•. Rural Production

• Mixed Rural

• Rural Coastal

• Rural Conservation

• Countryside Living

• Rural production

• Rural character

• Amenity values

• Rural industries and services and non residential activities

• Land subdivision.

1. Rural Auckland is recognised as a place where people live, work and play. A diverse range of activities that support these functions are enabled.

2. Rural production activities are provided for throughout rural Auckland where they are compatible with the purpose of individual rural zones.

3. Land with high productive potential continues to be used for rural production and not for other uses.

1.Enable activities based on production from the land or use of the land resource and recognise them as a primary function of Auckland’s rural areas.

2.Require rural production activities to contain and treat their adverse environmental effects on-site to the fullest extent practicable to protect natural environmental values, avoid nuisance effects and maintain local amenity values and avoid sediment and discharges to freshwater and the CMA.

3.Discourage land use activities and development not based on, or related to, rural production from locating on elite and prime land or prevent their use for that purpose.

4.Recognise and maintain the productive potential of land of lesser soil quality, but with special growth characteristics, such as favourable microclimate, good drainage and availability of water, for rural production purposes, and prevent its use for urban development or countryside living.

5.Enable a diverse range of rural production and non-rural production activities to operate in rural areas by:

a.directing incompatible activities such as rural production and rural lifestyle development into different zones

b.controlling the type and scale of non-residential activities in rural areas so they do not create expectations of urban and residential amenities and services, and impose reverse sensitivity demands on established rural production activities

c.managing activities in rural zoned land to maintain the natural values, open space and recreational attributes of public reserves and parks, freshwater lakes and the CMA, as part of using and enjoying rural Auckland

1. The character and amenity values of rural areas is recognised and maintained while accommodating the localised character of different parts of these areas.

1. Require rural subdivision and rural activities to:

a. be of a nature, scale, intensity and location that retains the rural character of the zone

b. avoid, remedy or mitigate adverse effects, including adverse cumulative effects.

2. Enable subdivision and activities in rural areas only when the followingcharacteristics are maintained:

a. a predominance of rural working environments

b. land in pastures, trees, crops or indigenous vegetation, and with a degree of naturalness

c. a low density of buildings and structures

d. land tenure with a diversity of site sizes and shapes

e. few buildings and activities of an urban scale, nature and design, other than residential buildings, greenhouses and other approved rural production and rural commercial services

f. a general absence of urban scale or type of infrastructure, such as roads with full kerb and channel, sealed footpaths and vehicle crossings, streetlights, bus shelters, sealed and demarcated car parking areas

g. generally narrow roads with open drains, some unsealed, with low speed geometry and low traffic volumes, except for state highways and arterial roads

h. the intensity of the activity, including the number of people using the site, hours of operation and number of vehicle trips generated, is compatible with the purpose of the zone in which it is located and avoids reverse sensitivity effects.

3. Accept that in the Rural Production, Mixed Rural and Rural Coastal zones to accept the following aspects are a typical part of these zones:

a. the presence of large numbers of farmed animals and extensive areas of plant or fruit crops, plantation forests and farm forests

b. noise, odour, dust, traffic and visual effects associated with use of the land for farming, horticulture, forestry, mineral extraction, cleanfill and motorised sports

c. the presence of existing mineral extraction activities identified on the planning maps

d. accessory buildings which dot the landscape, particularly where farming activities are the dominant activity

e. natural landforms and vegetation, coastal and freshwater bodies and open space.

f. activities which provide for the relationship of Mana Whenua to their ancestral land and taonga.

1. Rural production activities in the Rural Production, Mixed Rural, Rural Coastal and Countryside Living zones are supported by rural industries and services, while avoiding reverse sensitivity conflicts and managing adverse environmental effects.

2. Rural industries and services inappropriate in the Rural Conservation zone are avoided.

3. Rural industries and services are compatible in size, scale and function with the purpose and character of the rural zone where they are proposed to locate.

4. The rural economy and the well-being of people and local communities are maintained or enhanced by social, cultural and economic non-residential activities, while the area’s rural character is retained.

5. Industries, services and non-residential activities of an urban type and scale unrelated to rural production activities are directed away from rural zones.

