He Wāhi Noho mō te Katoa – Te Panonihanga o te Whakaritenga 9 | Housing for Everyone - Plan Change 9
Consultation has concluded, thank you for taking the time to have your say. Council's decisions on Plan Change 9 are now available via this link.
Council's decisions on Plan Change 9 are now available.
Te Whakamāramatanga o te Panonihanga | About this Change
Housing for Everyone – Plan Change 9 is a District Plan change that will encourage greater development and housing choice, and it forms part of a series of actions the Government has developed to address housing in New Zealand. Specifically, Housing for Everyone – Plan Change 9 better supports intensification through enabling medium density living across most of our urban area, and high density living close to and in the city centre and in our commercial centres.
On 14 February 2024, ElectedContinue reading
Council's decisions on Plan Change 9 are now available.
Te Whakamāramatanga o te Panonihanga | About this Change
Housing for Everyone – Plan Change 9 is a District Plan change that will encourage greater development and housing choice, and it forms part of a series of actions the Government has developed to address housing in New Zealand. Specifically, Housing for Everyone – Plan Change 9 better supports intensification through enabling medium density living across most of our urban area, and high density living close to and in the city centre and in our commercial centres.
On 14 February 2024, Elected Members through the Community and District Development Committee agreed to accept the recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and adopt Plan Change 9.
Read more about Council’s decision – Plan Change 9 adoption enables greater housing choice for Rotorua
Plan Change 9 presentation - the basics
Medium Density Zone
The Government’s Medium Density Residential Standards (MDRS) are no in effect in Rotorua and apply to Residential 1 and 2 zones. The rules enable landowners to build up to three homes of up to three storeys each on most residential sites without requiring a resource consent. View the new rules - Medium Density Residential Standards.
High Density Zone
Council was also required to amend the District Plan across all urban zones so that heights and densities of development enabled by the plan are consistent with the National Policy Statement on Urban Development (2020). This requires heights and densities enabled to reflect how close the area is to services and the demand in that location. The adopted Plan Change 9 introduces a High Density Residential Zone aligned to the most accessible areas within Rotorua. This will enable more people to live in areas that can access amenities and employment through active and public transport modes.
City Centre and Commercial Zones
The Plan Change has further considered how to enable increased development density in the Commercial and City Centre Zones, due to their accessible location relative to amenity. The primary method of doing so is by enabling a greater height in these locations to accommodate for a wider range of activities that are supported by a greater density
Supporting Changes
Other changes adopted as part of Plan Change 9:
• Set the standards for papakāinga development throughout the district
• Manage flooding and geothermal hazards
• Protect heritage structures
• Set financial contributions from development for reserves
Consultation has concluded, thank you for taking the time to have your say. Council's decisions on Plan Change 9 are now available via this link.
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The further submission and Plan Change Process
CLOSED: The submission period has concluded.Make a further submission
The further submissions period is open from 5 November to 18 November 2022.
Who can make a further submission?
The people who can make a further submissions are limited to:
- any person representing a relevant aspect of the public interest;
- any person that has an interest in the proposed plan change greater than the interest that the general public has; and
- the local authority itself.
Further submissions must be received by Council by 18 November 2022.
What can a further submission address?
A further submission must be limited to a matter in support of, or in opposition to, an initial submission.
About the further submission process
If you are unsure whether you can make a further submission, talk to council staff first as they may be able to provide some guidance. If you are still unsure, or have questions about the advice from council staff then you need to talk to a lawyer or resource management specialist.
A copy of your further submission must be provided to the original submitter within 5 working days of the submission being lodged with Council. You must email/post a copy of this further submission to the person / organisation that you are commenting on - contact details can be obtained by emailing policy.planning@rotorualc.nz.
For more information on the process and guidance on making a further submission, try the Ministry for the Environment website.
Things to consider when making a submission
The following tips are useful when making submissions:
- Make clear and easy-to-read points
- Include your contact details
- Identify whether you wish to speak at the hearing or not
- State the submission reference of the original submission that you are commenting on
- State who made the submission that you are commenting on.
