. a block of flats).
Adjustment to a boundary.

You will need to engage a licensed cadestral surveyor to prepare the necessary scheme/survey plan. See the NZ Institute of Surveyors website for more information.

Additional Steps

Subdivision consents have additional steps, compared with other consent types:

Section 223 Approval

This is an approval by Council under Secton 223 of the Resource Management Act, confirming that your survey plan matches what was granted under your Resource Consent.

Section 224(c) Approval

This is an approval by Council under Section 224(c) of the Resource Management Act that all of the conditions of your consent have been met or will be met later. This approval enables Land Information New Zealand to issue new titles.
You need to apply for Section 224(c) approval within three years of Section 223 approval.

Certificate of Compliance

A Certificate of Compliance gives official recognition that your activity can take place without Resource Consent.
A Certificate of Compliance is not mandatory, but it provides protection against future changes for its five year term, which can be useful when applying for finance for your development.
You may need to provide evidence that your proposed activity complies with the District Plan.

Certificate of Existing Use Rights

An Existing Use Certificate officially recognises that your activity was lawfully established in the past, before there were changes in any later DIstrict Plan, leading to a requirement for a Resource Consent.
Council will grant a Certificate of Existing Use Rights if you can show that the current activity:
Was originally lawfully established.
Has not been stopped for longer than 12 months.
Has effects that are similar to when it was started.
This Certificate is optional, but officially documents existing use rights.
Council will process your application and issue a Certificate if it is satisfied that the activity was lawfully established, has been ongoing and, if the effects are the same or similar in character, intensity and scale as when it was established.

Regional Council Consents

Horizons Regional Council issues Consents for activities such as discharges to land, air and water. For more information see the One Plan.