1.Enable rural industries and services in rural zones where:

a.they support rural production activities, including the processing of minerals, agricultural, horticultural and aquaculture processing and packing, and the packing, processing and appropriate manufacturing of goods from primary production in the local area

b.they provide rural services such as rural contracting, boarding of domestic animals, veterinary, and quarantine and research services relating to primary production.

c.they provide rural services such as boarding of domestic animals provided that:

i.animal breeding or boarding is designed and managed to be in accordance with best practice

ii.buildings and accessory buildings that accommodate dogs is in accordance with appropriate acoustic engineering practice and standards

iii.animal breeding or boarding have a minimal impact on adjoining dwellings. Matters considered will include visual impact, noise, odour, dust, traffic generation and vermin control.

2.Intensive farming is enabled in the Rural Production, Mixed Rural and Rural Coastal areas only, provided that:

a.intensive farming should establish and operate in accordance with the most relevant codes of practice

b.buildings and effluent treatment ponds located on elite or prime land should employ measures such as application of nutrients to increase plant production on the productive land not covered by ponds/buildings.

3.Enable non-residential activities in rural areas where they have a clear and genuine connection with the resources, amenities, characteristics and communities of the areas, with a focus on:

a.education, healthcare and community facilities that serve the local rural area and provide services not able to be met by similar facilities in rural towns and settlements

b.marae and non-residential activities associated with papakāinga

c.outdoor recreation and pursuits, nature, rural and wilderness experiences, and relaxation activities

d.tourist facilities and services with a clear operational connection to the natural and physical resources of rural and coastal areas

e.festivals and events, including those connected with local food and beverage production

f.artisan industries, artistic endeavours and creative industries including handcrafts and goods produced from the site’s resources, and film production

g.wineries

h.produce stalls and farmers’ markets

i.plant nurseries, where produce is grown on-site

j.small-scale retail activities, such as cafés that are accessory to the site’s principle activity.

4.Require buildings and other significant structures to be in character with the surrounding rural area and, as far as practicable, to be of a similar scale and form to buildings required for non-intensive rural production activities.

5.Locate and size sites sufficiently to:

a.avoid creating reverse sensitivity conflicts, particularly in relation to Countryside Living zones

b.contain and manage adverse effects on-site

c.avoid, remedy or mitigate adverse effects on traffic movement and the road network.

6.Avoid non-residential activities of a size, function, intensity or character typical of those in urban areas from locating in rural zones, and locate them within the urban area, including rural and coastal towns or serviced rural and coastal villages.

7.Enable forestry where it:

a.does not affect shading of dwellings, pasture growth or horticultural crops on adjoining sites;

b.is established and managed in a way which does not adversely affect indigenous vegetation or riparian areas

c.employs appropriate management techniques and is located to avoid adverse effects on neighbouring sites.

8.Direct cleanfills and managed fills away from Rural Conservation or Countryside Living zones. Where cleanfills are established in other rural zones:

a.they will not adversely affect or inhibit the use of surrounding land for productive purposes or for carrying out any permitted, restricted discretionary or discretionary activity

b.their completed state should be compatible in terms of appearance, form and location with the existing amenity values of the surrounding environment.

•Auckland’s highest number of remaining large rural properties

•low intensity settlement, significant natural areas and natural resources

•an environment less modified by humans than other zones in the north

•opportunities to conserve and enhance native vegetation and wildlife.

•intensively subdivided land tenure pattern, particularly on lowland areas

•the largest horticultural production area in Auckland, centred on the highly productive soils of the Franklin lowlands

•mixed primary production including pastoral farming and forestry relating to topography, land tenure pattern and water availability on the west and east coasts

•the Hunua Ranges providing the backdrop to production land in the east.

1. A wide range and diversity of rural production activities take place in the Rural Production zone.

2. Rural production activities largely manage their adverse environmental effects on site.

1.Provide for a diverse range of existing and new rural production activities in the Rural Production zone and recognise their role in determining the zone’s rural character.

2.Encourage diverse forestry activities including:

a.planting and management of new and existing forests in recognition of their production values, land stability and carbon sequestration functions, and multiple use for active recreation

b.woodlots and farm-scale forestry

c.planting of indigenous species and amenity exotic species for long-term production purposes and the eventual harvesting of these species.

