Handy Summer Info

Summer dog rules

Some dog rules change for summer - it's crucial to be aware of your responsibilities and observe our local dog bylaw rules. 

Look for our traffic light signs to understand the rules about when your dogs should be on a lead:

• Green signs denote exercise areas: You can have your dog off-leash but it must remain under control at all times.
• Orange signs denote on leash areas: Your dog must remain on leash for times noted on the sign. This is most often temporary and in place at beaches during the summer period from 20 December to 31 January & holiday weekends, from 9am to 6pm.
• Red signs denote prohibited areas: This means no dogs at all. Most beach area prohibitions are either during the dotterel nesting season from Labour Weekend to 1 March, or over the summer period and holiday weekends. We also have areas that are prohibited all year round.

The most important rule to remember is that dogs must be on a lead unless specified otherwise. So, when in doubt, it's best to be safe and put your dog on a lead.

For more information, call and ask us on 07 868 0200. Or visit our Dogs page for a summary of the rules for each Community Board area, and more about our Dog Control bylaw.

Alcohol bans

• Our district has year-round, 24/7 town centre alcohol bans, plus additional bans over Christmas, New Year, and long weekends, on many of our beaches and seaside reserves.
• This means a person must not consume, carry, or possess alcohol in these areas unless an exemption or special licence applies.
• Alcohol bans are in force over Christmas/New Year from 4pm on 23 December to 4pm on 6 January, all long holiday weekends (including Annivesary and Waitangi weekends) from 4pm Friday to 4pm Monday and over Easter from 4pm Thursday to 4pm Tuesday each year. This means you can't consume or carry or possess opened bottles of alcohol in a ban area, or in a vehicle located in the ban area.
• View our full Alcohol Control Bylaw here and check out our maps to view alcohol ban areas in our district.

Freedom camping

If you want to freedom camp in our district:

• Please be a responsible camper and clean up after yourself.
• Freedom camp only in a certified self-contained vehicle.
• Use proper toilet facilities such as public toilets and campervan dump stations.
• Look for our signs showing where freedom camping can take place.
• Leave freedom camping sites by the required time.

Our Freedom Camping Bylaw and maps and lists of areas where freedom camping is prohibited, and restricted (allowed within sign-posted areas), can be found on our Freedom Camping page.

Fire permits

• Our Council no longer issues fire permits; Fire and Emergency New Zealand does. Go to their website checkitsalright.nz if you'd like to apply for a fire permit.
• A total fire ban applies in the Coromandel from late December to early February each year. It may be extended if weather conditions dictate.
• The ban includes: open fires in public places, beaches, public conservation land (DOC) and on private property.
• Fires include: traditional cooking fires, bonfires, solid-fuelled BBQs, braziers, fireworks, Chinese lanterns, and any incinerators that have not been pre-approved by a warranted fire officer.

Noise control rules

• It is important that you consider neighbours when making any noise. Noise must not interfere with the peace, comfort and convenience of any person.
• If any noise is considered excessive by a Noise Control Officer then a notice to cease the noise may be served. A notice to cease the noise is valid for 72 hours.
• If the notice is not complied with then a Noise Control Officer and the police may enter any property and dwelling to seize any equipment used to create the noise.
• Call our 24/7 Customer Service number 07 868 0200 if you have a noise complaint or submit it online here.

Horses on the beach

Here are a few things to remember when taking your horse down to the beach for some fun:

• You can ride your horse into, on or over a public place (including beaches) if it is safe to do so and you aren't causing a nuisance to other users. A crowded beach in the height of summer isn’t the best time for a canter - please exercise your horse in a less-crowded area.
• Share the space and remember not everyone loves your horse as much as you do, give other people room and consider using the beach when there are fewer people about
• Make sure that you have control of your horse at all times.
• Pick up any deposits your horse might make; dog owners have to do it, so do you.
• Obey the road rules – if you are taking your horse on the road to get to the beach, you will need to obey the rules of the road. This will ensure your and your horse’s safety as well as that of other road users.
• There are some reserves where horses aren't allowed, so please be on the lookout for the 'No Horses' signs. 

