Hauraki District Council — Property Due Diligence Guide
Hauraki District Council governs a small rural district at the base of the Coromandel Peninsula, with a population of approximately 21,000. The district includes the towns of Paeroa (famous for L&P), Waihi (a gold mining town with an active open-cast mine), and Ngatea in the Hauraki Plains.
Quick Facts
Useful Links
How to Order a LIM Report
Contact Hauraki District Council directly to order a LIM. Standard processing takes 10 working days, with an urgent option available for faster turnaround.
Hauraki LIMs cover building consents, resource consents, rates, zoning, flood risk, contaminated land (particularly relevant given the mining heritage), and stormwater information.
Buyers in the Waihi area should pay close attention to any mining-related notations on the LIM, including proximity to the Martha Mine, historic underground workings, and any land stability assessments. The Hauraki Plains around Ngatea and Paeroa have flood risk from the Waihou and Piako Rivers.
District Plan Zones
Hauraki's District Plan includes:
- Residential: Town residential zones in Paeroa, Waihi, and Ngatea
- Rural: The dominant zone covering the Hauraki Plains dairy country
- Mining: Zones specific to the active Waihi gold mine and processing
- Town Centre: Small commercial centres in each town
- Industrial: Mainly around the mining operations and rural processing
The district's property market is relatively stable, with modest growth driven by affordability compared to Tauranga and Hamilton.
Natural Hazards
Hauraki's natural hazards include:
- Flooding: The Hauraki Plains are low-lying and prone to flooding from the Waihou and Piako River systems. Flood protection stopbanks are critical infrastructure.
- Mining subsidence: In Waihi, historic underground mining has created subsidence risk in some areas. The active Martha Mine also has a defined influence zone.
- Land instability: Steep terrain at the edges of the plains and around the Coromandel foothills.
- Contaminated land: Mining heritage has left some areas with elevated contaminant levels, particularly around Waihi and historic processing sites.
Building Consent & Code Compliance
Building consent is processed by Hauraki District Council with a standard 20 working day target. As a smaller council, the building team handles relatively modest volumes.
Properties in the Waihi area near the Martha Mine may require additional geotechnical assessment. Properties on the Hauraki Plains should consider flood resilience in their building design, particularly regarding floor levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is buying property near the Waihi mine safe?
The active Martha Mine in Waihi has a defined influence zone. Properties within this zone may experience ground settlement or vibration. The LIM will identify if a property is within the mine's influence zone. OceanaGold operates a community liaison and monitors ground stability.
What are the flood risks on the Hauraki Plains?
The Hauraki Plains are low-lying and protected by an extensive network of stopbanks and drainage channels managed by the Waikato Regional Council. While the system provides good protection, extreme weather events can overwhelm defences. Check flood maps and historical flood levels for any plains property.
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