3.Enable the establishment of new and the expansion of existing greenhouses in specific locations where there are advantages for operational efficiencies, transport accessibility and the provision of energy such as natural gas supplies and services, and manage the amenity expectations of other activities in these areas.

4.Provide for intensive farming, other than for mustelid species, while managing the adverse effects and require compliance with good industry practice.

5.Require intensive farming of new species, including terrestrial, freshwater and marine species not currently farmed in the Rural Production zone to:

a.be designed and operated to prevent the escape of any species of animal or plant that could have an adverse effect on the natural environment

b.not include any mustelid species.

6.Provide for accessory farm and forestry buildings and other operational structures such as stockyards, pump houses and fences as part of the landscape character of this zone, but avoid buildings and structures, other than fences and pump-houses, in coastal yards, riparian margins, wetlands and existing areas of indigenous vegetation.

1. The existing pattern of landholdings, and non-residential activities that support them, is used by a diverse range of rural production activities.

2. Land with high productive potential for rural production is retained.

3. The continuation of rural production and associated non-residential activities in the zone is not adversely effected by rural lifestyle activity.

4. The rural character of the zone is maintained with good amenity values while continuing the mix of rural production, non-residential and rural lifestyle activities.

1.Enable land-based production activities that are compatible with the existing subdivision pattern and recognise them as significant elements of, and the primary contributor to, rural character within the Mixed Rural zone.

2.Avoid locating rural production and non-residential activities that produce significant levels of odour, noise and traffic movement or significant discharges of contaminants to land or water that cannot be managed within the boundaries of the site in the zone.

3.Enable on-site processing and storage facilities for agricultural and horticultural produce where their scale and operation is compatible with the character and amenity values of the zone.

4.Acknowledge the mixed activities occurring in the zone when managing reverse sensitivity conflicts by:

a.limiting the size, scale and type of non rural production activities

b.retaining the larger site sizes within this zone

c.preventing further subdivision for new rural lifestyle sites

d.requiring good on-site management of rural production activities

e.maintaining a level of amenity that reflects the presence of:

i.rural production and processing activities that generate rural odours, noise from stock and the use of machinery, and the movement of commercial vehicles on the local road network

ii.non-residential activities which may generate noise, light and traffic levels greater than those found in areas of solely countryside living

f.supporting the continued use of the local road network for horse-riding.

•Pākiri coastal area

•Whangateau to Waiwera coastal area

•Kaipara South Head and Harbour coastal area

•Muriwai-Te Henga coastal area

•Tasman coastal area

•Manukau Harbour coastal area

•Tāmaki-Firth coastal area

1. Rural production activities are enabled while managing any adverse effects on the high natural character, landscape, biodiversity, ecological and amenity values, and Mana Whenua cultural heritage values of the Rural Coastal zone.

2. The development and operation of other activities that provide recreational and local non-residential services are enabled where they maintain and enhance the zone’s high natural values, rural and coastal character and amenity values.

3. Buildings do not dominate and are unobtrusive with the high natural character, landscape, biological and ecological values of the zone.

4. Further rural lifestyle subdivision is prevented across the zone.

5. The significant relationship between land, freshwater bodies and the CMA and their contribution to Auckland’s rural coastal character is maintained and enhanced.

6. The differences in coastal character in different parts of the zone are recognised and activities and development managed to maintain and enhance important local coastal character.

1. Manage activities and development to maintain the distinctive character of the zone which is a combination of:

a. a high degree of naturalness

b. high biodiversity, ecological and amenity values based on particular physical and natural features such as beaches, ridgelines, estuaries, harbours, indigenous vegetation, wetlands, or similar unifying features

c. physical and visual links between land, freshwater lakes and the CMA

d. the traditional cultural relationships Mana Whenua has with the coastal environment

e. a predominance of pastoral farming and forestry with a low density of buildings and other significant structures.

2. Enable the continuation of rural production activities and the construction of accessory buildings and structures, such as fences and stockyards, for farming purposes.

3. Provide for the continued operation of forestry, including harvesting and replanting, in existing forest areas, but require evaluation of new forestry proposals in Natural Character, ONL and SEAs identified on the overlay maps.

