​Country living in Waipā

Ah….country living. It’s paradise right? Most of the time, it is. But remember, our rural environment is where people live, work, farm and grow crops to feed the nation (and the world). If you're thinking about swapping your Guccis for gumboots to live the country dream, it’s worth considering the bigger picture before taking the plunge.

Local producers and the primary sector are at the heart of our flourishing Waipā economy - and our district is better off because of our rural activities. As with all rural economies, production activities can, and often do, impact adjoining properties. These activities are a necessary, permitted, and a legitimate part of rural production. Maybe not all day or all year, but depending on the season, outside normal business hours and at weekends there might be:

• Noise from dogs barking, farm machinery operating, planting or harvesting activities, stock being moved, bird scaring devices and hail cannons, truck movements in the early or late hours, stock noise at weaning time and helicopters
• Smell, for example, animal enclosures, silage, effluent disposal
• Smoke from stubble burn-off or other fires
• Building work for rural structures including screens, shading and hail protection
• Dust from cultivation, planting and harvesting, vehicles on unsealed roads and driveways
• Sprays including agrichemical spraying of crops and paddocks

Look around the rural neighbourhood and see what's there. Think about how established activities might affect you or what new rural activities might occur. Ask around and find out what day-to-day life is like during all seasons. Spend some time there and check it out on good and bad weather days and in all wind directions. Check out our District Plan and see what permitted activities are allowed in rural zones.

Will my rural outlook change?

Quite Possibly! The rural landscape is constantly changing to keep up with market demand and new production opportunities. For example:

• Farming methods change
• New types of rural production will occur
• Crops, including trees, will be harvested
• Rural buildings will be added, including horticulture infrastructure and protective screening such as shade or hail cloth
• Farming machinery will be stored and will operate at all hours and on weekends
• Land may be subdivided

For example, did you know there were once extensive wheat fields across parts of Waipā? Wheat fields were gradually replaced by dairying to meet market demand and increase profit margins.

Council's rules for rural zones are intended to enable rural production while managing the environmental effects of changes. Minor changes which may be noticeable are accepted and allowed to occur.

Roads and driveways

Waipā District Council is responsible for local roads and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is responsible for state highways. Private driveways are the responsibility of private landowners.

It’s a good idea to check access points and dwellings, including:

• Whether access from public roads is part of the property or if they cross other land
• If there is a right-of-way, it is recorded on the title and matches with the formed access
• The location of other dwellings and shared driveways; vehicles travelling back and forth can create issues with dust and mud

Other things to check

• Requirements for controlling serious weeds
• Responsibility for controlling dogs and livestock
• The use of chemical sprays
• The location of emergency services such as doctors, rural fire service
• Power and internet connections to the property
• Fences, bush and grass paddocks on the property will require ongoing maintenance

Water and Sewerage

Most rural properties must provide their own water supply and sewage disposal. Landowners are responsible for ongoing maintenance, so you’ll need to know how to maintain pumps and clear blocked drains, or be prepared to pay for that expertise.

Check the existing water supply and sewage disposal systems meet the required standards and work correctly. If not, you may need to fix or install a new system.

The water supply usually means rainwater is collected in tanks or pumped from waterways or an underground bore, which may require Waikato Regional Council consent. If water is already piped onto the property from elsewhere, find out where it comes from and check there is an easement or permission that allows this to continue even in dry summer periods.

Sewage disposal is often to a septic tank which must be emptied periodically and subject to Waikato Regional Council discharge rules.

Can I Do Anything I Want On My Land?

No, rural zones also have some constraints. Councils are responsible for managing the effects of activities and may have rules and bylaws.

Waipā District Council manages things like:

• House location and the number of houses
• Location of farm buildings and stockyards
• Distances of shelter belts and plantation forestry from boundaries
• Noise
  Waikato Regional Council manages things like:
• Disposal of household sewage and stock effluent
• Taking water from the ground or rivers
• Discharges to ground and water
• Burning of open fires
  Waikato Regional Council and Waipā District Council both manage
• Removal of scrub or trees
• Earthworks to build access tracks
• Avoiding buildings in natural hazard areas

There may also be rules in areas of Waipā that have special landscape or ecological importance. Find out more here about rules applying to rural zones.

It is just as important to get on with your neighbours in the country as it is in town. The council sets and enforces controls for significant issues, but when it comes to managing minor matters, it’s up to you and your neighbours. Make sure you contact your neighbours if anything happens on their property that might affect you and vice versa.

In a nutshell

Waipā is growing as more people realise our district is a hidden gem. And who can blame people for wanting to live here? We offer an attractive lifestyle that’s just a stone’s throw to Auckland, Bay of Plenty and the great outdoors of the central plateau. People love our laid-back vibe, rural outlook and boutique townships brimming with character. Country living in this district is a pleasure and has so much to offer; but as with any important decision, do your research first.