Stock, Flock & Other Animals
Every person keeping animals, poultry, or bees on private land must comply with the Animal Welfare Act 1999 and its codes of welfare and, where no code of welfare applies, ensure that such animals:
- Do not cause or are likely to cause a nuisance to any person
- Are kept in conditions which are not offensive or injurious to health
Tararua also has a bylaw to outline requirements for the keeping of animals, poultry and bees in the District. The requirements are deemed necessary for the protection of neighbours and property owners.
The Keeping of Animals Bylaw 2024
Cats
No household shall keep more than three cats where, in the opinion of an authorised officer acting on a complaint, the number becomes offensive to the occupier of a neighbouring property, a threat to public health, or an endangerment to neighbouring animals.
Poultry
Poultry includes geese, ducks, pigeons, turkeys, peacocks and domestic fowls of all descriptions, age and gender. Poultry may be kept in a Tararua District residential zone without permission providing it is kept in accordance with the following conditions:
- No poultry caged or otherwise (which shall include geese, ducks, pigeons, turkeys, and domestic fowls of all descriptions) shall be kept in a predominantly urban area except in a properly constructed poultry house covered in with a rainproof roof and provided with a floor of concrete or other approved material with a surrounding nib wall, to which a poultry run may be attached.
- No poultry house or poultry run shall be erected or maintained, so that any part of it is within 5m from any dwelling, factory, or any other building, whether wholly or partially occupied, or within 2m of the boundary of adjoining premises.
- Every poultry run shall be enclosed to confine the poultry.
- Every poultry house and poultry run shall be maintained in good repair, in a clean condition free from any offensive smell or overflow and free from vermin.
Noise from animal, bird, or fowl
No person shall keep on any premises any noisy animal, bird, or poultry which causes a nuisance to residents in the neighbourhood.
The rooster is often portrayed as crowing at the break of dawn, sometimes shown sitting on fence posts or other objects, where he crows to proclaim his territory. However, this idea is more romantic than real, as a rooster can and will crow at any time of the day, and usually start to do so before 4 months of age.
Because of this crowing, (which can be excessively noisy), Council has a bylaw in place banning the keeping of roosters in all residential areas. If you have one and were unaware of this bylaw the best thing you can do is rehome your rooster in a rural area. If there is a rooster near you in a residential area that is giving you sleepless nights, our environmental health officer can help by contacting the owner.
Download the Tararua District Bylaw for The Keeping of Animals Bylaw 2024
No pigs shall be kept in any area that has a predominantly urban character under the District Plan prepared by the Council.
Additional Information
Feeding of meat and food waste containing meat to pigs can risk establishing and spreading animal diseases such as foot and mouth and classic swine fever. The Biosecurity (Meat and Food Waste for Pigs) Regulations 2005 were developed to help reduce that risk.
What can you do?
If you keep a pig/s you can help by only collecting:
- food waste that DOES NOT contain meat;
- leftover bread and bakery goods that DO NOT contain meat;
- fruit and vegetable trimmings and peelings;
- deteriorated fruit and vegetables;
- dairy products e.g. cheese or milk;
- eggs and egg products.
Food waste that has come into contact with meat (cooked or uncooked) CANNOT be used as pig feed unless it has been heated to 100°C for one hour.
If you collect food waste from retailers to be fed to your pigs, and there is meat in it, let the food operator know.
You can find more information on the meat and food waste regulations at www.biosecurity.govt.nz/foodwaste or email your query to [email protected].
Download the Tararua District Bylaw for The Keeping of Animals Bylaw 2024
No person shall keep bees if, in the opinion of an authorised officer, the keeping of bees is (or is likely to become) a nuisance or annoyance to any person, or potentially dangerous or injurious to health.
An authorised officer may prescribe conditions relating to the location and number of hives able to be kept on any premises or placed within an urban area of the district.
Download the Tararua District Bylaw for The Keeping of Animals Bylaw 2024