Papakāinga

Find out about setting up papakāinga in the Whangārei District.

Papakāinga is a term describing housing on ancestral Māori land and can include other activities associated with the nature and function of the papakāinga. For example, a marae, shared gardens, or commercial activities that provide jobs and income to support those living in the papakāinga.  

Te Tai Tokerau Papakāinga toolkit is designed to help owners of whenua Māori understand and navigate the process for undertaking papakāinga development on their ancestral lands, including the processes of Council and the Māori Land Court.

Te Tai Tokerau Papakāinga Toolkit(PDF, 3MB)

Apply for an approval for Papakāinga

To achieve your aspirations for Papakāinga on your whenua you may need to make an application to us for Acceptance of a Papakāinga Development Plan and / or a land use consent. 

By email

Step 1.Seek advice and help with setting up Papakāinga

If you are thinking about establishing papakāinga on your whenua, we recommend you seek early advice from us.

We provide free assistance with applying the rules and pre-application services. We can also facilitate bringing other agencies into conversations regarding your aspirations or development.

How we can help

We also recommend you seek early advice from the Māori Land Court.

They will be able to provide advice about any applications you may need to make to them, to enable you to do what you wish to on your whenua. For example applying for an occupation order or licence to occupy.  

Using your Māori land (maorilandcourt.govt.nz)

Te Puni Kōkiri can also help through funding, information, advice and practical support.  They are an organisation that provides support to whānau, hapū, iwi and rōpū in achieving their housing aspirations.

Māori housing support (tpk.govt.nz) 

Step 2.Apply for acceptance of a Papakāinga Development Plan

Where what you want to do on your whenua is permitted under the Papakāinga rules, you need to apply to us for Acceptance of a Papakāinga Development Plan. This is a free service, and we will endeavour to process your application within 20 working days of receiving it.

Our application form identifies the information that we require to assist us with accepting your Papakāinga Development Plan.

Download the application, print and complete it by hand.

Acceptance of a Papakāinga Development Plan application(PDF, 289KB)

Step 3.Email us

Email your completed application and supporting documents to:

Email:  mailroom@wdc.govt.nz

Step 4.Assessing your application

We will undertake an assessment of your application to determine if it meets the permitted activity standards set out in PKA.1.5 of the District Plan.

We may ask you for additional information to assist with this assessment. 

Step 5.Receive written acceptance

Where we identify that the permitted activity standard is met, we will provide you written acceptance of your Papakāinga Development Plan.

Where it is identified that the permitted activity standard is not met, we will advise in writing as to the reason(s) for this.   

Step 6.Apply for a land use consent

In addition to applying for Acceptance of a Papakāinga Development Plan, you may need to apply for a land use consent where what you want to do on your whenua is not a permitted activity under any relevant rule of the District Plan or a National Environmental Standard administered by us.

Apply for a land use consent

Where a land use consent is required, we recommend you apply for acceptance of your Papakāinga Development Plan at the same time.

Step 7.Apply for building consent

Development of Papakāinga will also require a building consent.

Apply for a building consent

In-person

By post