- Clearly indicate which parts of the original submission you are commenting on.
- Identify if you support or oppose the point in the original submission.
- Provide reasons for your views and clarify whether you seek that the whole part or part of the submission is to be allowed/disallowed.
Council has included a further submission template which can be downloaded (Form 6 - Clause 8 of First Schedule Resource Management Act 1991) to assist in making your submission.
Your submission should not include any issues not relevant to the plan change, as these will not be able to be considered by Council when making its decision. Please note, your submission, including your personal information, will be publicly available as part of the decision-making process.
If you have made a submission on other housing or plan change matters in the past, these can’t be used for reference on the Housing for Everyone – Plan Change 9. You need to make a new submission.
Where to send your submission
Submissions must be lodged in typing/writing and either:
- submitted via Let’s Talk | Kōrero mai
- emailed to policy.planning@rotorualc.nz
- delivered to council customer services at 1061 Haupapa Street, Rotorua, 3010
- posted to the address below:
Manager, Planning & Development Solutions
Rotorua Lakes Council
Freepost Authority Number 370
Private Bag 3029
Rotorua Mail Centre
Rotorua 3046
New ZealandContacts
If you have any questions about the further submissions process, please contact customer services at policy.planning@rotorualc.nz.
Friend of Submitter
The Ministry for the Environment (MfE) has provided funding to appoint an independent ‘Friend of Submitter’ to help people have their say. Belinda Messenger has been appointed to this role. Belinda is a qualified, fully independent planner, who was not involved in developing Rotorua’s Housing for Everyone - Plan Change 9.
Belinda can advise people who don’t have professional assistance on the process for lodging submissions, how they can present their views, and the steps after a submission is lodged. However, please note, it is not the role of the Friend of Submitter to advise on the merits of the plan changes, or to write a submission.
The FOS Service is a free service that is available Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm
Friend of submitter contact details:
Name: Belinda Messenger
Documents
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Council's Decisions on Plan Change 9
- INTERPRETATION IHP Recommendations.pdf (1.02 MB) (pdf)
- NATIONAL DIRECTION INSTRUMENTS IHP Recommendations.pdf (649 KB) (pdf)
- STRATEGIC DIRECTION. IHP Recommendationspdf (1.21 MB) (pdf)
- HAZARDS AND RISKS IHP Recommendations.pdf (1.05 MB) (pdf)
- HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL VALUES IHP Recommendations.pdf (1.96 MB) (pdf)
- NATURAL ENVIRONMENT VALUES IHP Recommendations.pdf (1.57 MB) (pdf)
- SUBDIVISION IHP Recommendations.pdf (1.39 MB) (pdf)
- GENERAL DISTRICT WIDE MATTERS IHP Recommendations with changes of minor effect.docx (1.65 MB) (docx)
- RESIDENTIAL ZONES IHP Recommendations.pdf (1.52 MB) (pdf)
- CITY CENTRE ZONES IHP Recommendations.pdf (1.46 MB) (pdf)