4. Manage the visual and coastal character effects of commercial greenhouses and buildings for intensive farming purposes.

5. Avoid non-rural production activities that:

a. require significant areas of buildings

b. have open areas of exposed ground

c. require significant earthworks or changes to natural landforms

d. generate noise and odour beyond the boundary of the site

e. produce significant discharges that cannot be practicably contained and treated on site

f. generate significant numbers of daily vehicle movements, particularly on scenic and tourist routes

g. impact significantly on biodiversity and ecological values.

6. Protect the open space, recreational and natural environment experience provided by regional parks, other public open space and marine reserves by requiring subdivision and activities around these public areas to not adversely affect their character, values and use.

7. Manage the zone as a donor and not a recipient area of transferrable rural site development.

8. Maintain the rural coastal character and high amenity values by controlling the number, location, size and visual impact of dwellings and other non-residential buildings and their curtilage and accessways.

9. Manage the individual and cumulative adverse effects of buildings and other significant structures to maintain high-quality natural landscapes, high levels of amenity and local rural coastal character by:

a. requiring buildings and other significant structures to be of a scale, location, design and density that integrates them into the rural coastal landscape

b. avoiding locating buildings, other than those for farm utility purposes, on the top of ridgelines so that their profile does not protrude above the natural line of the ridge

c. making building platforms and accessways the minimum size necessary to safely perform their function, and that earthworks required to establish these facilities are re-vegetated as soon as possible to cover bare soil exposure, particular on side batten surfaces

d. not locating buildings and other significant structures in coastal yards and riparian margins, except for fences and structures with a functional need for such a location.

10. Recognise the importance of individual major roads in the zone that:

a. provide access to coastal settlements, public open space and the coast

b. function as major transport routes for rural produce

c. are major scenic and tourist routes

d. are preferred locations for recreation, tourism, visitor facilities and services and the sale of produce and crafts

e. act as gateways to Auckland.

11. Enable the development of appropriate activities, while ensuring that the transport function of the road and its scenic values are not compromised.

1. Low levels of built development in the Pākiri coastal area are maintained to retain its coastal character and the scenic and recreational values of Pākiri Beach.

2. Development of Māori land is provided for in a way that retains the dominance of natural elements and scenic values over any built development.

1. Avoid beachfront residential and rural lifestyle development in the Pākiri coastal area to retain the undeveloped character of Pākiri Beach.

2. Maintain existing public roads and other access ways to Pākiri Beach, but manage the type and intensity of development along these roads to protect their low-key development character.

3. Require buildings to locate outside the active dune system to protect the physical and ecological values of the dune system itself and to ensure its long-term stability.

4. Manage built development on existing rural titles and from title boundary realignments so that the size, location and density of buildings does not dominate over natural elements and the area retains a rural character rather than one of rural lifestyle domestication.

5. Minimise the visual and landscape impacts of buildings, when implementing policy 4 above in areas where there are important public views to and from Pākiri Beach and the rural backdrop, including:

a. views to and from the beach at the Pākiri River mouth

b. views to and along Pākiri Beach and the southern coastal hills from Pākiri Regional Park

c. views to and from the beach at Te Arāi Point.

6. Avoid activities and development that adversely affect the natural character, recreational use, and water quality of the catchment of the Cape Rodney to Ōkakari Point/Goat Island Marine Reserve, particularly on the coastal hills fronting the reserve.

7. Provide for the ongoing operation of the Mangawhai Forest and its multiple purposes for timber production and sand dune stabilisation, and for its landscape and open space values as a backdrop to Pākiri Beach.

8. Enable the use of Māori land in the area for papakāinga and other associated purposes, but recognise the high natural values of the area by:

a. concentrating built development in areas of lower visual prominence

b. cluster development rather than expansion along the coastal edge

c. maintaining existing vegetation and landform character as far as practicable

d. managing the scale of development to reflect papakāinga and marae needs, rather than more intensive forms of development.

1. The open, high-quality coastal landscape character and the natural environmental values of the East Coast area are retained.

2. Recreational, home occupation, marine transport and tourism activities are supported where they are consistent the coastal landscape character and natural environmental values of the area.

