Deadline approaching for further submissions

Residents who want to have their say on the Proposed Far North District Plan have until Monday (4 September) to make a further submission.

The further submission period - the latest stage in a review of the District Plan undertaken by the council – opened on Monday 7 August for 20 working days (longer than the required 10 working days).

The District Plan is the set of rules that control where you can undertake certain activities, and how land can be used, developed, and subdivided. It affects all landowners and residents in the Far North.

Further submissions allow people to either support or oppose the original submissions made last year but the further submission period is not an opportunity to raise new points.

The process can be complex, so a ‘Friend of the further submitter’ service is being offered to assist those wanting to provide a further submission. The Friend of the submitter is an independent planning consultant who can help submitters understand the process and how to make a further submission. There is no cost for this service. To use the Friend of the submitter service, email pdp@fndc.govt.nz or call 0800 920 029 and ask for the District Planning Team. 

When people are ready to make a further submission, they can use an online submission tool called Spoken available on the council’s Proposed District Plan webpage. This allows them to search for the original submission they want to comment on by using keyword and filter search tools. They can then lodge a further submission from within Spoken.

To find out more, go to our Proposed District Plan webpage and click the ‘What’s this about tab’ at the top of the page for information about the further submission process, how to access the summary of submissions, and links to make a further submission. Printed copies of the summary of submissions and the original submissions can be viewed at council services centres in Kaikohe, Kerikeri or Kaitāia. 

Making a submission provides an opportunity to participate in hearings and to potentially appeal any council decisions.