1A.5  Plan Background

Updated 11 September 2018

The Plan has been developed through an extensive process of identifying the significant resource management issues in the City. Also relevant to the development of the Plan is the historical planning framework that has guided subdivision, use and development within the City, and within which subdivision, use and development has been undertaken.

The ability to create a Planning Scheme existed from 1926, however there appears to have been no planning controls in place prior to the introduction of the Mt Borough Scheme No. 1, in 1954, with the exception of requirements for approval of subdivision for lots over 10 acres in central government legislation, usually done by the County engineer, and associated surveying/title law. The Town and Country Planning Act 1953 required local authorities to have Planning Schemes and the local authorities prepared their schemes after this time. Prior to these Plans (Schemes) coming into effect a range of standards and building by-laws existed, the first central government legislation being a standard for earthquake construction in 1932. Building legislation was then further introduced systematically by the central government through various legislation. The ability to create local building by-laws has existed since 1867, and appears to have been used in the City with building consents in Tauranga being issued under by-laws as far back as 1927.

The jurisdictions of the Mount Borough, Tauranga County, Tauranga Borough/District/City, and Western Bay of Plenty District evolved from Town and Highway Boards. The Tauranga County was formed in 1876 and the Borough of Tauranga in 1882. The Mt Maunganui Town District was established in 1931 but remained part of the County until 1 April 1937. Various boundary adjustments were undertaken to these jurisdictions through time, with the reorganisation of local government in 1989 the Tauranga District (now City) and Western Bay District were formed from the Tauranga City (previously Tauranga Borough), Tauranga County and Mt Borough. The three plans applied and were known collectively as the ‘Transitional Plan’. A portion of the Western Bay District at Tauriko/Pyes Pa and a small section at Ohauiti and Papamoa were brought into the City on 1 January 2010. 

The following is an approximate summary of those documents: 

The operative plans replaced by this Plan are the Tauranga District Plan and portions of the Western Bay of Plenty District Plan at Tauriko and Pyes Pa.

Definitions from this section

boundary

building

the city

the plan

subdivision