- COMMERCIAL ZONES IHP Recommendations.pdf (1.54 MB) (pdf)
- INDUSTRIAL ZONES IHP Recommendations.pdf (1.36 MB) (pdf)
- BUSINESS AND INNOVATION ZONES IHP Recommendations .pdf (1.33 MB) (pdf)
- RURAL ZONES IHP Recommendations.pdf (1.48 MB) (pdf)
- DEVELOPMENT AREAS IHP Recommendations.pdf (2.11 MB) (pdf)
- APPENDIX ONE PARKING AND ACCESS IHP Recommendations.pdf (753 KB) (pdf)
- MAPS IHP Recommendations.pdf (456 KB) (pdf)
- Independent Hearing Panel Decisions Recommendations Report.pdf (1.55 MB) (pdf)
- Report to Community and District Development Committee on IHP Recommendations.pdf (827 KB) (pdf)
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Section 32 Report
- PC9 Section 32 Report .pdf (4.89 MB) (pdf)
- MAPS s32.pdf (778 KB) (pdf)
- Appendix 2 - Evaluation of Existing Qualifying Matters.pdf (831 KB) (pdf)
- Appendix 3 - Evaluation of 'Other' Existing Qualifying Matters.pdf (663 KB) (pdf)
- Appendix 4 - Evaluation of New Qualifying Matters.pdf (635 KB) (pdf)
- Appendix 5 - Regional Policy Statement Objectives and Policies Assessment.pdf (702 KB) (pdf)
- Appendix 6 - Iwi Management Plans Assessment.pdf (1.06 MB) (pdf)
- Appendix 7 - Barker & Associates - Policy 5 - Accessibility & Demand Assessment.pdf (9.69 MB) (pdf)
- Appendix 8 - Market Economics - Rotorua Intensification Economic Assessment.pdf (2.2 MB) (pdf)
- Appendix 9 - Barker & Associates - Urban Design Report.pdf (1.77 MB) (pdf)
- Appendix 10 - Boffa Miskell - Pukehangi Landscape Opinion.pdf (2.06 MB) (pdf)
- Appendix 11 - Commute Transport Consultants - Transport Assessment.pdf (276 KB) (pdf)
- Appendix 12 - Flooding - New Qualifying Matter.pdf (895 KB) (pdf)
- Appendix 13 - Tonkin & Taylor Flood Provisions Memo.pdf (1.42 MB) (pdf)
- Appendix 14 - Tonkin & Taylor - Geothermal Risk Assessment.pdf (37.4 MB) (pdf)
- Appendix 15 - Salmond Reed Architects - Heritage Assessment.pdf (33.6 MB) (pdf)
- Appendix 16 - Tonkin & Taylor - Potential Reverse Sensitivity Effects to Air Quality Assessment.pdf (1.15 MB) (pdf)
- Appendix 17 - Styles Group - Acoustic Assessment.pdf (461 KB) (pdf)
- Appendix 18 - Qualifying Matters Map.pdf (914 KB) (pdf)
- Appendix 19 - Consultation Report.pdf (815 KB) (pdf)
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Notified PC9 Provisions (Appendix 1 of Section 32 Report)
- INTERPRETATION s32.pdf (1.27 MB) (pdf)
- NATIONAL DIRECTION INSTRUMENTS s32.pdf (657 KB) (pdf)
- STRATEGIC DIRECTION s32.pdf (1.39 MB) (pdf)
- HAZARDS AND RISKS s32.pdf (1.29 MB) (pdf)
- HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL VALUES s32.pdf (2.26 MB) (pdf)
- NATURAL ENVIRONMENT VALUES s32.pdf (2.68 MB) (pdf)
- SUBDIVISION CHAPTER s32.pdf (1.73 MB) (pdf)
- GENERAL DISTRICT WIDE MATTERS s32.pdf (1.99 MB) (pdf)
- RESIDENTIAL ZONES s32.pdf (2.12 MB) (pdf)
- RURAL ZONES s32.pdf (2.16 MB) (pdf)
- CITY CENTRE ZONES s32.pdf (1.88 MB) (pdf)
- COMMERCIAL ZONES s32.pdf (1.91 MB) (pdf)
- INDUSTRIAL ZONES s32.pdf (1.93 MB) (pdf)
- BUSINESS AND INNOVATION ZONE s32.pdf (2.14 MB) (pdf)
- DEVELOPMENT AREAS s32.pdf (3.78 MB) (pdf)
- APPENDIX ONE PARKING AND ACCESS s32.pdf (865 KB) (pdf)
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Section 42A Report
- Plan Change 9 Section 42A Report (5.37 MB) (pdf)
