General Bylaw: Control of Stock, Poultry and Bees (2019)

There is a $25 cost to assess the property in the first instance, and then an ongoing cost of $25 per annum.

Like all bylaws, these are up for review on a regular cycle. This bylaw was initially adopted in 2012, and then reviewed after five years in 2019 when the poultry additions were made. These bylaws can be reviewed earlier than the 10 year review cycle, or the fees associated can be reviewed separately. 

In the light of the cost of living increases, Council appreciates that more whānau are looking to be self-sufficient.

All residents who own animals need to be mindful that neighbours also have rights. This is why the bylaw stipulates where the best place for coops and hen houses are. Like most councils, Kawerau does not allow roosters due to undue noise.

We currently have 15 licenses and one of these have come in last week as a result of the facebook post. There have been no complaints received regarding the keeping of poultry in this current financial year form 1 July 2022 to the current date. 

The previous financial year, 2021-2022, Council received two complaints in March and another in May 2022. One complaint related to ducks (also under the poultry license) and the other related to a rooster.

Last week during an engagement meeting regarding the draft Local Alcohol Policy, Council staff met two Kawerau residents who both kept poultry. One family had been keeping six chooks for laying eggs since the Covid-19 pandemic began in 2020. Their numbers had reduced and they generally considered their chickens as ‘family pets’.

Another resident we spoke to at the engagement hui had chooks and has since come into Council to register them.

Both residents stated that they didn’t see an issue in registering the chooks and the initial payment of $25 for a property inspection. They also noted that they had considered the best place to locate the chook house on their property to avoid any nuisance for their neighbours.

Council appreciates this high level of consideration for neighbours and the cooperation of all those who have registered their chickens.  

The current bylaw was introduced in 2019 after a public consultative approach after issues and complaints had been raised in previous years. These issues were mostly associated with noise, but there was also the element of smell with poultry that can cause concerns. Council appreciates that there are also issues that can be associated with other pets, such as dogs, and this is why they are also covered with a bylaw and registration.

Given the feedback from Kawerau residents and ratepayers, the Council staff will raise with elected members whether they wish staff to review the bylaw and/or the fees associated with it. This would be raised with elected members at the upcoming workshop on Wednesday this week.

However, it is worth noting, as is the case with social media that it crosses regional boundaries - many of the responses on social media were not from people within the Kawerau rohe, or even from people residing in the Eastern Bay. Many of the responses are from people living in various areas within Aotearoa, as the initial post was shared with a number of social media groups that are advocating less control by local and central government.

Council would always look to ensure bylaws are fair and reflect the general well-being of the entire community, including those who are directly affected.

In addition, it is worth noting that Kawerau does have reasonable costs associated with most policies, as was evidenced by the Fair Go Council Awards that it received in 2022.

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