Vehicles on the beach

We actively discourage, and in some areas prohibit, vehicles* from beaches and reserves. Beaches should only be accessed in a vehicle to launch or retrieve a watercraft and only at designated locations. Please use your common sense: vehicles and busy beaches don’t mix. Also, check our Reserve Management Plans for vehicle restrictions on specific beaches and reserves.

Vehicles and trailers should not park on any beach, damage any vegetation or be used in a manner that is dangerous or inconsiderate to pedestrians.

*“Vehicle” shall include any conveyance equipped with wheels, rollers or tracks.

Guidelines for using drones safely

• Civil Aviation Authority regulations require that landowners give permission before unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including drones, are flown over their property - this includes Council land.
• Flying UAVs over Council land, such as reserves, is generally permitted so long as the operator complies with the guidelines on our website here.
• Make sure you're aware of UAV regulations around aerodromes, as most of our towns are within 4km of an aerodrome – visit airshare.co.nz.

Christmas/New Year

The Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act specifies that LIMs must be completed within 10 working days. However, the period commencing 20 December in any year, and ending 10 January in the following year, is excluded from the definition of working days.

This means for customers wanting to apply for and receive a LIM before Christmas:

• Applications for standard and commercial LIMs must be submitted by Friday 6 December 2024.
• Applications for priority LIMs must be submitted by Tuesday 17 December 2024.

Any applications arriving after the above specified dates, will be delivered after normal services resume on Monday 13 January 2025. 

Find out more about LIM requests here.

Both the Building Act 2004 and the Resource Management Act 1991 stop the statutory processing clock over Christmas and New Year. The period beginning 20 December up to the close of 10 January is excluded from the 20-working day timeframe, which means that during these dates the processing clock stops.

Resource or Building Consent applications submitted on or after Friday 20 December 2024 will not start being processed until Monday 13 January 2025, due to the Christmas/New Year break.

If you'd like your Resource or Building Consent to be processed before Christmas (barring any further information requests which stop the processing clock), please submit your application prior to Friday 22 November 2024.

• If you're heading out on the water this summer, we have an easy-to-use QR code payment system to pay for boat ramp and trailer parking fees at wharves.
• We have signage in place at all boat ramps where fees are charged and a pass is required. These contain a unique QR code for each ramp, and easy-to-follow instructions for scanning, paying and downloading your receipt. 
• If you don't have a smartphone, you can still pay in person at our Council offices and participating retail outlets.
• Find out more about our district's boat ramps and wharves here.
• Find out about boat ramp passes, how to pay fees and outlets that sell passes here.

State Highways

We encourage you to check NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi website before you travel for the latest information about road closures, delays or work underway. NZ transport Agency contractors regularly carry out chip sealing and asphalt surfacing across the Waikato, alongside the larger infrastructure projects. The Journey Planner has live updates on worksites and other road hazards and can help you plot the best route to your destination.

Follow NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi and X.com for further updates.

You can also call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49) to speak to the call centre team, who can provide traffic and travel information.

Council managed roads

Our Council is still working to repair sites identified as needing recovery work following the severe storm events in early 2023. Many of these roads are in rural Northern Coromandel, where access is difficult. As far as possible, we'll be making every effort to keep roads open as we carry out repairs.

Any updates on the status of our Council's local roads, including road closures, storm-related recovery repairs and scheduled maintenance work, is updated on our Roads website page, our Facebook page and via our e-newsletters.

For more information:

• Click here to read our FAQs on road repairs after storms.

Visitors to Hāhei are reminded that the walking track to Cathedral Cove is currently closed while work to reinstate walking access is underway. The track should be open in December 2024. Until then it remains a ‘marine-only’ experience. You can check the Department of Conservation website for updates on the track and read their latest media releases here. 

• Find out what’s on in our district
• Find out about planning a wedding in the Coromandel
• Resources to help you plan events
• How to apply for licences for your event
• Hire a park or open space

• Thames Connector provides low-cost transport from Monday to Friday, stopping at convenient locations in the Thames town centre between Tararū and Parawai.
• Stops include Centennial Pool, Pak 'n Save, Rolleston Street Medical Centre and Thames Hospital.
• Check the route and the festive timetable here

Wharf Ambassadors (Whangamatā and Whitianga)

• Our Council’s Wharf Ambassadors will be operating over the Christmas/New Year holiday and through the peak summer season at Whangamatā and Whitianga wharves. They help our Council to manage and maintain activities at the wharf (wharf jumping/diving, fishing, mooring, charter operations) by making sure that all groups undertake their activity in the designated areas, to create a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone.
• Parents, please be aware of where your children are at all times. Make sure you supervise them while they are playing at the wharves. Listen to any instructions you receive from our Wharf Ambassadors and let's make this summer a safe one.