- Appendix 2 - Recommended Changes to the District Plan Maps (778 KB) (pdf)
- Appendix 3 - Recommended Decisions on Submissions (Excel) (446 KB) (xlsx)
- Appendix 3 - Recommended Decisions on Submissions by Submitter ID (3.87 MB) (pdf)
- Appendix 3 - Recommended Decisions on Submissions by Topic (3.95 MB) (pdf)
- Appendix 4 - Assessment of Existing Qualifying Matters (572 KB) (pdf)
- Appendix 5 - Area affected by Flood Risk Assessment - New Qualifying Matter (315 KB) (pdf)
- Appendix 6 - Legal Advice on Geothermal Hazards and the Building Act - Rice Speirs (298 KB) (pdf)
- Appendix 7 - Memorandum of Geothermal Boundaries - GNS Science (1.78 MB) (pdf)
- Appendix 8 - Section 42A Authors Statement of Experience (1.35 MB) (pdf)
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Section 42A Recommended Changes to the text (Appendix 1 of Section 42A Report)
- INTERPRETATION s42A (759 KB) (pdf)
- NATIONAL DIRECTION INSTRUMENTS s42A (170 KB) (pdf)
- GENERAL DISTRICT WIDE MATTERS s42A (1.27 MB) (pdf)
- HAZARDS AND RISKS s42A (711 KB) (pdf)
- HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL VALUES s42A (1.17 MB) (pdf)
- NATURAL ENVIRONMENT VALUES s42A (1.97 MB) (pdf)
- STRATEGIC DIRECTION s42A (547 KB) (pdf)
- SUBDIVISION CHAPTER s42A (1 MB) (pdf)
- BUSINESS AND INNOVATION ZONE s42A (1.34 MB) (pdf)
- CITY CENTRE ZONES s42A (1.21 MB) (pdf)
- COMMERCIAL ZONES s42A (1.23 MB) (pdf)
- DEVELOPMENT AREAS s42A (2.54 MB) (pdf)
- INDUSTRIAL ZONES s42A (1.05 MB) (pdf)
- RESIDENTIAL ZONES s42A (2.43 MB) (pdf)
- RURAL ZONES s42A (1.3 MB) (pdf)
- APPENDIX ONE PARKING AND ACCESS s42A (419 KB) (pdf)
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Statements of Evidence Section 42A Report
- Statement of Evidence 1 -Strategic Evidence - Damon Mathfield (Rotorua Lakes Council) (669 KB) (pdf)
- Statement of Evidence 2 - Urban Design - Cam Wallace (Barker & Associates) (1.29 MB) (pdf)
- Statement of Evidence 3 - Demand Report - Susan Fairgray (Market Economics) (444 KB) (pdf)
- Statement of Evidence 4 - Transport - Michael Nixon (Commute Transportation) (284 KB) (pdf)
- Statement of Evidence 5 - Waste Collection Implications - Craig Goodwin (Rotorua Lakes Council) (153 KB) (pdf)
- Statement of Evidence 6 - Management of Development - Infrastructure and Flood Hazards - Paula Meredith (Rotorua Lakes Council) (196 KB) (pdf)
- Statement of Evidence 7 - 3 Waters Infrastructure - Greg Manzano (Rotorua Lakes Council) (189 KB) (pdf)
- Statement of Evidence 8 - Specific Flood Hazard Methods - Mark Pennington (Tonkin and Taylor) (177 KB) (pdf)
- Statement of Evidence 9 - Geothermal Risk Assessment - John Brzeski (Tonkin and Taylor).pdf (170 KB) (pdf)
- Addendum 1 to the Section 42A Report
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Addendum 1 to the Section 42A Amendments to Recommended Changes to the text (Appendix 1 of Addendum 1 to the Section 42A Report)
- INTERPRETATION Addendum 1 s42A (651 KB) (pdf)
- NATIONAL DIRECTION INSTRUMENTS Addendum 1 s42A (651 KB) (pdf)
- STRATEGIC DIRECTION Addendum 1 s42A (664 KB) (pdf)
- HAZARDS AND RISKS Addendum 1 s42A (618 KB) (pdf)
- HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL VALUES Addendum 1 s42A (1.29 MB) (pdf)
