He Wāhi Noho mō te Katoa – Te Panonihanga o te Whakaritenga 9 | Housing for Everyone - Plan Change 9


The Section 42a Report for Plan Change 9 is now available to view. The Independent Hearings Panel has issued a direction on Hearing Procedures and Directions. The hearing for Plan Change 9 is scheduled to be from 14 August to 25 August 2023 -the Draft Hearing Timetable is now available to view here.

Housing for Everyone – Plan Change 9 incorporates giving effect to the government’s Medium Density Residential Standards (MDRS).

It also aims to:

  • Enable a greater supply and variety of homes that meet the needs of Rotorua residents;
  • Achieve a well-functioning urban environment and efficient use


The Section 42a Report for Plan Change 9 is now available to view. The Independent Hearings Panel has issued a direction on Hearing Procedures and Directions. The hearing for Plan Change 9 is scheduled to be from 14 August to 25 August 2023 -the Draft Hearing Timetable is now available to view here.

Housing for Everyone – Plan Change 9 incorporates giving effect to the government’s Medium Density Residential Standards (MDRS).

It also aims to:

  • Enable a greater supply and variety of homes that meet the needs of Rotorua residents;
  • Achieve a well-functioning urban environment and efficient use of land;
  • Better enable and encourage papakāinga development;
  • Ensure development is integrated with infrastructure planning and funding for open space;
  • Ensure that significant risks from natural hazards are appropriately managed in relation to increased development potential.

Te Whakamāramatanga o te Panonihanga | About this Change

Housing for Everyone – Plan Change 9 is a change we are making to our District Plan to 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 proposes changes to better support 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.

About Plan Change 9

Plan Change 9 presentation - the basics

The process for change

  • Some of the new rules that implement the Medium Density Residential Standards (“MDRS”) were required to be implemented by law, from 20 August 2022 and these are now in effect.
  • Others that do not form part MDRS are being considered through the formal plan change process, with recommendations on the final plan change to be made to Council by independent commissioners after the hearing of submissions.

Medium Density Zone

This is to be achieved by changing development standards in two of our city’s residential zones to enable landowners to build up to three homes of up to three storeys each on most residential sites without requiring a resource consent. These rules, referred to as the Medium Density Residential Standards, must be implemented under law from 20 August 2022.

High Density Zone

Council is 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. Council is therefore proposing to introduce 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

We also have other proposed changes as part of Plan Change 9. This includes changes to provisions that:

  • Set the standards for papakāinga development throughout the district
  • Manage flooding and geothermal hazards
  • Protect heritage structures
  • Set financial contributions from development for reserves
  • CLOSED: The Further Submission Period has now concluded.

    Further Submission form for Housing for Everyone: Plan Change 9

    Please ensure you read the following before you begin: 

    A further submission can only be made in support of, or in opposition to, a submission made on the plan change.  

    You must email / post a copy of this further submission to the person / organisation whose submission you are commenting on – contact details can be obtained by emailing policy.planning@rotorualc.nz. 

    1. Download the document: Further Submission Template
    2. Add your submission point(s) to the downloaded document
    3. Fill out this online form
    4. Upload your document at the end of this form
    5. Email / post a copy of your further submission to the person / organisation that you are commenting on - contact details can be obtained by emailing policy.planning@rotorualc.nz.

    View the Summary of Submissions and Full Submissions (Volume 1 Submissions 1-41; Volume 2 Submissions 42-78; Volume 3 Submissions 79-87; Volume 4 Submissions 88-99) for Housing for Everyone: Plan Change 9. 

    View the Reports that inform Housing for Everyone: Plan Change 9

    Ministry for the Environment has provided guidance on making a submission.

    Disclaimer: 

    * Your email will be used as the address for service but if you prefer service by post please inform us by email.

    * Names of submitters will be published with the submissions and summary of submissions on the Council’s website. Please select "Yes" to the question at the end of this form if you do not want your contact details to be made public.

    Complete Form
  • CLOSED: The Submission period has concluded.

    Submission form for Housing for Everyone: Plan Change 9

    Please ensure you read the following before you begin: 

    1. Download the document: Submission Template
    2. Add your submission or multiple submissions to the downloaded document
    3. Fill out this online form
    4. Upload your document at the end of this form

    View the reports that inform Housing for Everyone: Plan Change 9

    Ministry for the Environment has provided guidance on making a submission.

    Disclaimer: 

    * Your email will be used as the address for service but if you prefer service by post please inform us by email.

    * Names of submitters will be published with the submissions and summary of submissions on the Council’s website.

    Please ensure that your submission follows Form 5 of the Resource Management Act 1991 and includes the following:

    • Name of the proposed plan change that you are submitting on- in this case “Housing for Everyone, Plan Change 9”
    • State whether you could/could not gain an advantage in trade competition through this submission
    • State whether you are or are not directly affected by the proposed plan change
    • State the specific provisions of the proposal that your submission relates to
    • Detail your submission
    • State what decision you are seeking from the Rotorua Lakes Council (i.e whether you support or oppose or wish to have provisions amended.
    • State whether you wish to be heard in support of your submission and whether you would consider presenting a joint case with other similar submitters at the hearing.
    • Please sign and date your submission

    Please select "Yes" to the question at the end of this form if you do not want your contact details to be made public.

    Complete Form
Page last updated: 18 Sep 2023, 05:56 PM