What are your thoughts on the Land Drainage Bylaw?
We're evaluating the Land Drainage Bylaw to ensure it continues to protect our communities and infrastructure from the risks of flooding, and we want your feedback.
There are four land drainage districts in the Far North, all located in Te Hiku Ward: Kaitāia, Motutangi, Waiharara and Kaikino. These low-lying areas are particularly vulnerable to flooding, so effective drainage systems are essential to managing water flow and protecting people and property.
The council is proposing a series of amendments to improve the existing Land Drainage Bylaw, aiming to make the policy clearer and support more consistent decision-making.
Key proposed amendments include:
- Clearer definitions and wording to support decision-making
- Addition of updated maps of the land drainage districts with accompanying provisions
- Referring to Legislation Act 2019 which replaced the Interpretation Act 1999.
You can view the complete list of proposed amendments and updated Land Drainage maps and read the updated draft Land Drainage Bylaw to see how these changes are implemented.
Tell us what you think | Kōrerotia mai ōu whakaaro
We want to hear from you. Your feedback will help create an updated bylaw that continues to protect our communities and infrastructure.
Share your feedback by completing the online survey.
You can also send us a written submission, or download our print-friendly survey form and send it to us:
- By email: submissions@fndc.govt.nz
- By mail: Far North District Council, Private Bag 752, Kaikohe 0440
- In person: Drop your submission at any Far North District Council service centre or library (you can also ask our friendly customer service team to print the survey for you).
Alternatively, you can request to share your feedback verbally by emailing us at submissions@fndc.govt.nz or by calling us on 0800 920 029.
Submissions are open until Tuesday 02 September 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Land Drainage Bylaw outlines:
- How drainage systems, such as drains, stop banks, floodgates, and flood storage areas, are maintained and when council access is required.
- What activities are restricted to prevent damage or blockages, such as planting, fencing, or driving machinery near a drain.
- The responsibilities of landowners to keep these systems working effectively.
View the current Land Drainage Bylaw 2019.
If you’d like to know more about bylaws visit our let’s talk about bylaws page or visit our Bylaws page, where all our current bylaws are included.
The council is proposing list of amendments and updated Land Drainage Maps to improve the existing Land Drainage Bylaw and support more consistent decision-making. You can also read the draft proposed Land Drainage Bylaw to see how these amendments are implemented.
Bylaws are reviewed either:
a) When a council has new information about the matter covered in a bylaw, or there is a change in legislation that could mean the bylaw is no longer addressing the problem.
b) At intervals required in the Act the bylaw was made under. Bylaws made under the Local Government Act 2002 must be reviewed five years after they were first made and then every 10 years after that.
If you’d like to know more about bylaws visit our let’s talk about bylaws page.
Note: Anyone is invited to submit feedback on this consultation, whether as an individual or on behalf of an organisation, however, any submissions that are out of scope, offensive, inappropriate, or late may not be accepted by the council. You will be notified if your decision is not accepted and, where appropriate, invited to resubmit.
Any submissions that are made will become part of the public consultation process. The collection and use of personal information by the Far North District Council is regulated by the Privacy Act 2020. Please note that your submission or a summary of your submission will be treated as public information and may be published on the council's website and made available to elected members and members of the public as part of the consultation process. Your name and contact details (address, phone number, email) will only be used for administrative purposes - such as the council contacting you to update you on the outcome of this consultation and letting you know about future consultations