- NATURAL ENVIRONMENT VALUES Addendum 1 s42A (1.56 MB) (pdf)
- SUBDIVISION CHAPTER Addendum 1 s42A (919 KB) (pdf)
- GENERAL DISTRICT WIDE MATTERS Addendum 1 s42A (1.16 MB) (pdf)
- RESIDENTIAL ZONES Addendum 1 s42A (1.58 MB) (pdf)
- CITY CENTRE ZONES Addendum 1 s42A (1.21 MB) (pdf)
- COMMERCIAL ZONES Addendum 1 s42A (1.13 MB) (pdf)
- INDUSTRIAL ZONES Addendum 1 s42A (1.48 MB) (pdf)
- BUSINESS AND INNOVATION ZONE Addendum 1 s42A (1.44 MB) (pdf)
- RURAL ZONES Addendum 1 s42A (1.66 MB) (pdf)
- DEVELOPMENT AREAS Addendum 1 s42A (2.24 MB) (pdf)
- APPENDIX ONE PARKING AND ACCESS Addendum 1 s42A (803 KB) (pdf)
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Addendum 1 to the Section 42A Report - Rebuttal Statements of Evidence
- Rebuttal Statement of Evidence 1 - Strategic Planning -Damon Mathfield (Rotorua Lakes Council) (1.27 MB) (pdf)
- Rebuttal Statement of Evidence 2 -Urban Design - Cam Wallace (Barker & Associates) (1.05 MB) (pdf)
- Rebuttal Statement of Evidence 3 - Demand Report - Susan Fairgray (Market Economics) (308 KB) (pdf)
- Rebuttal Statement of Evidence 4 - Historic Heritage - Lloyd Macomber (Salmond Reed Architects) (228 KB) (pdf)
- Submitter Rebuttal Statement of Evidence 1 - Matt Allott Planning -(Ara Poutama The Department of Corrections) (158 KB) (pdf)
- Addendum 2 to the Section 42A Report - Council Reply
- Addendum 2 to the Section 42A Report - Council Reply - Supplementary Statements of Evidence
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Addendum 2 to the Section 42A Amendments to Recommended Changes to the text (Appendix 1 of Addendum 2 to the Section 42A Report)
- INTERPRETATION - Addendum 2 s42A - Council Reply (658 KB) (pdf)
- NATIONAL DIRECTION INSTRUMENTS - Addendum 2 s42A - Council Reply (651 KB) (pdf)
- STRATEGIC DIRECTION - Addendum 2 s42A - Council Reply (664 KB) (pdf)
- HAZARDS AND RISKS - Addendum 2 s42A - Council Reply (721 KB) (pdf)
- HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL VALUES - Addendum 2 s42A - Council Reply (1.29 MB) (pdf)
- NATURAL ENVIRONMENT VALUES - Addendum 2 s42A - Council Reply (1.56 MB) (pdf)
- SUBDIVISION CHAPTER - Addendum 2 s42A - Council Reply (944 KB) (pdf)
- GENERAL DISTRICT WIDE MATTERS - Addendum 2 s42A - Council Reply (1.16 MB) (pdf)
- CITY CENTRE ZONES - Addendum 2 s42A - Council Reply (1.23 MB) (pdf)
- RESIDENTIAL ZONES - Addendum 2 s42A - Council Reply (1.69 MB) (pdf)
- COMMERCIAL ZONES - Addendum 2 s42A - Council Reply (1.26 MB) (pdf)
- INDUSTRIAL ZONES - Addendum 2 s42A - Council Reply (1.48 MB) (pdf)
- BUSINESS AND INNOVATION ZONE - Addendum 2 s42A - Council Reply (1.44 MB) (pdf)
- RURAL ZONES - Addendum 2 s42A - Council Reply (1.66 MB) (pdf)
- DEVELOPMENT AREAS - Addendum 2 s42A - Council Reply (2.24 MB) (pdf)
- APPENDIX ONE PARKING AND ACCESS - Addendum 2 s42A - Council Reply (919 KB) (pdf)
FAQs
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Background
- What is the purpose of the Housing for Everyone – Plan Change 9?
- What is a Plan Change?
- Why is Rotorua Lakes Council undertaking this Plan Change?
- What is the Resource Management (Enabling Housing Supply and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2021?