3. The management of activities and development is integrated with the management of growth in identified rural and coastal towns and settlements.

4. The high natural values of the east coast estuaries are maintained by requiring high performance standards for activities and development on land.

1. Require dwellings, their curtilage and access to be located sensitively in the landscape, with particular consideration of their size, location, scale and density, ability to tuck into the landscape and the desire for views against visual dominance in landscape.

2. Assess the visual and landscape impacts of greenhouses and buildings for intensive farming in the rural area.

3. Avoid locating dwellings and other significant buildings on ridgelines and the construction of urban type access ways up or across visually significant slopes.

4. Recognise and support the high recreational values of the area, particularly accessibility to, and use of, the CMA by enabling:

a. the continued use of Sandspit as a transport terminal to Kawau Island

b. the efficient operation of existing public boat launching facilities and the establishment of new public facilities in appropriate locations.

5. Avoid activities and development of a type, scale or location that adversely affects the public use and enjoyment of regional parks and other public open space for:

a. active and passive recreation, both on land and in the adjoining CMA

b. appreciation of open space, scenic and natural landscape values

c. centres for biodiversity management and enhancement

d. farmland management.

6. Enable the development and operation of local home occupations that support rural production, tourist trails, farmers’ markets and tourist facilities in centres such as Warkworth, Snells Beach-Algies Bay and Matakana.

7. Concentrate larger scale tourist facilities, including tourist accommodation, in rural and coastal towns.

1. The special and distinctive coastal and rural character of the West Coast area is retained.

2. Land-based activities and development are managed to protect the area’s Outstanding and High Natural Character and landscape values, and its ecological, recreation and amenity values.

3. The relationship between the land, the Tasman Coast and the Kaipara Harbour, and the physical, ecological, landscape, amenity and production connections between the two is recognised and maintained.

4. Significant Māori associations with the Kaipara Harbour area recognised and provided for.

1. Enable rural production activities, particularly pastoral farming and forestry, for their economic and social contribution to Auckland and for their role in retaining a remote rural and coastal character.

2. Maintain a low intensity of built development, where buildings are for farming and forestry purposes rather than for rural lifestyle purposes.

3. Require buildings for intensive farming to be sited to minimise visual impacts on natural character and landscape values.

4. Retain a range of land holding sizes, particularly those larger land holdings used for pastoral farming activities.

5. Improve public access to the Kaipara Harbour, including boat launching facilities where this does not adversely affect important habitat areas, such as the Tāpora sand islands.

6. This part of the Rural Coastal zone (Figure 3 below) reflects the special and distinctive coastal and rural character of parts of the Kaipara Harbour and South Head areas, these rural and semi-remote areas are influenced by the Tasman Sea and Kaipara Harbour. This part of the zone encompasses the following:

a. rural coastal character

b. high amenity values

c. high natural character

d. high landscape values

7. Require subdivision and land use activities to enhance and protect the distinctive special character of the policy area and ensure that the landscapes and sensitive environments are protected.

1. The natural, coastal and non-urban character of the Muriwai-Bethells Beach coastal area is protected and retained.

2. Activities are managed in this coastal area to maintain the values of the adjoining Open Space zone.

1. Manage built development on existing rural titles and from title boundary realignments so that its size, location and density of buildings does not dominate natural elements and the area retains a rural character rather than one of rural lifestyle domestication.

2. Avoid site dwellings and accessory buildings overlooking public walkways or locations such as headlands or ridgelines where they would be highly visible from the Open Space zone.

3. Avoid built development requiring significant clearance of existing regenerating and established indigenous vegetation.

1. The high natural values, including natural character, landscapes and other resources are protected from inappropriate subdivision, use and development while providing for rural activities.

2. Natural coastal processes are recognised and managed by avoiding activities that would create or exacerbate coastal erosion and sand blowouts along the Tasman coastline.

3.The potential for this coastal area to support renewable wind energy generation facilities is acknowledged.

1. Provide for limited subdivision, use and development that will enable coastal natural character and landscape values to be maintained and enhanced.

2. Avoid land modification and development along sandy coastal margins and seaward faces of the coastal escarpments or ridgelines.

3. Encourage protection of stands of indigenous bush, and restoration and enhancement planting of indigenous trees, shrubs and other plants along the coastal escarpments and ridgelines.

