This application is notified under section 17SC of the Conservation Act 1987. The Minister of Conservation has received an application.
Application details
Applicants: Whangārei District Council
Application number: 122894-OTH
Concession applied for: Lease
Location of proposed activity: Poupouwhenua Scenic Reserve, Whangārei. NZTM 2000 co-ordinates E1733015, N6030109.
Summary of proposal: To authorise the Whangārei District Council to install and then operate wastewater disposal infrastructure on Poupouwhenua Scenic Reserve for a period of seven years. This involves constructing fenced discharge fields and associated pipework to enable treated wastewater from the Ruakākā Wastewater Treatment Plant to be discharged to land. For a proposed period of seven years.
Application documents:
- Application form (PDF, 10,710K)
- Application appendices A–E (PDF, 31,788K)
- Application appendices F–J (PDF, 21,541K)
- Application appendices K–O (PDF, 33,542K)
How to make a submission
Any person or organisation can make a submission in writing to the Director-General on the proposal.
Submissions close on 9 February 2026.
Make an online submission
Make a submission by email or post
Form for email or postal submissions:
Send your form to:
Email: DNSubmissions@doc.govt.nz
Subject line: Submission on Whangārei District Council Application (122894-OTH).
Post:
Director General
Department of Conservation
Permissions Hamilton
Ōtepoti/Dunedin Service Centre
PO Box 5244, Dunedin 9054
Attention: Jamie MacDonell, Permissions Advisor
Privacy information
Once submitted, submitters' information is subject to the Official Information Act 1982 and may be released under that Act. If you wish to keep any part of your submission confidential, you need to state this in writing when making your submission.
What happens next
After submissions close:
- DOC will analyse and consider all submissions.
- A hearing may be held if there have been requests to be heard by the Director-General. If you have expressed an interest in presenting your submission at a hearing, you'll be contacted by DOC regarding this.
- DOC will analyse and consider information raised at a hearing if a hearing occurs.
- DOC will make a recommendation to the Minister of Conservation’s delegated representative.
- The Minister of Conservation’s delegated representative will make a decision on the application.
Hearing details
If a hearing is required, a date will be arranged and those wishing to be heard informed.
Decision
No details at this point. Details, such as submissions and the decision outcome, will be added when they are available.
DOC comment regarding publicly notified applications
The Minister of Conservation has made no determination regarding the suitability of this proposed concession on public conservation land. This public notification should not be interpreted as an intention on the part of the Minister of Conservation to grant the proposed concession.
Contact
If you have any questions about the application or the submission process you can contact Jamie MacDonell, Permissions Advisor.
Email: askpermissions@doc.govt.nz