The Whakatāne District Plan is a guiding document for the District which contains policy guidance and rules on land use, development and subdivision. The Plan also seeks to protect important buildings, landscapes and natural areas, and promote sustainable management.
If you wish to use land in a way which does not comply with a rule in the District Plan you will need to apply for a resource consent. Resource consents are generally processed by our Planning Team within 20 working days.
More significant consents, such as those that require limited notification or public notification, may take longer to process.
Changes to the District Plan, such as changing the zoning of a site/area or changing a rule, may be made by Council or requested by the public.
The Whakatāne District Plan was made fully operative in June 2017.
Whakatāne District Plan
Whakatāne District Plan - Full Document - (PDF, 22 MB)
District Plan - by chapter
- Chapter 1 - Introduction - (PDF, 1.1 MB)
- Chapter 2 - Strategic - (PDF, 1.5 MB)
- Chapter 3 - Zone Descriptions, Activity Status, Information Requirements and Criteria for Resource Consents - (PDF, 1.5 MB)
- Chapter 4 - Residential and Urban Living Zones - (PDF, 1.4 MB)
- Chapter 5 - Business (Business Centre, Commercial, Large Format Retail and Mixed Use Zones) - (PDF, 2 MB)
- Chapter 6 - Industrial (Light Industrial and Industrial) - (PDF, 1 MB)
- Chapter 7 - Rural (Rural Coastal, Rural Plains, Rural Foothills, Rural Ōhiwa and Deferred Residential Zones) - (PDF, 1 MB)
- Chapter 8 - Coastal Protection and Active Reserve Zones - (PDF, 1 MB)
- Chapter 9 - Education Zone - (PDF, 1 MB)
- Chapter 10 - Community and Cultural Zone - (PDF, 763 KB)
- Chapter 11 - General Provisions - (PDF, 1.5 MB)
- Chapter 12 - Subdivision and Esplanade Reserves - (PDF, 2.5 MB)
- Chapter 13 - Transportation and Services - (PDF, 5.7 MB)
- Chapter 14 - Financial Contributions - (PDF, 830 KB)
- Chapter 15 - Indigenous Biodiversity - (PDF, 1.3 MB)
- Chapter 16 - Heritage (Built, Archaeological, Cultural and Significant Specimen Trees) - (PDF, 1 MB)
- Chapter 17 - Landscape and Coastal Environment - (PDF, 1 MB)
- Chapter 18 - Natural Hazards - (PDF, 1.3 MB)
- Chapter 19 - Hazardous Substances and Contaminated Land - (PDF, 1 MB)
- Chapter 20 - Works, Network Utilities and Renewable Electricity Generation - (PDF, 1.6 MB)
- Chapter 21 - Definitions - (PDF, 1 MB)
- Chapter 22 - Appendices - (PDF, 2.8 MB)