4. Promote public access to the coast in strategic locations, in conjunction with environmental protection, enhancement or restoration and in a way that does not adversely affect coastal processes and natural character and significant indigenous vegetation and habitats.

5. Recognise the wild, scenic, and remote values of the Tasman Coast.

1. Rural production activities are continued in the Manukau Harbour coastal area while maintaining its rural coastal character and visual amenity values.

2. Activities in the coastal area are managed to protect the ecological values of the Manukau Harbour, particularly identified wader bird habits, and the visual and landscape interconnections between land and sea.

3. Identified special character areas are protected from inappropriate land use activities, built development and further subdivision.

4. Coastal and riparian vegetation quality and quantity in the coastal area are improved.

5. Built development and inappropriate land use activities are avoided within critical coastal margins at risk of coastal flooding or erosion.

1. Recognise the significance of the coastal margin setback in maintaining the natural character of the coastal edge, providing a natural buffer to coastal erosion flooding and contributing to the visual amenity values of the Manukau Harbour coastal edge.

2. Require dwellings and other significant built development, other than fences, to locate outside the coastal margin setback.

3. Protect the special character areas listed in policy 4 below by:

a. controlling the location, scale and density of built development

b. having vegetation cover and production land uses that are appropriate to the area in terms of use by wader birds.

4. Recognise the following areas are identified as being of special character in the Manukau Harbour coastal area:

a. Clarks Beach to Seagrove and Ellets Beach

b. Pollok Spit

c. Āwhitu Regional Park and Environs

d. Waipipi Creek Roosts

e. The Western Needles Promontory

f. Kelly’s Landing Headland

g. Dickey’s Landing Headland/Kauri Point Headland

h. Kauri Road Headland

i. Andrew Pye Road Headland

j. Mako Point Headland

k. Headland between Wattle Bay and Ōrua Bay.

5. Improve public access to, and along, the coastal edge, except in identified wader bird and wāhi tapu areas, by providing esplanade and other reserves.

6. Avoid activities and development of a type or scale or location that adversely affects the public use and enjoyment of the Āwhitu Regional Park for:

a. active and passive recreation, both on land and in the adjoining CMA

b. appreciation of open space, scenic and natural landscape values

c. farmland management.

7. Require enhancement of the coastal edge and riparian margins as part of any development for rural lifestyle purposes or non-residential activities.

1. The rural production, rural and open space character of the Tāmaki Firth coastal area is maintained.

2. The creation of new settlements or rural lifestyle nodes near Matingarahi are avoided.

3. The scenic values associated with the Pōhutukawa Coast highway are maintained.

4. Coastal pōhutukawa trees are protected.

1. Enable rural production activities for their economic and social contribution to Auckland and for their role in retaining the rural and coastal character of this area.

2. Avoid establishing new rural lifestyle settlement nodes along the coastal edge and contain Matingarahi within its existing boundaries.

3. Avoid locating dwellings and other significant buildings on prominent headlands and ridgelines and the construction of urban type access ways up or across visually significant slopes.

4. Manage the location, type and scale of non rural production activities along the Pōhutukawa Coast Highway to ensure that its rural character and scenic values are maintained.

5. Avoid activities and development of a type or scale or location that adversely affect public use and enjoyment of regional parks and other public open space for:

a. active and passive recreation, both on land and in the adjoining CMA

b. appreciation of open space, scenic and natural landscape values

c. centres for biodiversity management and enhancement

d. farmland management.

6. Recognise and support the high recreational values of the area, particularly accessibility to and use of the CMA by enabling the efficient operation of existing public boat launching facilities and the establishment of new public facilities in appropriate locations.

1. The differences in landscape, natural character and distinctive environmental values of the zone are recognised and protected.

2. The inherent physical and biological properties are recognised and activities managed in a way to preserve and maintain them.

3. Existing rural and residential activities continue but further development across the zone is generally avoided.

4. Buildings and structures are unobtrusive within the natural landscape.

1. Protect the landscape from significant change or modification, particularly visually intrusive buildings, structures and roads.