Remember these simple safety messages:

• Only jump in areas dedicated for recreational swimming at the wharves
• Listen to instructions from the Wharf Ambassadors so our wharves can be a safe environment for everyone to enjoy
• Jump safely – look out for moving boats and other people
• Jump well away from vessels
• Please ensure your children have adult supervision at all times.

Surf lifesaving patrols

• The warmer weather attracts large numbers of beachgoers in our District and we are thankful for Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) lifeguards to patrolling our beaches. 
• You can find out more about staying safe on our beaches here.

Water conservation

Please remember:

• Reducing our need for water restrictions over our longest, driest months starts now.
• Breaking bad habits will set us up for success when our water levels dip in the sun.

Find out more at tcdc.govt.nz/savewater and keep up to date with water restrictions in your area at tcdc.govt.nz/waterrestrictions.

Water tanks

Adding a rainwater water tank enables you to capture rain off your roof and store it for use during hot summer days, when water restrictions may be in place. It’s perfect for cleaning the car and boat or keeping the flowers, vegetables and lawns alive.

The process is simple - decide where you want to put your tank, talk to your local manufacturer about colour, size, cost and delivery, and check if your tank needs any Council consents.

A building consent is not required if the tank meets the requirements for capacity and height-above-ground. For example, the NZ Building Act allows tanks without building consent as long as they:

• Do not exceed 35,000 litres
• Are not plumbed into a house for use as drinking water or connected to your toilet or washing machine - find out more here
• Are on firm ground with proper support
• Are installed at least 1.5 metres from the boundary.

If your tank will be plumbed into a house and connected to your toilet or washing machine, a building consent is required. You'll need a registered plumber to carry out this work for you.

Find out more at tcdc.govt.nz/savewater and smarterhomes.org.nz.

Wastewater Care

Wastewater, also known as sewage, is the used water that goes down sinks, washing machines, showers, baths and toilets. Most of it is water, and the rest includes organic matter and debris such as sand, grit and plastic.

If you haven't been to your property in a while and find wastewater isn't getting cleared away quick enough, it could be due to root intrusion around the pipes. Take a look to see if any plants or weeds need to be cleared on your property. We can come and clear the pipes, but the householder will receive a bill for this service if it is on the property.

Read more about wastewater management here.

Stormwater Care

Stormwater is the runoff from land generated by rainfall or melting snow. If stormwater is not managed properly, it can flood streets and pose a threat to public health and safety, property and our oceans and waterways.

As a rule, don’t put anything down a stormwater drain that you wouldn't want to drink or swim in.Stormwater grates are only supposed to drain rain. If any pollutants get into our stormwater, they will also end up untreated in our waterways.

Do not:

• tip unwanted chemicals such as paint for example down the drain 
• wash your car out on the road
• let your swimming pool water run into stormwater drains
• store chemicals outside where they could leak and be washed into a drain.
• use the gutter as a litter bin.

Read more about stormwater management here

Safer Coromandel: Plan B4 U Party and safety tips

• The Coromandel is a guaranteed good time; however disorderly behaviour is never acceptable. Please follow the rules, plan before you party, show respect for others and look after your friends and family.
• Check out facebook.com/SaferCoromandel for tips on keeping safe this summer as you explore the stunning Coromandel.

Civil Defence - be prepared for an emergency

In New Zealand, we are all exposed to the risk of disasters that can include weather events, flooding, earthquakes, slips and other emergencies. We all need to understand these risks and their impact so we can keep ourselves, and our family and communities, safe.

Here are some measures we can all take to reduce the impact of disasters and be better prepared to recover quickly:

• See civildefence.govt.nz for up-to-date information about staying informed and being prepared for an emergency and familiarise yourself with our community guides to emergencies.
• Sign up to our e-newsletters here, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date.
• Check at the top of our website homepage for the latest Alerts for our district, including weather events, water shutdowns, service and facility updates, road closures and more.