Guidance for rural landowners
Weather events can cause significant damage to properties, waterways and farm infrastructure. We know there can be uncertainty about what activities are permitted and when you may need to contact Greater Wellington. This page provides guidance to help you respond to flood and storm damage safely, protect the environment, and understand when resource consent may be required. We’d like to assure you that we’re here to help, and that we’re going to make it as easy for you as we can.
How we can help if you’ve been affected by the severe weather:
- There are some ‘emergency’ tasks you’ll need to do straight away. We don’t want to stop you.
- It’s important that you keep a record of what you’ve done, including how you’ve mitigated damage to the environment.
- We’ve provided info below on what is permitted under the rules, and when you need to call us.
- Where a consent appears to be needed, we’ll use a fast-tracked process. You won’t need to fill in any forms, we’ll do it for you. And we’ll ask for less information than we would usually.
- If in doubt, please contact us on notifications@gw.govt.nz or 0800 496 734.
Permitted activities
Here’s a summary of some activities which are permitted. The limits and conditions are reasonably permissive, and if a consent appears to be needed, we’ll follow a pragmatic and fast-tracked approach.
For more information on the conditions, read the rules or contact us.
|
Activity |
What you can do |
When you’ll need a consent |
Link to rules |
|
Clearing of silt from paddocks or other land. |
This is permitted.
You can clear up to 400m3 (approx. 40 x 10m tipper trucks full) of material. |
If you’re clearing a lot more than 400m3, or you can’t meet any of the other conditions in the rule (e.g. where you put and how you stabilise the silt). |
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Creating new farm tracks |
All repair to existing farm tracks can be undertaken as a permitted activity.
If you need to build new farm tracks, this is also permitted.
Earthworks to build new farm tracks is permitted up to 10,000m2. (Equivalent to a 4m wide track that is 2.5km long). |
If your earthworks are considerably more than 10,000m2, or you can’t meet any of the other conditions in the rule (such as erosion and sediment controls).
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Removal of debris and sediment blocking rivers/streams and highly modified waterways |
This is permitted - and we have guidance on how to do it. |
Generally, we wouldn’t process a consent for these types of activities if you can’t meet the rule conditions, but they are fairly easy to meet. |
General rivers or stream – R137 Highly modified waterways (farms drains) – R134 |
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Clearing out of culverts |
This is permitted. |
If you can’t work within 5m of the structure, or you disturb more than 10m2 of bed.
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Dead stock disposal |
This is permitted. |
If burning causes an objectionable effect beyond the boundary of the property. For offal pits, the key is they are set back from waterways or bores, are the right soil types (silt or clay) and are more than 0.6m above the seasonal highest water table.
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Burning – R1
Offal pit – R79 |
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Cleaning out of dams filled with silt and debris |
This is permitted - and we have guidance on how to do it. The guidance was written for highly modified streams, but the same conditions and good management practices apply. Please focus on the “Good Management Practices” section of the guidance.
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Generally, we wouldn’t process a consent for these types of activities if you can’t meet permitted activity conditions, but the conditions are fairly easy to meet. |
R134 if the dam is part of a stream. If not part of a stream, there’s no relevant rule, but refer to R80 for the discharge of the sediment. |
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Burning of debris
|
This is permitted. |
You can’t burn specified material, such as treated timber, plastics, rubber, synthetic materials etc.
A farm dump might be more appropriate.
|
Burning - R1
Farm dump – R78 |
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New culverts or bridges replacing like for like |
This is permitted. |
If you can’t meet the permitted activity conditions, such as riverbed disturbance. |
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New culverts or bridges that are considerably bigger than before. |
This is permitted.
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Culverts – if the culvert isn't sized appropriately, or if it does not provide for fish passage.
Bridges – if the bridge has a catchment area above it more than 200ha. |
Culverts - R126
Bridges – R125 |
Activities that are more restrictive
These activities are permitted, but the limits and conditions may be harder to comply with.
|
Activity |
What you can do |
When you’ll need a consent |
Link to rules |
|
Gravel extraction from rivers |
You can extract up to 50m3 (approx. 5 x 10m tipper trucks full) of gravel.
|
If you’re extracting more than 50m3, or if you’re working within flowing water. |
Pages 29 - 30 |
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Diverting the flow of a river back into its original course |
You can divert a river back to its original course if it has stopped flowing into its new path. |
If it’s still flowing into its new path. We have a construction methodology available if you need it. The focus is on:
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More information and help
| Agency | Contact | Support available |
|---|---|---|
| Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO) | info@wremo.nz or 04 830 4279 |
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| Rural Support Trust | wairarapateam@ruralsupport.org.nz or 0800 787 254 |
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| Greater Wellington | notifications@gw.govt.nz or 0800 496 734 Otherwise call your environment restoration advisor |
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| Masterton District Council | mdc@mstn.govt.nz or 06 370 6300 |
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| Carterton District Council | info@cdc.govt.nz or 06 379 4030 |
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| South Wairarapa District Council | enquiries@swdc.govt.nz or 06 306 9611 |
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| Ministry for Primary Industries | 0800 00 83 33 or check out the information on their website |
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Get in touch
- Phone:
- 0800 496 734
- Email:
- notifications@gw.govt.nz