Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Council may drop 'restrictive' rules on rural housing

Updated at 6:31 am on 29 January 2012

The Tasman deputy mayor says the council could consider a change of rules allowing new zoning for people who want to live in rural communities.

Council rules prohibit more than one house on a single rural plot unless resource consent is granted.

People living in rural communities say the current process is too expensive and restrictive.

Deputy mayor of Tasman District Council Tim King told Radio New Zealand's Insight programme a review of the district plan may look at new zoning. He says the council's review of its planning rules will take about three years.

A property owner in dispute with the council over the rural planning rules says there are many people living illegally on farms in fear of being discovered.

Irma Jager and her partner Jan-Albert Droppers, who live on 10 hectares in the Motueka Valley west of Nelson, have been ordered to vacate four dwellings on their land because they are not consented.

The couple are appealing against the decision in the Environment Court and say they are leading a revolt against regulations that prevent more than one house on a rural lot.

Irma Jager told Radio New Zealand's Insight programme that many people wanting to live a communal rural life are secretly breaking the rules and now fear a visit from council officials.

The council says productive farm land must be protected and rules on multiple houses must be consistent.

But one councillor, Martine Bouillir, says the council is conservative and needs to change its approach to the growing demand for communal rural living.

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