2. Manage individual and cumulative adverse effects of buildings and other structures to protect and maintain the unique environment by:

a. requiring buildings and other structures to be of a form, scale, location and density that they are compatible with the landscape

b. avoid buildings and structures on ridgelines.

3. Enable the continued use of established rural activities and recreational uses of the zone where they contribute to the unique character of the zone and allow expansion of those activities only where adverse effects are avoided or mitigated.

4. Maintain and enhance water quality and quantity by:

a. avoiding new primary production activities or the expansion of existing activities where they will accelerate water abstraction from lakes

b. discouraging intensive farming, cleanfills, and rural industries and services that generate contaminant discharges to land or water and increase existing levels of diffuse nutrient input into lakes

c. minimising land disturbances, landform modification and the removal of indigenous vegetation to reduce on-site sediment discharges from any site

d. avoiding the introduction of exotic species which may undermine the ecological integrity of native terrestrial or aquatic habitats.

5. Protect and maintain habitats, high-value natural areas and unique features present within the zone through controls on earthworks, vegetation removal, grazing, wetland modification and limitations on activities and subdivision.

6. Recognise the high ecological value of the dune lakes and their habitats by avoiding activities that disturb wildlife during breeding or nesting seasons.

1. Amenity values are reflected in its primary use for rural living rather than rural production activities.

2. Subdivision and development for rural lifestyle purposes is delivered with quality development outcomes while the environment is protected and enhanced.

3. The quality of the environment with respect to rural character, amenity values, water quality, ecological quality, historic heritage values and the efficient provision of infrastructure is maintained and enhanced in subdivision design and development outcomes.

4. Where the Countryside Living zone adjoins the Rural Production or Mixed Rural zones, development does not compromise the ability of the land to be effectively and efficiently used for rural production activities.

5. The type and nature of land use activities allowed in the zone are restricted to those appropriate for the smaller site sizes and level of amenity value provided for.

6. Development outcomes enable land within the zone to be used for small-scale rural production activities as well as lifestyle living.

1. Locate, design and implement subdivision and associated land use development to avoid urban form and character, maintain and enhance rural character, amenity values and protect and enhance environmental features by:

a. designing subdivisions to respond to the topography and characteristics of the land being developed, resulting in non-uniform patterns of development that are sensitive to the features of the environment in which they are located

b. identifying building platforms that respond to site topography and environmental characteristics

c. locating accessways, services, utilities and building platforms where these can be provided without the need for significant earthworks, retaining, benching or site contouring

d. locating accessways, services, utilities and building platforms where the location is sensitive to, and responds to, the site’s environmental features to avoid vegetation removal or adverse effects on water quality, wetlands, riparian margins, historic heritage sites or scheduled sites and places of significance for Mana Whenua. Where avoidance is not possible, mitigation measures must be proposed so that any adverse effects are minor

e. identifying opportunities for environmental enhancement of existing areas of native vegetation, wetland areas, riparian margins or the coastal edge and requiring this enhancement to be actioned through the implementation of the development, including on an ongoing basis

f. requiring land use and subdivision development that provides the open space character anticipated in the zone and maintains a rural character through the use of rural style fencing, gates, entranceways and roads; landscape planting that reinforces local vegetation patterns and retains a spaciousness between residential built form on adjoining sites; and requires the clustering of residential built form on individual sites

g. in subdivision that creates more than one new site, encourage the clustering of built form and the use of shared accessways and common grounds to maintain and open rural character.

h. identifying and where appropriate, requiring the provision of walkway, cycleway and bridle path networks.

2. Manage the design, siting and construction of new buildings and structures so that they retain the open space and non-urban character of the zone.

3. Prevent subdivision and development from compromising the safe and efficient operation of existing rural activities or industry.

4. Allow a variety of site sizes in the zone that reflect local character and enable development to achieve the zone’s objectives and policies.

5. Avoid or mitigate adverse effects in relation to reverse sensitivity, and the amenity values of the environment, by restricting the range of land use activities enabled in the zone.

6. Prevent activities that will result in adverse effects such as noise, dust, traffic volumes, smell, visual effects, effects on health, safety and cultural values and significantly reduce the rural amenity values enjoyed in the zone.

7. Acknowledge the amenity values in this zone reflect its predominant use for lifestyle living rather than for production activities.