Policy Consultation

The Dangerous, Affected and Insanitary Buildings Policy allows Council to identify and manage dangerous, affected, and insanitary buildings in the District so that people who use buildings can do so safely and without endangering their health.

The policy sets out Council’s responsibilities under the Building Act 2004 and ensures that when dangerous or affected buildings are identified, the danger is appropriately reduced. Similarly, if insanitary conditions are found, appropriate and timely measures are undertaken to remedy this.

Early engagement indicates that the current policy is working effectively.  The draft therefore proposes the following amendments:

• a new information disclosures section
• a new disputes section
• a new definitions section

Relevant documents

• Proposed 'Draft Dangerous, Affected and Insanitary Buildings Policy 2023'
• Existing Dangerous, Affected and Insanitary Buildings Policy 2018
• Statement of Proposal - Draft Dangerous, Affected and Insanitary Buildings Policy 2023

Make a submission online through Survey Monkey

Download submission form to post or drop off at Council office

In addition to the rules set by the Civil Aviation Authority, the Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) Policy  gives Council the ability to approve or decline use of UAVs (including drones) over land it owns or operates. 

While we generally seek to enable UAV usage, the policy sets out the criteria where written approval might need to be sought in areas assessed as restricted such as over sports fields or swimming pools. 

While there are currently no areas assessed as prohibited, the policy also allows Council to identify any areas where UAV use may be prohibited in all instances.

Early engagement indicates that the current policy is working effectively.  The draft therefore proposes the following amendments:

• Emphasise that the policy relates to Council administered land only.
• Approval required during a prohibited fire season.
• Proximity to another UAV user reduced from 100m to 50m to facilitate organised UAV events approved by Council.
• Further clarification of procedures for flying UAVs in restricted areas.
• How to request approval exemptions for CAA Part 102 certified operators.

Relevant documents

• Proposed Draft Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Policy 2023
• Existing Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Policy 2017

Make a submission online through Survey Monkey

Download submission form to post or drop off at Council office

The Shop Trading Hours Act 1990 restricts Easter Sunday trading, however Councils are able to have a local policy to enable all shops to open on Easter Sunday. This can relate to the whole of the district or parts of the district, but it cannot specify the shop purpose, type, opening hours or any other conditions.

Without a council policy, only certain shops can remain open under certain conditions, these include garden centres, service stations, food takeaways, restaurants, cafes, souvenir shops, pharmacies and dairies.

Council's existing policy was adopted in 2017 and allows all shops in the Southland District to open on Easter Sunday if they choose to. Please note that the Act protects an employee’s right to refuse work on Easter Sunday without providing any reason.

This policy must be reviewed by February 2024 or it will automatically expire.

Early engagement with the community indicates support for the policy to remain. Therefore only minor updating of the document has been proposed.

Relevant documents

• Proposed Draft Easter Sunday Shop Trading Policy 2023
• Existing Easter Sunday Shop Trading Policy 2017
• Statement of Proposal – Easter Sunday Shop Trading Policy 2023

Make a submission online through Survey Monkey

Download submission form to post or drop off at Council office

Our existing policy aims to encourage the community to be smoke free in public open spaces on Council administered land, particularly where children and young people gather. This policy is not enforceable so is not a ban on smoking but serves as an educational tool. The objectives are to promote a smoke-free lifestyle, reduce the uptake of smoking by children and young people, and support the government's goal for a smoke-free New Zealand by 2025.

The primary focus of this policy is on playgrounds, skate parks and sports fields, where smoke free signage and promotion takes places (type 1 areas). The secondary focus is on gardens, parks, reserves, cemeteries, roads, streets and footpaths where signage may be put in place (type 2 areas).

Vaping is considered a tool to help achieve the national smoke free goal but there has been a significant uptake of vaping amongst youth in recent years. In 2020, vaping was included in smokefree legislation, which aims to make vaping products available for people who want to quit smoking, whilst ensuring these products aren't marketed or sold to young people. Given the inclusion of vaping in legislation, we are reviewing the existing policy to consider smoking and vaping in our open spaces.

Early engagement indicated a wide range of views on smoking and vaping. In order to support the health of our communities, the draft policy proposes to include smoking and vaping in the policy and retain the focus areas of the existing policy. Submitters can identify the locations that they consider this policy could focus on, via the submission form.

Other changes are:

• Communications Plan - Council will draft an up to date plan.
• Partnerships - this will now be part of the Communications Plan.

Relevant documents:

• Proposed Smoke/Vape Free Open Spaces Policy 2023
• Existing Smoke-free Open Spaces Policy 2014

Make a submission online through Survey Monkey

Download submission form to post or drop off at Council office