- What are the Medium Density Residential Standards (MDRS)?
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About the Housing for Everyone - Plan Change 9
- What does Housing for Everyone – Plan Change 9 seek to achieve?
- What parts of the District Plan are being amended?
- Which zones do the Medium Density Residential Standards (MDRS) apply to?
- When will the MDRS have legal effect?
- What are “qualifying matters”?
- Do you need a minimum size of site in order to build 3 dwellings?
- Addressing housing needs in Rotorua
- Outcomes of the Plan Change
Plan Change 9 Timeline
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Preparation
He Wāhi Noho mō te Katoa – Te Panonihanga o te Whakaritenga 9 | Housing for Everyone - Plan Change 9 has finished this stageFebruary - August 2022: Preparation of the proposed plan change, including engagement with tangata whenua and stakeholder groups
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Notification
He Wāhi Noho mō te Katoa – Te Panonihanga o te Whakaritenga 9 | Housing for Everyone - Plan Change 9 has finished this stage20 August 2022: Notification of Plan Change.
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Open for submissions
He Wāhi Noho mō te Katoa – Te Panonihanga o te Whakaritenga 9 | Housing for Everyone - Plan Change 9 has finished this stage20 August - 14 October 2022: The community can now make submissions on Housing for Everyone - Plan Change 9.
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Open for further submissions
He Wāhi Noho mō te Katoa – Te Panonihanga o te Whakaritenga 9 | Housing for Everyone - Plan Change 9 has finished this stage12 November - 25 November 2022: A summary of submissions is published and submitters are invited to make further submissions.
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Further submissions period closes
He Wāhi Noho mō te Katoa – Te Panonihanga o te Whakaritenga 9 | Housing for Everyone - Plan Change 9 has finished this stage25 November - 9 December 2022: Council to collect and summarize further submissions received. (Indicative date depending on the number of submissions received).
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Late submission period closes
He Wāhi Noho mō te Katoa – Te Panonihanga o te Whakaritenga 9 | Housing for Everyone - Plan Change 9 has finished this stage9 December (12am): Late submissions lodged after this will need to seek an individual waiver. Read document: direction #2 for more information
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Notify summary of submissions and further submissions
He Wāhi Noho mō te Katoa – Te Panonihanga o te Whakaritenga 9 | Housing for Everyone - Plan Change 9 has finished this stage21 December 2022
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Pre-Circulation of s42A report and Council Evidence
He Wāhi Noho mō te Katoa – Te Panonihanga o te Whakaritenga 9 | Housing for Everyone - Plan Change 9 has finished this stage30 June 2023
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Pre-circulation of submitter evidence
He Wāhi Noho mō te Katoa – Te Panonihanga o te Whakaritenga 9 | Housing for Everyone - Plan Change 9 has finished this stage21 July 2023
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Rebuttal evidence
He Wāhi Noho mō te Katoa – Te Panonihanga o te Whakaritenga 9 | Housing for Everyone - Plan Change 9 has finished this stage4 August 2023
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Legal submissions
He Wāhi Noho mō te Katoa – Te Panonihanga o te Whakaritenga 9 | Housing for Everyone - Plan Change 9 has finished this stage8 August 2023
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Hearing
He Wāhi Noho mō te Katoa – Te Panonihanga o te Whakaritenga 9 | Housing for Everyone - Plan Change 9 has finished this stage14-25 August 2023
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Final hearing recommendation
He Wāhi Noho mō te Katoa – Te Panonihanga o te Whakaritenga 9 | Housing for Everyone - Plan Change 9 is currently at this stageLate January 2024: Indicative date
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Council Decision
this is an upcoming stage for He Wāhi Noho mō te Katoa – Te Panonihanga o te Whakaritenga 9 | Housing for Everyone - Plan Change 9February 2024: (Indicative Date) Council will make a decision based on the recommendations.
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Plan change is operative
this is an upcoming stage for He Wāhi Noho mō te Katoa – Te Panonihanga o te Whakaritenga 9 | Housing for Everyone - Plan Change 931 March 2024 (Deadline)